Wave of Rats: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction Wave of Rats is a 3BB black creature with trample that has been a staple in various deck archetypes for years. Its reanimation ability, when paired with its Blitz mode, makes it an intriguing threat on the battlefield. In this review, we will delve into the card's mechanics, interactions, and strategic uses to provide a comprehensive understanding of Wave of Rats.

Card Mechanics and Interactions Wave of Rats is a straightforward creature that rewards players for dealing direct damage to opponents. When it dies, its owner can return it to the battlefield if it dealt combat damage to an opponent this turn. This ability makes Wave of Rats an excellent addition to decks focused on generating card advantage quickly.

One notable interaction with Wave of Rats is with cards that provide alternative win conditions or create tokens. For example, Liliana's Reclamation can return Wave of Rats to the battlefield in addition to creating 2/2 black Zombie tokens. This synergy allows players to continue dealing damage while also generating more board presence.

Wave of Rats' Blitz mode offers an optional draw effect when cast for its Blitz cost. However, this comes at the cost of sacrificing the creature at the beginning of the next end step. If a player has a specific strategy or plan that requires them to have Wave of Rats back in hand by the following turn, they can opt for the Blitz mode.

Strategic Uses and Synergies Wave of Rats is most effective when paired with cards that provide alternative win conditions or generate tokens. Some notable synergies include:

• Liliana's Reclamation: As mentioned earlier, this card returns Wave of Rats to the battlefield in addition to creating 2/2 black Zombie tokens.
• Necrotic Ooze: This card creates a 4/1 Zombie token when a creature dies. If paired with Wave of Rats, players can create an advantage by having multiple Zombie tokens and reanimating Wave of Rats.
• Griselbrand: This legendary creature rewards players for having black creatures in their graveyard, which is naturally fueled by Wave of Rats' reanimation ability.

Wave of Rats can fit into various deck archetypes, including:

Zombie Tribal: With its ability to create Zombie tokens when paired with cards like Necrotic Ooze or Liliana's Reclamation, Wave of Rats becomes an excellent addition to this archetype. * Midrange: The Blitz mode on Wave of Rats can provide a tempo advantage in midrange decks, allowing players to gain an edge by dealing damage and drawing cards.

Format Viability and Competitive Context Wave of Rats is most competitive in formats where life totals are low and players need to generate card advantage quickly. It excels in formats like Modern or Pauper, but its viability can be more limited in formats with higher life totals.

In the current competitive context, Wave of Rats faces stiff competition from other creatures like Sylvan Caryatid or Dreg Mangler. However, its Blitz mode and reanimation ability make it a formidable threat when paired with the right cards.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes When casting Wave of Rats, players can choose to cast it for its Blitz cost if they have the mana available. If they do so, Wave of Rats gains haste and "When this creature dies, draw a card." Sacrificing it at the beginning of the next end step is mandatory.

It's worth noting that when casting Wave of Rats from hand, its Blitz mode cannot be used if players have already cast it once. This means that players can only opt for the Blitz mode on subsequent casts.

Art and Flavor Wave of Rats features artwork by Chris Rahn, showcasing a group of rats swarming around a battlefield. The flavor text hints at the idea that Wave of Rats is a creature born from darkness and chaos.

The card's design history dates back to Magic: The Gathering's early days, when creatures with unique abilities and reanimation effects were more common. Its Blitz mode was introduced later as part of a larger effort to add more complexity to creature cards.

Key Points to Remember

• Wave of Rats is a 3BB black creature with trample that has an intriguing reanimation ability.
• When it dies, if it dealt combat damage to a player this turn, it returns to the battlefield under its owner's control.
• The Blitz mode allows for an optional haste and draw effect when cast for its Blitz cost.
• Synergies include Liliana's Reclamation, Necrotic Ooze, and Griselbrand.
• It fits into various deck archetypes, including Zombie tribal and midrange.
• Its viability is most competitive in formats with low life totals.

Conclusion Wave of Rats is a versatile creature that offers players an interesting combination of direct damage and reanimation. With its Blitz mode and synergies with other cards, it can be an excellent addition to decks focused on generating card advantage quickly. While it may not be the most competitive in formats with higher life totals, Wave of Rats remains a formidable threat when paired with the right cards.

In deckbuilding terms, Wave of Rats is an excellent choice for players who want to generate card advantage quickly and deal direct damage to opponents. Its Blitz mode provides an additional layer of complexity that can be leveraged by experienced players. However, its viability in more competitive formats remains limited due to the presence of more aggressive creatures.

Overall, Wave of Rats is a solid addition to any deck looking for a versatile creature with a unique ability. Its reanimation and Blitz modes make it an attractive choice for players who want to experiment with different strategies and archetypes.

Zombie Tribal Archetype

The Zombie tribal archetype is one of the most popular formats where Wave of Rats shines. With its ability to create multiple Zombie tokens, Wave of Rats becomes a staple in these decks. Players can pair it with cards like Liliana's Reclamation or Necrotic Ooze to generate an advantage and deal direct damage to opponents.

• Example deck:
  • 4 x Wave of Rats
  • 2 x Liliana's Reclamation
  • 4 x Necrotic Ooze
  • 1 x Griselbrand
  • 18 x black Zombie tokens

This example deck showcases the potential of Wave of Rats in a Zombie tribal archetype. By combining it with other cards that generate Zombies, players can create an advantage and deal direct damage to opponents.

Midrange Archetype

Wave of Rats is also effective in midrange decks, where its Blitz mode provides a tempo advantage. Players can pair it with cards like Sylvan Caryatid or Dreg Mangler to generate card advantage and deal direct damage to opponents.

• Example deck:
  • 4 x Wave of Rats
  • 2 x Sylvan Caryatid
  • 4 x Dreg Mangler
  • 1 x Griselbrand
  • 18 x black creatures

This example deck demonstrates the versatility of Wave of Rats in midrange decks. By combining it with other cards that generate card advantage, players can create an edge and deal direct damage to opponents.

Conclusion

Wave of Rats is a versatile creature that offers players an interesting combination of direct damage and reanimation. With its Blitz mode and synergies with other cards, it can be an excellent addition to decks focused on generating card advantage quickly. While it may not be the most competitive in formats with higher life totals, Wave of Rats remains a formidable threat when paired with the right cards.

In deckbuilding terms, Wave of Rats is an excellent choice for players who want to generate card advantage quickly and deal direct damage to opponents. Its Blitz mode provides an additional layer of complexity that can be leveraged by experienced players. However, its viability in more competitive formats remains limited due to the presence of more aggressive creatures.

Overall, Wave of Rats is a solid addition to any deck looking for a versatile creature with a unique ability.