Magic: The Gathering Card Review: Ravnica at War

Introduction

Ravnica at War is a powerful sorcery card that allows players to exile all multicolored permanents on the battlefield. This ability can greatly disrupt opponents' strategies and make it a staple in formats like Modern and Standard.

Detailed Card Mechanics and Interactions

As a sorcery, Ravnica at War resolves immediately after it's played, without any additional costs or phases. When exiled all multicolored permanents are affected by the card's ability, meaning that they will be removed from the battlefield. This can include planeswalkers, creatures with multiple colors in their mana cost, and any other multicolored artifact or enchantment.

The key aspect of Ravnica at War is its blanket removal of all multicolored permanents, without exception. However, it's worth noting that planeswalkers have a built-in ability to return to the battlefield after they're exiled, so Ravnica at War may not always be able to get rid of a specific threat.

When considering how to use Ravnica at War, players should also think about the potential consequences for their own permanents. If a player has multicolored creatures or artifacts on the battlefield and they're exiled by this card, they will likely lose control of those cards as well.

Strategic Uses, Combos, and Synergies

Ravnica at War is particularly useful in formats where controlling the board and disrupting opponents' strategies can give an advantage. This makes it a staple in formats like Modern and Standard, where multicolored permanents are common.

One strategic use of Ravnica at War is to exile opposing planeswalkers or other powerful creatures before they can exert their full influence on the game. For example, if an opponent has a multicolored planeswalker with a strong ability that you want to prevent from resolving, playing Ravnica at War immediately after it's cast can help neutralize the threat.

Another way to use Ravnica at War is as part of a combo that relies on exiling opposing permanents. For instance, if you have access to a multicolored artifact or enchantment that provides a bonus when all multicolored cards are removed from the battlefield, playing Ravnica at War can trigger this effect and provide a significant advantage.

Some popular combos involving Ravnica at War include:

• Exiling an opponent's planeswalker with Ravnica at War to prevent their ability from resolving
• Using Ravnica at War in combination with cards like Ajani, Caller of the Pride to control the board and generate card advantage

Deckbuilding Roles and Archetypes

Ravnica at War can be included in a variety of deck archetypes, depending on your playstyle and format. In Modern, for example, it's often used as a key part of control decks that focus on disrupting opponents' plans and removing threats from the board.

In Standard, Ravnica at War is commonly used in formats like Ravnica Allegiance and Guilds of Ravnica, where multicolored permanents are more abundant. It can be combined with cards like Jace, the Mind Sculptor or Ajani, Caller of the Pride to create a formidable controlling presence.

Some popular deck archetypes that include Ravnica at War include:

• Control decks: Using Ravnica at War to exile opposing creatures and planeswalkers, while generating card advantage through spells and permanents.
• Combo decks: Combining Ravnica at War with other cards to create a powerful combo that can generate significant advantages.

Format Viability and Competitive Context

Ravnica at War has been a staple in Modern since its release, where it's often used as part of a control deck that focuses on disrupting opponents' plans and removing threats from the board. In Standard, Ravnica at War is also highly viable, particularly in formats like Ravnica Allegiance and Guilds of Ravnica.

In Competitive formats like Pro Tour and Grand Prix, Ravnica at War can be a powerful addition to any deck that wants to control the board and disrupt opponents' strategies. However, players must always consider the potential consequences for their own permanents when using this card.

Rules Interactions and Technical Notes

As with most cards, there are some important rules interactions to be aware of when playing Ravnica at War. Since it exiles multicolored permanents, it doesn't interact with counterspells or removals that affect specific cards. However, if an opponent has a card like Vraska's Contempt that destroys all non-land permanents on the battlefield, Ravnica at War will still work to exile those permanents.

It's also worth noting that Ravnica at War doesn't have any interaction with multicolored artifacts or enchantments that provide a bonus when all multicolored cards are removed from the battlefield. However, this means that it can be used in combination with other cards like Ajani, Caller of the Pride to create a powerful controlling presence.

Art, Flavor, and Historical Context

Ravnica at War is an iconic part of the Magic: The Gathering Ravnica block, which was first released in 2005. The card's artwork features a dramatic depiction of planeswalkers and other powerful magical creatures clashing in combat.

In terms of flavor, Ravnica at War captures the essence of the Ravnica setting, where rival guilds are constantly vying for power and control. The card's ability to exile all multicolored permanents is a powerful symbol of this struggle, representing the ultimate goal of disrupting opponents' plans and emerging victorious.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ravnica at War is a powerful sorcery card that allows players to exile all multicolored permanents. Its ability can greatly disrupt opponents' strategies and make it a staple in formats like Modern and Standard. When used strategically, combined with other cards or as part of a combo, Ravnica at War can provide a significant advantage on the battlefield.

However, players must always consider the potential consequences for their own permanents when using this card, and be aware of any rules interactions that may affect its ability to work. Despite these considerations, Ravnica at War remains a formidable tool in the right deck, making it a must-include card for many competitive players.

Some key takeaways from playing Ravnica at War include:

• Always consider the potential consequences for your own permanents when using this card
• Be aware of any rules interactions that may affect its ability to work
• Use Ravnica at War in combination with other cards or as part of a combo to maximize its effectiveness
• Consider your opponent's deck and strategy when deciding when to play Ravnica at War.