Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Whenever Ragavan deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token and exile the top card of that player's library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card. Dash(You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
Complete guide
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is a powerful legendary Monkey Pirate that excels at stealing momentum and resources from your opponents. Whether you cast him early or use his dash ability to surprise your foes, he provides both mana and card advantage through aggressive combat.
Stealing Assets and Making Bank
Whenever Ragavan deals combat damage to a player, two things happen: you create a Treasure token and exile the top card of that player's library. You have until the end of the current turn to cast the exiled card. Note that you must still pay all mana costs for the exiled card and follow normal timing restrictions; if you exile a sorcery, you can only cast it during your main phase.
Mastering the Dash Ability
The Dash keyword provides an alternative way to cast Ragavan for {1}{R}. When you dash, the spell enters the stack and can be countered like any other creature. If it resolves, Ragavan gains haste, allowing him to attack immediately. At the beginning of the next end step, if he is still on the battlefield, he returns to your hand, protecting him from sorcery-speed removal and allowing you to repeat the process next turn.
Common Pitfalls
A frequent mistake is trying to play lands exiled by Ragavan; however, his ability specifically says you may 'cast' the card, and lands can never be cast. Additionally, if Ragavan is removed from the battlefield before his combat damage trigger resolves, you still create the Treasure and exile the card. Finally, if you dash Ragavan and he dies in combat, he goes to the graveyard and will not return to your hand at the end step.
Interaction examples
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
TreasureYou pay {1}{R} to cast Ragavan using Dash. He enters with haste and attacks an open opponent. Upon dealing damage, his ability triggers: you create a Treasure token and exile the opponent's top card. At your end step, Ragavan returns to your hand, leaving you with a Treasure to help cast the stolen card or re-cast Ragavan later.
Walking BallistaRagavan deals combat damage to an opponent and exiles their Walking Ballista. Because you may cast that card until end of turn, you can use your available mana (including the Treasure Ragavan just made) to cast the Ballista. You choose a value for X, and the Ballista enters with the corresponding counters.
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf your opponent controls an Ornithopter of Paradise, Ragavan might be blocked. However, if you use the mana from your own Ornithopter of Paradise to dash Ragavan while the opponent's board is empty, you ensure he hits successfully. The Treasure Ragavan generates can then be used alongside the Ornithopter's mana to cast whatever high-cost spell Ragavan exiles from the opponent.
Kari Zev, Crew of TwoWhen Kari Zev, Crew of Two attacks, if you don't control a legendary Monkey, she conjures a Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. If this conjured Ragavan deals combat damage, you get the Treasure and the exiled card just like a normal Ragavan. At the beginning of the next end step, the conjured Monkey returns to your hand, allowing you to cast him normally or dash him on a future turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You'll create a Treasure token even if that player has no cards left in their library to exile.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow all timing restrictions and pay all costs when casting the exiled card. If you exile a land card, you can't play that card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose to pay the dash cost rather than the mana cost, you're still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its dash cost only when you otherwise could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you pay the dash cost to cast a creature spell, that card will be returned to its owner's hand only if it's still on the battlefield when its triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to attack with the creature with dash unless another ability says you do.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature enters the battlefield as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose dash cost was paid, the copy won't have haste and won't be returned to its owner's hand.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki + Combat Celebrant + Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
- 1Activate Reflection of KIki-Jiki by paying
and tapping it, creating a token copy of Combat Celebrant with haste. - 2Declare Ragavan and Combat Celebrant token as attackers, choosing to exert Combat Celebrant as it attacks.
- 3When you attack, the token Combat Celebrant triggers, untapping all other creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4When you deal combat damage, Ragavan triggers, creating at least one Treasure token.
- 5Activate a Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding one mana.
- 6Repeat.
Interactions with other cards
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