Rathi FiendHow it works & interactions with other cards

Enter the Fray

When Rathi Fiend enters the battlefield, its first ability triggers, causing each player to lose 3 life. This effect is symmetrical, meaning it hits you as well as your opponents, so be mindful of your life total before casting it. This ability does not target, so it will resolve even if players have hexproof or protection.

Recruiting Allies

The second ability allows you to pay three mana and tap Rathi Fiend to search your library for a Mercenary permanent card with mana value 3 or less. Once you find a suitable card, you put it directly onto the battlefield and then shuffle your library. According to official rulings, because you are searching for a card with specific characteristics, you are not required to find one even if it exists in your library.

Strategic Considerations

A common mistake is forgetting that the recruitment ability only searches for Mercenary permanents. While many older Mercenaries are creatures, any permanent with the Mercenary subtype is a valid target as long as its mana value is 3 or less. Additionally, since the ability requires tapping, Rathi Fiend usually needs to wait a turn to activate unless it is granted haste.

Timing Your Recruitment

Activate Rathi Fiend's ability at the end of your opponent's turn to maximize your mana usage. By bringing a creature into play right before your turn starts, you bypass the need to protect that new creature during the opponent's main phase, allowing you to attack with it sooner if it doesn't have summoning sickness.

Interaction examples

Double the Drain

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Mercenary' or 'Phyrexian' chosen, Rathi Fiend's enter-the-battlefield ability triggers an additional time. Each player will lose 3 life from the first trigger and another 3 life from the second, totaling 6 life lost per player.

Ramping and Recruiting

Solemn Simulacrum

You can use Solemn Simulacrum to ensure you have the four mana required to cast Rathi Fiend. Once Rathi Fiend is on the battlefield, the extra land provided by the Simulacrum helps pay for the {3} required to activate the Mercenary recruitment ability every turn.