Rats

Finishing kindred month (see this post), today I look at Rats.

Introduction

The Rat creature type has been in Magic since the game's beginning (Alpha in 1993). 

From 1994-2004, Rats were frequently in sets, but not in great numbers: there was normally one (and no more than two) released in 17 different sets (from The Dark through Fifth Dawn).

Rats became a focus in the Kamigawa block (2004-5); 15 were released across those three sets. Then it was back to "onesy twosy" until a return to that plane in 2022's Neon Dynasty, which gave us 7 more.

Rats were a focus in two more sets: 

- 2023's Wilds of Eldraine (5 cards)

- 2024's Bloomburrow (14 cards + 1 in its Commander release)

In all, 108 Rats (counting 8 cards in the newest set, TMNT) have been printed. Most (88) are mono-black, 12 are multi-colored (black splashed with another color), and six are blue.

Sample/Staple Cards

Rats love to roam in packs; this kindred type has several cards that produce (or benefit from) large numbers of the creatures on the battlefield. A few even let you violate the "four copy limit" rule.

Rats also can care about your own graveyard (for milling/surveil decks) or making your opponents discard.

Sample cards below.

Deck Ideas

For casual decks, the cards presented above can be nice options for a kindred Rat deck.

For Commander, there are 22 unique legendary Rats. Seven of those are new, so I haven't seen them in action yet. For the others, Lord Skitterfang (shown above) and four others (shown below) can be fun options to build around.

My personal favorite isn't a Rat but likes them: Totentanz, Swarm Piper. My Rat Commander deck features him (plus many of the above if they are mono-black in the 99).

Until next time, keep exploring.