Rathi Assassin
Creature — Phyrexian Zombie Mercenary Assassin
, 
: Destroy target tapped nonblack creature.
, : Search your library for a Mercenary permanent card with mana value 3 or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Nemesis
- Price
- $0.35
- EDHREC rank
- #23891
Rathi Assassin kills any nonblack creature with a toughness of 2 or less — repeatedly — but the three-mana activation cost and summoning sickness mean it rarely fires before turn five. It's a slow, narrow removal engine that demands a specific support structure to justify its slot.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the only format where Rathi Assassin is worth discussing. The singleton rule means you can't lean on multiples to accelerate the tap-untap loop, so it needs dedicated untap support — Freed from the Real, Umbral Mantle, or a similar enabler — to function as a real removal engine rather than a one-removal-per-turn creature. In Legacy and Vintage it's technically legal but has never been relevant; the format speed and the activation cost make it a non-starter. Outside of black-based Commander decks that can reliably produce untap effects, Rathi Assassin sits on the bench.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.35 bulk tier
At $0.35, Rathi Assassin is deep bulk — the price reflects both its age and its narrow playability. Don't expect movement; it's not a card that spikes on reprints or sudden discovery, and the supply is large enough to keep it at the bottom of the bin.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.