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Commander Nexus
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  3. Raphael, the Nightwatcher

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Raphael, the Nightwatcher

Raphael, the Nightwatcher

Legendary Creature — Mutant Ninja Turtle

Raphael wants a deck that plays cheap creatures and attacks from the first turns. It also works in a deck built around Mutants, Ninjas or Turtles.

  • Mana cost2 genericredred
  • Red ()
  • Power / toughness2 / 3
  • RarityRare

Sneak 1 genericredred (You may cast this spell for 1 genericredred if you also return an unblocked attacker you control to hand during the declare blockers step. He enters tapped and attacking.)

Attacking creatures you control have double strike.

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Archetypes
Themes

Cards That Fit Raphael, the Nightwatcher

Picked for what they do in Raphael's deck. When two cards do the same job, the one with the lower comes first. All of them fit Raphael's color identity.Mana ValueThe total amount of mana a card costs, all added up. A card costing two generic and one green has a mana value of three. Wizards renamed this from "converted mana cost" in 2021, so older cards and articles may still use the old name.Sol RingOpen the full glossary

plan6

The 6 Cards

Does what Raphael, the Nightwatcher does6

The 6 Cards

Rulings for Raphael, the Nightwatcher

explain how Raphael works in tricky situations. They come from Wizards of the Coast, the company that makes Magic.RulingThe official answer to how a card works in a tricky situation. Most rulings are written by Wizards of the Coast, the company that makes Magic, and a few are notes from Scryfall, the card database Magic players use. A ruling explains a card. It does not change what the card says.Open the full glossary

Wizards of the Coast 27 Jan 2026

Although a creature put onto the battlefield this way is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature. Abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks won't trigger when that creature enters attacking.

Wizards of the Coast 27 Jan 2026

If a creature spell's sneak cost was paid, the creature it becomes enters tapped and attacking the same player, planeswalker, or battle as the creature that was returned to its owner's hand to pay its sneak cost. This is a rule specific to sneak; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature's controller chooses which player, planeswalker, or battle it's attacking.

Wizards of the Coast 27 Jan 2026

Spells can only be cast for their sneak costs any time you could play an instant during the declare blockers step on your turn (after your opponent has decided whether to block).

3 rulings, all written by Wizards of the Coast. Read the originals on Gatherer ↗

Similar Commanders

Commanders that share the most with Raphael, and what they share.

Color identityEvery color of mana symbol on a card, in its cost and in its rules text. Your commander's color identity sets the limit for your whole deck: every other card has to fit inside it. A deck led by a green and white commander cannot play a card with any blue in its color identity.Open the full glossaryRPlayers write colors as letters: R for red.AggroAggro decks play cheap creatures early and attack every turn, trying to knock opponents out before their bigger plans come together.Open the Aggro pageStatic BuffGives creatures a lasting bonus to power and toughness while it remains on the battlefield, rather than a boost that wears off at end of turn. Garruk's Uprising, Patchwork BannerOpen the Static Buff page