EDH Optimizer
Raphael, Tough Turtle
Legendary Creature — Mutant Ninja Turtle · 1R
Color identity: Red
Raphael, Tough Turtle is red: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Alliance — Whenever another creature you control enters, Raphael deals 1 damage to target opponent.
Reference price of the card: €0.10
Average lands in decks for Raphael, Tough Turtle: 36
BurnTokensGoblinsAggroComboDiscardDragon's ApproachETB
Build your Raphael, Tough Turtle deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Raphael, Tough Turtle 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Raphael, Tough Turtle deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: D (45/100)
- Consistency29
- Speed63
- Interaction20
- Resilience59
- Closing50
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 36 lands (1 nonbasic, 35 Mountain)
Impact Tremors · Krenko's Command · Molten Gatekeeper · Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Dragon Fodder · Thrill of Possibility · Witty Roastmaster · Empty the Warrens · Lightning Bolt · Krenko, Mob Boss · Slash, Reptile Rampager · Weftstalker Ardent · Goblin Instigator · Hordeling Outburst · Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin · Mogg War Marshal · Abrade · Big Score · Legion Warboss · Loyal Apprentice · Torbran, Thane of Red Fell · Blasphemous Act · General Kreat, the Boltbringer · Siege-Gang Lieutenant · Faithless Looting · Goblin Surprise · Panharmonicon · Purphoros, God of the Forge · Raid Bombardment · Agate Instigator · Mouser Attack! · Mouser Foundry · Raphael, the Nightwatcher · Ruby Medallion · Shock Brigade · Wingnut, Bat on the Belfry · Chaos Warp · Demand Answers · Goblin Matron · Grab the Prize · Impulsive Pilferer · Mind Stone · Skullclamp · The Fire Crystal · Raphael, Most Attitude · Glimpse the Impossible · Howlsquad Heavy · Searslicer Goblin · Song of Totentanz · Elder Auntie · Hawkeye's Bow · Mana Geyser · Raphael's Technique · Beetleback Chief · Goblin Bombardment · Norin the Wary · Shock · Stadium Headliner · Unexpected Windfall · Firebrand Archer · Goblin Negotiation · Hexing Squelcher · Dwarven Mine
🃏 Recommended cards for Raphael, Tough Turtle
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Raphael, Tough Turtle, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Molten Gatekeeper | 52% | +45% |
| Krenko's Command | 52% | +39% |
| Witty Roastmaster | 47% | +38% |
| Impact Tremors | 62% | +38% |
| Dragon Fodder | 50% | +38% |
| Slash, Reptile Rampager | 40% | +37% |
| Empty the Warrens | 45% | +35% |
| Krenko, Mob Boss | 43% | +34% |
| Dwarven Mine | 41% | +30% |
| Weftstalker Ardent | 39% | +30% |
| Loyal Apprentice | 33% | +28% |
| Goblin Instigator | 38% | +28% |
| Mogg War Marshal | 37% | +28% |
| Hordeling Outburst | 38% | +28% |
| Mouser Foundry | 26% | +26% |
| Wingnut, Bat on the Belfry | 26% | +25% |
| Mouser Attack! | 26% | +25% |
| Raphael, the Nightwatcher | 26% | +25% |
| Shock Brigade | 26% | +25% |
| Goblin Surprise | 29% | +24% |
| Legion Warboss | 34% | +24% |
| Siege-Gang Lieutenant | 31% | +24% |
| Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin | 38% | +24% |
| Raid Bombardment | 29% | +24% |
💰 The best cards for your Raphael, Tough Turtle deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Molten Gatekeeper
- Krenko's Command
- Witty Roastmaster
- Dragon Fodder
- Slash, Reptile Rampager
- Empty the Warrens
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Impact Tremors
- Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
- Panharmonicon
- General Kreat, the Boltbringer
- Song of Totentanz
- Agate Instigator
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Purphoros, God of the Forge
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Raphael, Tough Turtle
- Underworld Breach + Wheel of Fortune + Jeska's Will → Infinite draw triggers for all players, Infinite looting for all players, Near-infinite magecraft triggers, Near-infinite storm count
- Underworld Breach + Lion's Eye Diamond + Wheel of Fortune → Infinite draw triggers, Infinite looting, Infinite looting for opponents, Near-infinite storm count
- Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Dualcaster Mage + Molten Duplication → Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature sacrifice triggers, Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Underworld Breach + Grinding Station → Infinite self-mill, Near-infinite storm count, Near-infinite mana among colors of legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control
- Reiterate + Jeska's Will → Infinite magecraft triggers, Infinite red mana, Infinite storm count, Exile your library with the ability to play the exiled cards until end of turn
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Raphael, Tough Turtle's color identity?
Raphael, Tough Turtle is red: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Raphael, Tough Turtle come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Raphael, Tough Turtle deck (the 99 cards most played with it, with 36 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 2.0 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 35 % of the time and floods 20 %. Deck health: D (45/100).
How many lands should a Raphael, Tough Turtle deck run?
Real Raphael, Tough Turtle decks run 36 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Raphael, Tough Turtle?
The three highest-synergy cards are Molten Gatekeeper, Krenko's Command, Witty Roastmaster. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Raphael, Tough Turtle decks.
What combos does Raphael, Tough Turtle have?
Raphael, Tough Turtle has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Underworld Breach + Wheel of Fortune + Jeska's Will. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Raphael, Tough Turtle deck cost?
You can start cheap: Molten Gatekeeper, Krenko's Command, Witty Roastmaster are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.