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: €0.07
Average lands in decks for Raphael, Tough Turtle: 36
BurnTokensAggroGoblinsComboDiscardDragon's ApproachPingers
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 per EDHREC (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)
- Consistency30
- Speed63
- Interaction18
- Resilience59
- Closing50
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 36 lands (1 nonbasic, 35 Mountain)
Impact Tremors · Krenko's Command · Molten Gatekeeper · Thrill of Possibility · Sol Ring · Arcane Signet · Dragon Fodder · Empty the Warrens · Witty Roastmaster · Lightning Bolt · Krenko, Mob Boss · Goblin Instigator · Hordeling Outburst · Mogg War Marshal · Slash, Reptile Rampager · Weftstalker Ardent · Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin · Abrade · Big Score · Legion Warboss · Loyal Apprentice · Torbran, Thane of Red Fell · Goblin Surprise · Blasphemous Act · Faithless Looting · General Kreat, the Boltbringer · Mouser Attack! · Raid Bombardment · Siege-Gang Lieutenant · Grab the Prize · Mouser Foundry · Panharmonicon · Shock Brigade · Agate Instigator · Demand Answers · Purphoros, God of the Forge · Ruby Medallion · Goblin Matron · Impulsive Pilferer · Raphael, the Nightwatcher · Mind Stone · Skullclamp · Song of Totentanz · The Fire Crystal · Wingnut, Bat on the Belfry · Chaos Warp · Elder Auntie · Glimpse the Impossible · Hawkeye's Bow · Howlsquad Heavy · Raphael, Most Attitude · Raphael's Technique · Mysidian Elder · Searslicer Goblin · Shock · Stadium Headliner · Firebrand Archer · Ral's Reinforcements · Rally at the Hornburg · Sabotender · Unexpected Windfall · Forbidden Friendship · Goblin Bombardment · 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 | 53% | +40% |
| Witty Roastmaster | 48% | +40% |
| Empty the Warrens | 48% | +39% |
| Impact Tremors | 63% | +38% |
| Dragon Fodder | 49% | +36% |
| Slash, Reptile Rampager | 39% | +36% |
| Krenko, Mob Boss | 42% | +33% |
| Mogg War Marshal | 40% | +30% |
| Weftstalker Ardent | 39% | +30% |
| Goblin Instigator | 40% | +29% |
| Dwarven Mine | 40% | +29% |
| Hordeling Outburst | 40% | +29% |
| Mouser Attack! | 29% | +28% |
| Loyal Apprentice | 33% | +28% |
| Goblin Surprise | 31% | +27% |
| Mouser Foundry | 27% | +26% |
| Shock Brigade | 27% | +26% |
| Wingnut, Bat on the Belfry | 24% | +24% |
| Raphael, the Nightwatcher | 25% | +24% |
| Raid Bombardment | 29% | +23% |
| Legion Warboss | 33% | +23% |
| Raphael, Most Attitude | 23% | +23% |
| Song of Totentanz | 24% | +22% |
💰 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
- Empty the Warrens
- Impact Tremors
- Dragon Fodder
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Song of Totentanz
- Panharmonicon
- Agate Instigator
- General Kreat, the Boltbringer
- Norin the Wary
- Raphael, Tag Team Tough
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 most-included cards per EDHREC, 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 36 % 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.