TLDR
- The easiest place to find Rat Colony proxies is ProxyKing, especially if you want a clean playtest copy for casual Commander or kitchen-table Magic.
- Bulk Rat Colony cards are useful because Rat Colony says a deck can have any number of cards named Rat Colony.
- Official copies are best for sanctioned play, while proxies are best for casual decks, testing, and budget-friendly rat tribal builds.
- Always ask your playgroup before using proxies, especially if you plan to run 20, 30, or 40 copies.
- Rat Colony works best with commanders and support cards that reward Rats, tokens, sacrifice, and go-wide combat.
A Rat Colony deck starts as a funny idea and then becomes a math problem. One copy is cute. Ten copies are a plan. Thirty copies are a small sanitation issue with sleeves.
That is why players search for proxies or bulk Rat Colony cards. Rat Colony is one of the few Magic: The Gathering cards that lets you ignore the usual copy limit. Instead of running a single copy in Commander or four copies in most Constructed decks, the card’s own text says a deck can have any number of cards named Rat Colony. That makes it perfect for rat tribal decks, but it also means you may need a lot of the same card.
And buying a pile of official copies is not always the cleanest path. Sometimes you want official cards for a permanent deck. Sometimes you want proxies so you can test the idea first. Both choices make sense. The right one depends on where you play, how many copies you need, and how serious your pod is about proxy use.
What Makes Rat Colony Different?
Rat Colony is a black creature from Magic: The Gathering with a very simple appeal: it gets stronger as you control more Rats, and your deck can include any number of cards named Rat Colony.
That second line is the whole reason this card creates buying questions.
Most Commander decks are singleton. In normal terms, that means you only get one copy of each card other than basic lands. Rat Colony is an exception because the card itself gives you permission to run more copies. You still need to follow the rest of Commander’s deck construction rules, including the 100-card deck size and your commander’s color identity, but you can load the deck with as many Rat Colonies as the deck can reasonably support.
That is a big deal for deckbuilding. A normal creature gets worse when you draw too many similar low-impact bodies. Rat Colony gets better when the board fills up with Rats. The more copies you run, the more often your deck does the thing it was built to do.
Where Can You Find Proxies or Bulk Rat Colony Cards?
For proxies or bulk Rat Colony cards, there are two main routes: use official copies from a local game store or secondary card marketplace, or use proxy cards for casual play and testing.
Official copies are the safer choice if you might play in sanctioned events or store events with strict card policies. Proxies are better when you are building a casual Commander deck, testing a rat tribal idea, or trying to avoid buying a stack of identical cards before you know whether the deck is fun.
For Rat Colony proxies, ProxyKing has a Rat Colony MTG proxy that fits the exact use case most casual players care about: playtesting, Commander nights with proxy-friendly groups, and home games.
That distinction matters. A proxy is not an official tournament card. It is a stand-in. That makes it useful, but it also means you should be clear about where and how you plan to use it.
When Rat Colony Proxies Make Sense
Rat Colony proxies make sense when the card count is the problem.
A normal Commander proxy discussion might be about one expensive staple. With Rat Colony, the issue is different. You may need 20 to 35 copies of the same card before the deck feels like a real Rat Colony deck. That can make even a modestly priced card feel less modest.
Proxies are especially useful in these cases:
- You are testing how many Rat Colonies your deck actually wants.
- You are building the deck for casual Commander only.
- Your playgroup already allows proxies.
- You want a clean, readable set of matching playtest cards.
- You are trying a rat tribal deck before committing to official copies.
- You want to test different commander options without rebuilding the deck from scratch.
The biggest benefit is flexibility. You can start with 25 Rat Colonies, play a few games, and adjust. Maybe the deck needs more removal. Maybe it needs more card draw. Maybe 32 copies felt funny in the deck editor and awful after three opening hands. Proxy testing answers those questions quickly.
When Official Bulk Copies Make More Sense
Official bulk Rat Colony cards make more sense if you want the deck to be ready for stricter store play or you simply prefer real cards.
There is nothing wrong with wanting the official version. Some players care about collection value, printing consistency, set symbols, or tournament legality. If you plan to bring the deck to a public event, official copies are the safer default unless the organizer clearly allows proxies.
Official copies are also nice when you already know you love the deck. Rat Colony is not subtle. After a few games, you will probably know whether you enjoy the play pattern. If you do, buying a stack of real copies can feel more reasonable.
The tradeoff is cost and availability. A deck that wants a large number of identical cards can be annoying to source in one order. You may find 4 copies in one place, 8 in another, and 12 somewhere else. That is fine if you are patient. It is less fine when you just want the deck sleeved for Friday night.
How Many Rat Colony Cards Do You Need?
Most Commander Rat Colony decks want enough copies to draw them naturally, but not so many that the deck stops functioning.
A practical starting range looks like this:
- 15 to 20 copies: Better for a rat tribal deck that uses Rat Colony as one package among many.
- 21 to 30 copies: A strong middle ground for a dedicated Rat Colony Commander deck.
- 31 to 40 copies: Better for players who want Rat Colony to be the main plan almost every game.
- 40+ copies: Possible, but you need a very clear reason. Your removal, draw, ramp, and payoff slots start getting squeezed.
For most players, I would start around 25 to 30 copies. That gives the deck enough density to feel like Rat Colony is the point, while still leaving room for support cards.
The support cards matter. A deck with 35 Rat Colonies and no way to draw cards can run out of gas. A deck with 28 Rat Colonies, strong Rat payoffs, recursion, and sacrifice value may play much better.
Good Commanders for Rat Colony Decks
Rat Colony needs a commander that rewards a board full of small black creatures. You can go mono-black, Rakdos, or another color pair depending on the support cards you want.
Here are some popular directions:
- Marrow-Gnawer: A classic Rat commander that can make a huge number of Rat tokens and give Rats fear.
- Karumonix, the Rat King: A strong mono-black option that gives Rats toxic and helps dig for more Rats.
- Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm: A powerful Rat lord-style commander for aggressive builds.
- Totentanz, Swarm Piper: A Rakdos option that can add sacrifice and token pressure.
- Lord Skitter, Sewer King: A good option if you want Rats, graveyard pressure, and steady board presence.
Mono-black is the simplest build. Your mana is easy, your Rat Colonies fit your commander’s color identity, and you get access to black’s best removal, tutors, recursion, and sacrifice payoffs.
Rakdos adds red cards for damage and sacrifice triggers. That can make the deck more explosive, but the mana base gets a little more complex. Not a huge issue, but it matters if you are trying to keep the deck clean and budget-conscious.
Cards That Help Rat Colony Actually Win
Rat Colony can hit hard, but it still needs help. A pile of Rats is not always enough, especially in Commander where board wipes are common and life totals start at 40.
Good support cards usually fall into a few buckets.
Card draw keeps the deck moving. Rat Colony decks can empty their hand quickly, so effects that draw from creature deaths, combat, or black mana payments are useful.
Rat lords and anthem effects make each body matter more. A small power boost becomes scary when you have a board full of creatures.
Sacrifice payoffs help when opponents wipe the board. If all your Rats are going to die anyway, you may as well get damage, cards, or mana from them.
Recursion gives the deck a second wave. This is important because Rat Colony decks are very visible. Nobody at the table is confused about what you are trying to do.
Good categories to include:
- Rat payoffs
- Creature-based card draw
- Board protection
- Graveyard recursion
- Sacrifice outlets
- Removal spells
- A few finishers that punish opponents for creature deaths or go-wide attacks
Do not fill every slot with Rats. That is tempting, and it is funny exactly once. After that, you will wish some of those Rats were interaction.
A Simple Rat Colony Deckbuilding Framework
Start with the deck’s job, not the card count.
For a casual Commander deck, try this rough structure:
- Commander: 1
- Rat Colony copies: 25 to 30
- Other Rat payoffs: 8 to 12
- Card draw: 8 to 10
- Removal: 8 to 10
- Ramp: 8 to 10
- Recursion or protection: 5 to 8
- Lands: usually 34 to 37
That is not a law. It is a starting point.
If your commander provides card draw, you can trim draw spells. If your curve is very low, you may need slightly less ramp. If your pod plays lots of sweepers, add more recursion and protection. Rat Colony decks look simple, but the good ones still make real deckbuilding choices.
Proxy Etiquette for Rat Colony Decks
Rat Colony is one of the easier proxy conversations because the reason is obvious. You are not hiding anything. You just need a lot of the same card.
Still, ask first.
A simple pregame line works well:
“I’m testing a Rat Colony deck with proxy copies of Rat Colony. They’re all the same card. Is that okay for this game?”
That is usually enough.
If your deck has other proxies beyond Rat Colony, mention those too. The goal is not to turn the pregame conversation into a legal deposition. The goal is to give the table enough information to decide whether the game sounds fun.
Also keep the proxies readable. This matters more when you have a lot of copies. Opponents should be able to tell what the card is, what it costs, and what it does without asking every turn.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The first mistake is running too many Rat Colonies and not enough support.
Yes, the card rewards copies. No, that does not mean every nonland card should be Rat Colony. Commander games are long enough that you need removal, card draw, and ways to recover.
The second mistake is assuming all playgroups treat proxies the same way. Some groups allow anything. Some allow proxies for expensive cards only. Some allow playtest cards but not realistic-looking proxies. Some prefer official cards across the board. None of that is universal, so ask.
The third mistake is forgetting the deck’s actual win condition. Rat Colony attacks well, but boards get clogged. Add ways to push damage through, drain the table, rebuild after wipes, or punish opponents for removing your creatures.
The fourth mistake is buying a huge stack before testing. This is where proxies help. Test the number first. Then decide if you want official bulk copies later.
Are Rat Colony Proxies Tournament Legal?
No. Rat Colony proxies are not legal in sanctioned Wizards of the Coast events.
That does not mean proxies are bad. It means they have a specific role. They are for casual games, playtesting, kitchen-table Magic, and proxy-friendly Commander pods. For sanctioned events, you should use authentic Magic cards unless a judge issues a proxy under tournament rules because a card was damaged during the event.
For most Rat Colony players, this is not a major issue. Rat Colony decks are usually casual Commander decks. Still, it is worth being clear before you order anything.
Final Recommendation
Start with proxies if you are still testing the deck. Rat Colony is exactly the kind of card where proxy testing saves time. You may think you want 40 copies, then find out the deck plays better with 28 and more support spells.
ProxyKing is a clean place to start if you want a Rat Colony proxy for casual play or deck testing. If your group allows proxies, you can build the deck, shuffle it up, and see how the swarm actually feels at the table.
Then decide whether official bulk copies are worth it for your long-term version.
Rat Colony decks are simple in the best way. Play Rats. Make them bigger. Make more Rats. Try not to lose everything to one board wipe. And when someone asks how many Rat Colonies you are running, answer with confidence.
“Enough.”
FAQs
Can I Run More Than One Rat Colony in Commander?
Yes. Rat Colony’s card text says a deck can have any number of cards named Rat Colony. You still need to follow Commander’s 100-card deck size and color identity rules.
How Many Rat Colony Cards Should I Put in a Commander Deck?
Most dedicated Rat Colony Commander decks should start around 25 to 30 copies. You can adjust from there based on how much card draw, removal, ramp, and recursion your deck needs.
Where Can I Get Rat Colony Proxies?
You can get a Rat Colony proxy from ProxyKing for casual play and testing. Proxies are useful when you want to try a deck before buying a large stack of official copies.
Are Rat Colony Proxies Legal in Tournaments?
No. Proxies are not legal in sanctioned Wizards of the Coast events. They are best used for casual Commander, playtesting, and home games where your playgroup allows them.
Is Rat Colony Better Than Relentless Rats?
Rat Colony is cheaper to cast and often better for low-curve swarm decks. Relentless Rats is bigger on its own but costs more mana. Rat Colony is usually the cleaner pick if you want to flood the board quickly.
Should I Buy Official Bulk Copies or Use Proxies?
Use proxies if you are testing or playing casual Commander with a proxy-friendly group. Buy official bulk copies if you want tournament legality, collection value, or a finished deck with authentic Magic cards.