Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder MTG Card


It enables card advantage by drawing upon dealing damage, enhancing your play options and resources. Provides instant speed transformation, allowing for surprise plays and optimal mana usage each turn. Versatile for various game stages, from an early threat to a late-game battlefield controller.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Soldier Werewolf
Abilities Daybound
Power 4
Toughness 3

Text of card

, : Ballista Watcher deals 1 damage to any target. Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.)

"Careful, this thing's dangerous. Wouldn't want anyone getting hurt."


Cards like Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder

Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder finds its place among MTG’s interesting creature cards with a twist. As a transformative card, it bears a resemblance to modal double-faced cards, such as Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration, which also changes its abilities and stats through specific conditions during the game. Yet, Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder distinguishes itself with its ability to control the battlefield through its ping ability to deal damage, a feature not present in Delver of Secrets’ transformation.

Another related card is Walking Ballista, a creature that brings versatility to the board with its “X” casting cost and the capability to put additional +1/+1 counters, subsequently removing them to deal direct damage. While Walking Ballista offers more flexibility in mana spent and potential damage output, Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder provides a different kind of strategic play through its transformative nature and set damage costs during your turn.

Within the context of creature cards with versatile uses and direct damage abilities, Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder stands out for its two-faced dynamics, offering a strategic advantage in battles as players can adapt their play style to the most beneficial form depending on the game’s progression.

Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration - MTG Card versions
Walking Ballista - MTG Card versions
Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder by color, type and mana cost

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Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Ogre Gatecrasher - MTG Card versions
Reckless One - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder offers a dual benefit of potentially pinging multiple targets and allowing you to draw a card whenever it deals damage to a player. This dual functionality can steadily pull you ahead in resources while pressuring your opponent’s life total or board state.

Resource Acceleration: As a versatile piece, it also contributes to resource acceleration. By dealing damage to your opponent’s creatures, it clears the way for your aggressive strategies or disrupts their development by forcing them to react, potentially using more vital cards earlier than they’d prefer.

Instant Speed: The transformative ability of this card activates at instant speed, offering the dynamic choice of increasing its power during your turn for an aggro play or on your opponent’s turn in response to their actions. This flexibility ensures optimal use of your mana each turn, aligning with top-tier strategies in competitive play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder requires a strategic setup and potentially discarding valuable cards to fully utilize its abilities, which can be a setback for players who are not prepared to exchange resources.

Specific Mana Cost: This card has a specific mana cost that involves red mana, obligating players to factor in mana fixing or to commit to a red-inclusive color scheme, thus limiting the card’s flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end for its effects, Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder may compete for a spot with other mid-game power plays, potentially making it a less attractive option in decks that value mana efficiency.


Reasons to Include Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder in Your Collection

Versatility: Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder is a unique two-faced card that adapts to different stages of the game. Early on, it can serve as a solid creature on the board, while later, it can flip to become a powerful tool to control the battlefield or finish off an opponent.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic interactions. It provides both an early game presence and the ability to scale into a late-game threat. Paired with other cards that manipulate counters or untap creatures, it can create unexpected win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that often revolves around creature interactions and dynamic board states, having a flexible card like Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder can be crucial. It can find its place in decks that aim to outmaneuver the shifting tides of the current meta.


How to beat

The card Ballista Watcher presents itself as a significant challenge on the battlefield in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. When it transforms into Ballista Wielder, the card’s ability to deal damage equal to its power to any target can become a game-changer. Overcoming this formidable artifact creature requires a strategic approach. Removing it before it transforms is key—targeted removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with it. Should it become Ballista Wielder, instant speed removal spells or tricks that negate the damage, such as Blossoming Calm, can prevent its activated ability from turning the tides.

Control decks may prefer countering the creature spell before it hits the table with cards like Counterspell or Dovin’s Veto. Another strategy involves minimizing the damage it can inflict by controlling the power of creatures on the board through effects that reduce creature strength or using board wipes to reset the battlefield. No matter your approach, acting swiftly to address the presence of Ballista Watcher is crucial in maintaining dominance over the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Tomas Duchek.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 1432015TransformBlackTomas Duchek
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 4102015TransformBlackTomas Duchek

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ballista Watcher // Ballista Wielder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-11-19 The activated abilities of Ballista Watcher and Ballista Wielder are completely independent of one another. For example, if you activate Ballista Watcher's ability targeting a creature and then it becomes night, the targeted creature can still block this turn. Conversely, if you resolve Ballista Wielder's ability targeting a creature, transforming it into Ballista Watcher won't allow the creature dealt damage this way to block.