Gnoll Hunter MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 326
2021-07-23 - Number 185
2022-07-07 - Number 212
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Gnoll |
| Abilities | Pack tactics |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Gnoll Hunter boosts your board with Wolf tokens, increasing your creature count with each attack.
- It’s constrained by color-specific mana requirements and a hefty mana cost for its abilities.
- Worth inclusion for its synergy with go-wide strategies and creature-based metas.
Text of card
Pack tactics — Whenever Gnoll Hunter attacks, if you attacked with creatures with total power 6 or greater this combat, put a +1/+1 counter on Gnoll Hunter.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gnoll Hunter lets you profit every time it attacks by creating a 1/1 green Wolf creature token. These Wolf tokens can pile up quickly, leading to a formidable board presence that keeps your options plentiful and pressures your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Although Gnoll Hunter itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, the generated Wolf tokens can be of strategic use with other cards that thrive on having a broad army, scaling with effects that boost your creatures or convert creatures into additional resources.
Instant Speed: The Gnoll Hunter may not function at instant speed, but by fostering an army of Wolf tokens, it ensures that you always have a reserve force ready to respond to threats or opportunities that arise during your turns, keeping the momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gnoll Hunter necessitates discarding another card to activate certain abilities. This prerequisite can be a setback, especially when your hand is already depleted or when every card is pivotal for your gameplay strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Playing Gnoll Hunter demands a specific combination of mana colors, which restricts its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate both green and another type of mana. This can complicate the deck-building process for players who prefer a more flexible mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be considered steep for its body and abilities, Gnoll Hunter faces stiff competition from other creatures in the same mana range. Players often look for cost-efficient creatures that can have an immediate impact on the game, and Gnoll Hunter’s cost may deter it from being a first-choice creature for many decks.
Reasons to Include Gnoll Hunter in Your Collection
Versatility: Gnoll Hunter offers adaptability in various deck builds, especially those focusing on creature presence and go-wide strategies. Its Pack Tactics ability can be a game-changer by enabling you to consistently grow your creature army.
Combo Potential: With its ability to create a 1/1 green Wolf creature token, Gnoll Hunter synergizes well with decks that profit from creatures entering the battlefield or those looking to build tribal synergies.
Meta-Relevance: As gameplay in many formats rewards board presence and creature-based strategies, Gnoll Hunter proves to be a solid addition that can sway the board in your favor, providing continuous value in a creature-centric meta.
How to beat
Gnoll Hunter is a compelling component for creature strategies in Magic: The Gathering, offering growth potential with additional +1/+1 counters every time you roll dice that result in ten or higher. Facing this card means you’re up against a creature that can quickly grow out of control in lucky-dice-roll scenarios.
One efficient approach to counter Gnoll Hunter is by using removal spells that can target creatures directly, regardless of their size. Instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push are effective ways to deal with Gnoll Hunter before it becomes a threat on the board. Similarly, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playfield, ensuring that Gnoll Hunter’s ability to accumulate counters is halted. Moreover, setting up early defenses that can block it while it’s still manageable is also a sound strategy.
It’s crucial to remember that timing is key when dealing with such creatures. Delaying your actions might give your opponent the chance to take advantage of Gnoll Hunter’s potential growth. Thus, precise and early interventions are recommended to maintain board superiority and prevent Gnoll Hunter from tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor.
Cards like Gnoll Hunter
Gnoll Hunter enters the conversation of valuable green creature cards that players seeking aggressive strategies might consider for their decks. Like the well-known Pelt Collector from Guilds of Ravnica, Gnoll Hunter thrives off other creatures entering the battlefield and grows stronger accordingly. Both cards start as a small threat but can quickly become a powerhouse as you play more creatures.
Another parallel can be drawn with Experiment One. This card also has the capacity to grow and can regenerate, providing it with resilience that Gnoll Hunter lacks. However, Gnoll Hunter offers an additional advantage with its pack tactics ability – when it attacks with a total power of six or more, you create a 2/2 wolf creature token. This token creation is something that neither Pelt Collector nor Experiment One offers.
Through comparing these aspects, it’s evident that Gnoll Hunter can hold its own within MTG’s ecosystem of creature cards. It uniquely combines the strength of increasing power with token generation, making it a versatile choice for players looking to expand their board and apply constant pressure to their opponents.
Cards similar to Gnoll Hunter by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gnoll Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, 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 Gnoll Hunter and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Gnoll Hunter Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 326 | 2015 | normal | black | Russ Nicholson | |
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 185 | 2015 | normal | black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2022-07-07 | Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate | HBG | 212 | 2015 | normal | black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gnoll Hunter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
