Hunting Moa MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Bird Beast
Abilities Echo
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Hunting Moa offers value through board enhancement with persistent +1/+1 counters, boosting creature strength.
  2. Despite lacking instant speed, it’s impactful in combat and can surprise opponents with strategic counter distribution.
  3. Requires careful deck synergy due to specific mana needs and can compete with other three-mana creatures.

Text of card

Echo Whenever Hunting Moa comes into play or is put into a graveyard from play, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hunting Moa can boost the board presence by offering a permanent +1/+1 counters distribution upon entering the battlefield or when it dies, thus providing incremental value over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that can enhance other creatures, Hunting Moa can be considered a form of resource acceleration, strengthening your existing forces and potentially reducing the need for additional spells to achieve similar effects.

Instant Speed: Although Hunting Moa doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to distribute +1/+1 counters can be leveraged at key moments, such as after blockers are declared, to surprise opponents and turn the tide of combat in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hunting Moa’s abilities don’t involve discarding, but be mindful of other cards in your deck that could force a discard, weakening your position when you need to amplify Hunting Moa’s effect on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Hunting Moa requires both green mana and generic mana to play, which could restrict its inclusion in multi-color decks or those that have a tight mana base and can’t consistently produce the necessary green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Hunting Moa’s initial impact may not seem quite as potent when compared to other creatures or buffs in the same mana range. It’s essential to consider deck synergy and the potential for more cost-effective alternatives.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hunting Moa is adaptable to various deck builds, shining in strategies that gain benefits from +1/+1 counters. Its ability to enhance other creatures allows for flexible tactical play and on-the-fly adaptability, fitting effortlessly into decks that prioritize board presence.

Combo Potential: With Hunting Moa, players can exploit the power of +1/+1 counters. It pairs well with proliferate mechanics or creatures that have abilities triggered by counters, amplifying both offensive and defensive capabilities and setting up potential game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature interactions are key, Hunting Moa’s ability to beef up your creatures can help turn the tide of battle. Its synergy with counter-centric decks makes it a relevant choice, especially if you’re countering strategies that hinge on subtle creature advantages.


How to beat

Hunting Moa is an intriguing creature card in the ecosystem of MTG. Its ability to empower others on the battlefield with +1/+1 counters can quickly turn the tides of a game if left unchecked. To counter this agile avian ally, prioritize removal spells that can target creatures either before the Moa’s ability triggers or in response to it. One effective strategy is to rely on instant-speed removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, which can disrupt the synergy before your opponent capitalizes on the distributing of counters.

Furthermore, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation are excellent choices to reset the playing field when facing decks that rely heavily on counter accumulation. Creature-based strategies, such as those using Hunting Moa, often commit multiple creatures to the board, making them vulnerable to such sweepers. Additionally, maintaining a pace that outmaneuvers the incremental growth Hunting Moa offers is key. Aggressive decks or those with larger creatures can often outclass the Moa’s impact by presenting threats that demand immediate answers, thus diverting attention from the strategy of building up counters over time.

Overall, when tactically analyzing the intricacies of creature combat within MTG, cards like Hunting Moa can be managed effectively with a combination of swift removal, strategic board control, and applying pressure with larger threats of your own.


Cards like Hunting Moa

Exploring the diverse ecosystem of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Hunting Moa is a compelling card with abilities that mirror the functionalities of other creatures, albeit with unique twists. Reflecting on cards like Juniper Order Ranger, we find a creature that similarly increases the strength of other creatures. However, Hunting Moa stands out with its echo cost, prompting strategic play decisions about resource allocation in the subsequent turn. Moreover, Hunting Moa’s single color mana requirement makes it a versatile choice in multicolored decks.

Examining Armorcraft Judge can also provide perspective. Although it doesn’t bolster creatures directly, Armorcraft Judge’s ability to draw cards equal to the number of creatures with +1/+1 counters adds a different dimension of advantage, particularly in decks that massively deploy counters. In contrast, Hunting Moa’s immediate impact on the board by offering a one-time +1/+1 counter could be more favorable in fast-paced matches.

When considering the aspects of creature enhancement and overall utility, Hunting Moa not only enriches creature-based strategies by incrementing power and toughness but also demands careful timing for maximum effect, marking its own niche in the rich tapestry of creature abilities within MTG.

Juniper Order Ranger - MTG Card versions
Armorcraft Judge - MTG Card versions
Juniper Order Ranger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Armorcraft Judge - Kaladesh (KLD)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hunting Moa MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and Time Spiral Timeshifted, 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 Hunting Moa and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hunting Moa Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 2010-06-18. Illustrated by DiTerlizzi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-06-07Urza's DestinyUDS 1091997normalblackDiTerlizzi
22006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 801997normalblackDiTerlizzi
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 602003normalblackDiTerlizzi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hunting Moa has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 You get a +1/+1 counter both when it enters the battlefield and when it goes to a graveyard from the battlefield.

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