Wild Onslaught MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Kicker |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Number | 188 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Simon Dominic |
Key Takeaways
- Kicker mechanic doubles impact, presenting huge +1/+1 counter distribution across the board.
- Mana flexibility allows for potent plays or conserving resources for critical moments.
- Instant speed provides exceptional tactical opportunities to outmaneuver opponents.
Text of card
Kicker (You may pay an additional as you cast this spell.) Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. If this spell was kicked, put two +1/+1 counters on each creature you control instead.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wild Onslaught offers a strategic edge by allowing you to put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. When utilized with the kicker cost, this number doubles to two per creature, magnifying its impact significantly—enhancing your board position and potential for future combat success.
Resource Acceleration: As a scalable spell, Wild Onslaught enables dynamic resource allocation. Investing the kicker cost can drastically accelerate your board state, converting mana into powerful, tangible advantages that can overwhelm opponents.
Instant Speed: The instant nature of Wild Onslaught gives it flexibility during gameplay. It allows you to adapt to the battlefield, springing a surprise on adversaries by bolstering your creatures either on your turn or in response to an enemy’s move, making it a versatile tool in any match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Wild Onslaught does not specifically require a card to be discarded, its kicker mechanic necessitates additional mana, which could be problematic when your hand is depleted and you’re vying for a late-game presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Wild Onslaught demands a particular combination of mana – two generic and two green – which can be restrictive for multicolored decks aiming to maintain a diverse mana base for flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base cost and an optional kicker cost, Wild Onslaught can be quite the investment. When considering the four mana required at its base level, and the total of six to activate its kicker, it becomes evident that there are alternative cards that could offer similar or greater advantage for less mana, making it a less-than-ideal choice in some deck strategies.
Reasons to Include Wild Onslaught in Your Collection
Versatility: Wild Onslaught proves to be a flexible pick for several deck archetypes. Its capacity to bolster your entire creature line-up, thanks to the +1/+1 counters, makes it a solid play in counter-centric decks or those benefiting from permanent buffs.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that synergize with +1/+1 counters, such as those triggering proliferate or modular abilities, Wild Onslaught becomes a formidable enhancer to combo out for potentially game-winning scenarios.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence equates to dominance, this card offers a robust solution to strengthen creatures en masse against sweepers or to quickly close in for lethal against opponents with big, game-changing moments.
How to Beat Wild Onslaught
Wild Onslaught stands as a compelling card in Magic: The Gathering, mainly due to its capability to bolster an entire creature army with +1/+1 counters, especially when leveraging its kicker cost. Addressing this surge in threat level requires a tactical response. Board wipes become paramount—cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the field. Alternatively, instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile target key creatures before counters are distributed.
Controlling your opponent’s creature count before Wild Onslaught is cast can mitigate its impact. Efficient counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak also present a formidable barrier, providing preemptive disruption. Enchantment-based strategies, like Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker, impede activated abilities, although they do not interact directly with Wild Onslaught.
In essence, greeting Wild Onslaught with a well-prepared deck that includes creature removal, counterplay, and board control can diminish the card’s potential to overtake the game. A combination of proactive and reactive tactics is key to triumph over the +1/+1 counter onslaught.
Cards like Wild Onslaught
Wild Onslaught stands out as an intriguing option for players looking to bolster their creature forces in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Overrun, which grants creatures significant power and toughness boosts along with trample until end of turn. Wild Onslaught, though, offers the flexibility of the kicker mechanic, allowing a variable boost depending on the mana investment, which is absent in Overrun.
Another card worth mentioning in this space is Strength of the Tajuru, a spell that also scales with the amount of spent mana. While Strength of the Tajuru increases the number of +1/+1 counters based on mana input, it doesn’t have the built-in capacity to impact all creatures like Wild Onslaught when kicked. Also in the comparison is Biogenic Upgrade, which distributes three +1/+1 counters on up to three target creatures. While it can potentially put more counters with a single cast, it lacks the instant speed of Wild Onslaught, limiting its surprise play capability.
To sum up, among similar MTG cards that boost creature performance, Wild Onslaught’s versatility and potential for an instantaneous wide-scale effect give it an edge in strategic depth and surprise factor during gameplay.
Cards similar to Wild Onslaught by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wild Onslaught MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Wild Onslaught 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 MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wild Onslaught has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
