Mournwillow MTG Card
2016-07-22 - Number 187
2023-03-21 - Number 237
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Plant Skeleton |
| Abilities | Delirium,Haste |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Mournwillow provides card advantage and can accelerate your board presence significantly in early gameplay.
- Its specific mana requirements and discard activation cost can present challenges in deck construction.
- Versatile in Golgari decks, Mournwillow’s combo and meta-relevance make it a valuable collection addition.
Text of card
Haste Delirium — When Mournwillow enters the battlefield, if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, creatures with power 2 or less can't block this turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mournwillow can disrupt your opponent’s hand, leading to potential card advantage by forcing them to discard cards, especially when combined with other graveyard mechanics.
Resource Acceleration: As a relatively low cost creature with haste, Mournwillow can quickly accelerate your board presence, applying pressure from early in the game and paving the way for larger threats to follow.
Instant Speed: While Mournwillow itself isn’t an instant, its ability to deal damage at haste can be akin to the surprise factor of an instant, catching opponents off guard and working well with flash spells for unexpected plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Mournwillow often implies discarding another card to activate its Haste feature. This requirement can be a setback, especially when your hand is already running low on cards and each resource counts.
Specific Mana Cost: Mournwillow demands a precise blend of black and green mana, which might not always align with the strategic assortment of your deck. This can potentially restrict its inclusion only to decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to play, with one hybrid black or green, Mournwillow’s cost may be steeper when pitted against other cards offering similar aggressiveness. In many cases, players might prefer creatures or spells that offer more immediate impact or versatility for the same, or less, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Mournwillow in Your Collection
Versatility: Mournwillow serves as a flexible card that slots perfectly into black-green (Golgari) themed decks or any setup that appreciates an aggressive early game presence with the added benefit of a late-game conditional sweeper.
Combo Potential: This card carries potential combo applications by enabling delirium more easily due to its self-milling feature. Furthermore, when paired with cards that give all creatures haste, Mournwillow can immediately exert its board impact upon entering the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s crowded with creature-based strategies, Mournwillow can give you an edge by hosing down decks that rely on small utility creatures, clearing the way for a quick swing to your opponent’s life total.
How to beat
Mournwillow is a versatile card that brings agility to any MTG deck, boasting not just speed but also a built-in utility to weaken your opponent’s defenses. Its ability to grant creatures with power 2 or less cannot block this turn presents a thorny challenge for your adversaries, especially if they’re relying on a swarm of smaller creatures to hold the line.
To outmaneuver Mournwillow’s ability, consider switching your deck to include higher toughness creatures that fall beyond the affected threshold. This shift to more robust creatures will render Mournwillow’s ability less effective, while simultaneously improving your board’s resilience against a plethora of other MTG strategies. Alternatively, keep instant-speed removal spells or flash creatures at the ready, ensuring that you can respond swiftly to Mournwillow’s activated ability and remove it before your opponent’s creatures become unblockable. A balanced mixture of defensive and proactive measures can turn the tide in your favor, transforming Mournwillow from a formidable foe into a manageable challenge.
Ultimately, being mindful of deck composition and holding onto key interactive spells are your best bets when facing Mournwillow on the battlefield. By doing so, you can mitigate its impact and maintain control over the course of the game.
Cards like Mournwillow
Mournwillow is a unique presence in Magic: The Gathering, blending speed with utility. This card resonates with players who appreciate a swift offense. Its closest relatives include Strangleroot Geist and Flinthoof Boar. While Strangleroot Geist offers undying, giving it a resilient edge, it doesn’t have the potential to affect all opponents like Mournwillow, which can render an entire team unable to block when delirium is activated.
Flinthoof Boar may boast a comparable speed, thanks to haste, and the possibility to pump its power if you control a Mountain. Yet it lacks the delirium-triggered ability that nudges Mournwillow into a class of its own. Then we come to putrid Leech – a creature that can grow more powerful at the cost of life points, but without the haste or delirium bonuses that give Mournwillow an edge in fast-paced matches.
Each of these cards has a role, but for players seeking an aggressive stance with a secondary strategic advantage, Mournwillow is the card that can unexpectedly tip the scales in a match, all the while maintaining a ferocious pace on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Mournwillow by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mournwillow MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Mournwillow 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
Printings
The Mournwillow Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Jeff Simpson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-07-22 | Eldritch Moon | EMN | 187 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff Simpson | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 237 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff Simpson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mournwillow has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mournwillow card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-07-13 | Because the last ability’s effect doesn’t change the characteristics of any permanents, the set of creatures affected is constantly updated. Any creature with power 2 or less at the moment blockers are chosen will be unable to block. |
