Fierce Witchstalker MTG Card

Trample ability and sizeable body help maintain card advantage against smaller creatures on the battlefield. Food token upon entry provides resource acceleration through life gain or powering other game mechanics. While tailored for green decks, its four mana cost may restrict use in faster, aggressive gameplay strategies.

Fierce Witchstalker - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
2019-10-04 - Number 154

Fierce Witchstalker - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 661

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number ELD-154

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Wolf
Abilities	Food,Trample
Power	4
Toughness	4

Text of card

Trample When Fierce Witchstalker enters the battlefield, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.")

While the realm has laws, in the wilds there are other ways of balancing power.

Cards like Fierce Witchstalker

Fierce Witchstalker is a notable creature in MTG, reminiscent of similar green creatures that offer players a combination of size and utility. Similar to the Witchstalker is Baloth Gorger, which can grow larger with its kicker ability, but lacks the immediate benefit of Fierce Witchstalker’s Food token upon entering the battlefield. The Witchstalker stands out for giving you that extra bit of resource, handy for life-gain or fueling other effects.

Another card that shares the same ecosystem with Fierce Witchstalker is Voracious Typhon. Both cards boast a formidable presence, but the Typhon offers late-game versatility with its escape mechanic, allowing it to return from the graveyard. However, it doesn’t provide the food token advantage like the Witchstalker.

In weighing the options, Fierce Witchstalker presents a balanced mix of immediate impact with its Food token and a robust body, making it a reliable choice for those looking to enhance their green decks with a multipurpose creature. Its blend of advantages situates it favorably among creatures in its mana range.

Cards similar to Fierce Witchstalker by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions

Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Fierce Witchstalker enters the battlefield, its Trample ability combined with a sizeable body can often lead to favorable trades, maintaining or gaining card advantage by dealing with smaller creatures effectively.

Resource Acceleration: Fierce Witchstalker provides a Food token upon entry. This token can be sacrificed for life gain or additional mana if used with mechanics or cards that capitalize on such artifacts, thereby accelerating available resources.

Instant Speed: While Fierce Witchstalker itself may not operate at instant speed, the inclusion of a Food token upon its entry can be an asset at instant speed. Interactions with instant speed spells that utilize Food tokens could unexpectedly shift the game in your favor during an opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Fierce Witchstalker offers a tempting food token upon entering the battlefield, it can pose a slight setback if encountered when the player’s hand is valuable. Discarding can lead to a tough decision if the card synergies are essential to the current game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Fierce Witchstalker’s casting cost isn’t overly restrictive but does require a commitment to green mana, which may not seamlessly integrate into all deck archetypes. This can sometimes limit its inclusion to purely green or green-centric decks, somewhat narrowing its applicability in the broader competitive landscape.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of four mana to cast, this creature doesn’t always align with aggressive mana curves. When speed is key, players might opt for lower-cost creatures to maintain tempo against faster decks. Given its cost, some might find that alternative creatures or spells could provide a greater immediate board impact or versatility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fierce Witchstalker offers great flexibility on the battlefield. As a creature card, it enhances green-based decks that capitalize on a strong board presence. With its Trample ability, it’s not easily blocked by smaller creatures, ensuring some damage can be dealt to opponents consistently.

Combo Potential: When you cast Fierce Witchstalker, it creates a Food token, which can be used in various synergies. It fits well in decks that have mechanics revolving around artifact usage or life gain, providing a valuable resource for either need.

Meta-Relevance: In the current environment, where games can pivot on life swings and maintaining board control, having a card like Fierce Witchstalker can be quite beneficial. Its ability to potentially sway the game with sustained pressure and life gain options can make it a relevant choice for many metagame scenarios.

How to beat

Facing off against Fierce Witchstalker in MTG can be a daunting task, especially when it hits the battlefield and brings along with it a Food token, offering not just a sturdy 4/4 trampler but a handy life buffer as well. To overcome this creature, it is crucial to have removal spells ready. Spells like Murderous Rider or Heartless Act can take out the Witchstalker before it can start swinging in for significant trample damage or using its Food token for a life advantage.

Moreover, countering Fierce Witchstalker as it’s being cast with spells like Cancel or Negate ensures that you don’t have to deal with the creature or the additional Food token at all. If the Witchstalker is already on the field and you’re without direct removal, having creatures with higher toughness to absorb its trample damage, or employing chump blockers while you find a solution, can be good defensive moves.

Ultimately, the strategy lies in removing Fierce Witchstalker promptly or neutralizing its impact while you establish a board state capable of overshadowing this green creature’s advantages. In this way, you keep the Witchstalker from becoming a relentless force in the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fierce Witchstalker MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and The List, 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 Fierce Witchstalker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Fierce Witchstalker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Nicholas Gregory.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2019-10-04	Throne of Eldraine	ELD	154	2015	Normal	Black	Nicholas Gregory
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	ELD-154	2015	Normal	Black	Nicholas Gregory
3	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	661	2015	Normal	Black	Nicholas Gregory

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fierce Witchstalker 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
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-10-04	Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures (such as Gingerbrute), it's never a creature type.
2019-10-04	Whatever you do, don't eat the delicious cards.
2019-10-04	You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the ability of Tempting Witch.