Howling Golem MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Golem
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Howling Golem provides equal card draw, enhancing hand advantage with each combat it engages in.
  2. Its colorless cost makes it versatile, yet it might not align with strategy-specific mana curves.
  3. A card that’s equitable for all, Howling Golem fits well in decks aiming for shared gameplay dynamics.

Text of card

Whenever Howling Golem attacks or blocks, each player draws a card.

It wails of buried riches and the souls lost seeking them.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Howling Golem ensures that every combat phase can contribute to card advantage by allowing both players to draw a card when it attacks or blocks. This can help you refill your hand and keep up the pace in the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Howling Golem itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it helps maintain a steady flow of cards, potentially leading to drawing into more lands or spells that ramp your mana.

Instant Speed: Although Howling Golem operates at sorcery speed due to its nature as a creature, it synergizes well with instant speed spells. By encouraging card draws during combat, you can access more instant speed interactions, which can be played on your opponents’ turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Howling Golem doesn’t require a player to discard cards, it also does not discriminate in its effect, potentially granting your opponent the same advantage when they draw a card during each player’s combat phase when damage is dealt.

Specific Mana Cost: Howling Golem comes with a colorless mana cost of three, which while versatile, can still be restrictive in decks looking to optimize their mana curve or utilize cost-reduction strategies for colored spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that enables card draw, a 2/3 body for three mana may not provide the level of efficiency expected, as other creatures or artifacts may offer better cost-to-benefit ratios, fitting more seamlessly into aggressive or combo-oriented decks.


Reasons to Include Howling Golem in Your Collection

Versatility: Howling Golem is a neutral card that can be slotted into virtually any deck, making it a flexible choice for both casual and competitive players. Its ability to draw a card upon attacking or blocking is beneficial for decks that are looking to maintain hand advantage.

Combo Potential: With its universal draw effect, this card pairs well with strategies that capitalize on each player drawing cards, such as those involving Nekusar, the Mindrazer, or using cards that profit from the number of cards in opponents’ hands.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where information and resource advantage are vital, Howling Golem provides consistent value as a reliable source of card draw. In an environment where games extend into the later turns, the Golem’s effect can keep your options open while providing a useful blocker or an attacker that can pressure card-hungry opponents.


How to beat Howling Golem

Howling Golem presents a unique challenge in the tableau of creatures from Magic: The Gathering. As a neutral asset that allows all players to draw a card upon attacking or blocking, it can be tricky to outmaneuver. The card encourages a complex exchange in card advantage, fundamentally altering the typical flow of a match. While it might seem beneficial to have everyone drawing more cards, it’s paramount to recognize that closing the game promptly works to your advantage with a card like this on the board.

To gain the upper hand, focus on strategies that either bypass the golem or capitalize on the additional cards drawn. Deploy cards that can remove the golem without triggering its ability—a simple Unsummon or Murderous Rider can efficiently handle the task. Alternatively, mold a deck with an abundance of low-cost creatures to outpace your adversary, rendering the golem’s benefit moot as you apply overwhelming pressure. Above all, maintain board control; Howling Golem’s perk to your opponent ceases to be a problem when you’re the one dictating the pace of the game.

The key is to mitigate the Howling Golem’s influence while leveraging any additional cards drawn to cement your own position. Capitalize swiftly and steer the game towards a timely victory, and the Howling Golem’s symmetrical advantage becomes a mere footnote in your march to triumph.


BurnMana Recommendations

Getting the most out of Howling Golem requires finesse and an understanding of MTG’s deeper mechanics. Its unbiased card draw, paired with the right strategy, can keep your hand fresh and press opponents. But be wary, as your adversaries equally benefit. A nuanced approach to deck-building, where you exploit the golem’s symmetrical draw, could tilt the scales in your favor. We encourage you to explore combos and deck types that turn this seemingly straightforward effect into a tactical asset. Discover more strategies and tips to harness the true potential of Howling Golem by joining us at BurnMana.


Cards like Howling Golem

Howling Golem opens a unique portal to card draw dynamics in Magic: The Gathering, standing tall alongside its peers like Iron Maiden and Ghoulcaller’s Bell. The Golem shares the universal card draw feature but with a pivotal twist – the benefit extends to all players. Unlike Iron Maiden, which targets opponents depending on the number of cards in their hand, Howling Golem is equitable, providing each gamer a uniform opportunity to enhance their hand upon its combat involvement.

Comparatively, Ghoulcaller’s Bell acts impartially, milling all players for one card. While it’s not about drawing, it still manipulates deck composition and card availability à la Howling Golem’s universality. Additionally, veteran players might call to mind Lore Broker, which operates similarly by allowing all players to draw and then discard a card each turn, though it necessitates active player engagement for its effect.

While alternatives exist, Howling Golem offers an intriguing dynamic of shared advantage, making it a piece that belongs in a vast puzzle of deck strategies. For those looking to shape the game collectively with each swing, Howling Golem holds a place of its own amidst MTG’s eclectic array of card draw options.

Iron Maiden - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Ghoulcaller's Bell - Innistrad (ISD)
Lore Broker - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Howling Golem MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria and Game Night, 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 Howling Golem and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Howling Golem Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Grzegorz Rutkowski.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-04-27DominariaDOM 2182015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski
22018-11-16Game NightGNT 532015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski
32019-11-15Game Night 2019GN2 542015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3162015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski
52022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 1172015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Howling Golem has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 After Howling Golem's triggered ability resolves, players can cast spells and activate abilities before blockers are declared if it's attacking, or before damage is dealt if it's blocking.

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