Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed MTG Card


Garruk Relentless flips into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed offering diverse utility from one card. Produces 2/2 Wolf tokens, bolstering board presence with offensive and defensive options. Instant speed token generation allows flexible responses to opponents’ actions.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Garruk
Abilities Transform
Loyalty 3

Text of card

When Garruk Relentless has two or fewer loyalty counters on him, transform him. 0: Garruk Relentless deals 3 damage to target creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to him. 0: Put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token onto the battlefield.


Cards like Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed

Garruk Relentless is a unique planeswalker in Magic: The Gathering. He’s often compared to other versatile planeswalkers like Liliana of the Veil. Both can force opponents to sacrifice creatures, but Garruk offers the distinct capability to also create wolf tokens. However, Liliana’s lower casting cost and her ability to disrupt an opponent’s hand make her a formidable choice for control strategies.

Another card worth mentioning alongside Garruk is Domri, Anarch of Bolas. Although Domri does not transform like Garruk, it similarly affects the board by boosting creatures and providing mana acceleration. Garruk’s transformative nature and token-generating prowess give him an edge in creature-heavy decks that Domri cannot quite match despite the latter’s ability to also provide card advantage.

When considering flexibility and adaptability in gameplay, Garruk Relentless has a strong standing among Magic: The Gathering’s planeswalkers. His ability to switch forms and offer a variety of tactical options provides players with dynamic strategies during a match, standing out in his category for his changeability and creature support.

Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Domri, Anarch of Bolas - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Domri, Anarch of Bolas - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Garruk Relentless, players gain the benefit of flipping the card to its other side, Garruk, the Veil-Cursed, when certain conditions are met. This transformation offers a suite of new abilities, essentially providing additional card utility from a single slot in your deck. Cards are effectively maximized, giving players an edge in maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Garruk Relentless brings to the table the power to generate creature tokens. As a 2/2 Wolf token producer, it excels at creating blockers or attackers that help stabilize the game or push for advantage. These creatures can be essential resources, contributing to board state and indirectly accelerating your game plan by providing a recurring source of pressure or defense.

Instant Speed: While Garruk himself may not operate at instant speed, his ability to create tokens can respond to opponent moves by leaving mana untapped and then creating a creature token if no better play presents itself during the opponent’s turn. This flexibility enhances in-game decision-making and can surprise opponents who might not expect immediate board changes during their phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect of Garruk Relentless that can be seen as a downside is the fact that when he transforms into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed, you may have to discard advantageous creature cards to utilize his tutor ability effectively. This could potentially diminish your hand when you might need those resources to respond to your opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Garruk Relentless requires a very specific mana cost in your deck, one green and three generic, which necessitates a certain amount of green mana sources. This can sometimes be constricting, as consistent access to the right type of mana early on is crucial to deploy him in a timely manner, particularly in multicolored decks that may not prioritize green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana to cast, Garruk Relentless can be a steep cost to pay, particularly in formats like Modern or Legacy where the pace of the game is quicker. There might be alternative planeswalkers or creatures that offer similar levels of impact or board presence for less mana, allowing for a more streamlined and efficient game plan.


Reasons to Include Garruk Relentless in Your Collection

Versatility: Garruk Relentless offers a dual-faced nature, able to transform into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed. This allows him to adapt to various game situations, whether you need creature removal or creature generation.

Combo Potential: Garruk’s ability to generate Wolf tokens pairs well with strategies that capitalize on creature count, such as those involving “Overrun” effects. His ability to tutor for creatures also weaves nicely into toolbox or creature-combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: With a flexible skill set that can adjust to the ebb and flow of the gaming landscape, Garruk Relentless remains a valuable asset in environments where control of creatures and incremental advantage are key.


How to beat

Garruk Relentless is a versatile and powerful planeswalker in the MTG universe. With the ability to transform when his loyalty counters are low, and an arsenal of creature-spawning and targeted removal capabilities, he can prove to be quite the adversary on the battlefield. Yet, no card is invincible. Successfully countering Garruk involves a strategy focused on preventing him from flipping into his more potent form, Garruk, the Veil-Cursed. One effective method is to keep creature threats under control, denying Garruk the victims he needs to diminish his loyalty counters through his damage-dealing ability.

Rapid removal spells can take down the creatures spawned by Garruk, hindering his ability to build an overwhelming presence. Ensnaring him with counter spells when he first appears prevents his initial engagement with the board. Moreover, leveraging your own creatures that can attack planeswalkers directly or flying creatures that can evade Garruk’s ground-based forces can also swing the tide in your favor. Timing and precision, along with knowledge of his transformations, enable a savvy player to outmaneuver this relentless hunter.


BurnMana Recommendations

The world of MTG is filled with powerful cards, and Garruk Relentless is one not to be overlooked. With the ability to create creature tokens and transform into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed, it’s a card that can shift the tides of battle in your favor. Remember, each card offers a unique avenue to victory, and understanding the full potential of cards like Garruk enhances your strategic plays. If you are eager to directly confront your opponents with a relentless force or want to expand your collection with versatile powerhouses, dive deeper with us. Learn the ins and outs to truly harness the might of Garruk Relentless. Ready to cultivate your decks with cunning and versatility? Explore with us and command the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and From the Vault: Transform, 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 Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-05-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 1812003TransformBlackEric Deschamps
22017-11-24From the Vault: TransformV17 92015TransformBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
32023-03-21Shadows of the PastSIS 492015TransformBlackEric Deschamps
42023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 282003TransformBlackEric Deschamps

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-09-22 Garruk Relentless’s first ability is a state-triggered ability. It triggers once Garruk has two or fewer loyalty counters on him and it can’t retrigger while that ability is on the stack.
2011-09-22 Only creatures you control when the third ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed resolves will receive the bonus. Creatures that enter the battlefield or that you gain control of later in the turn won’t be affected.
2011-09-22 The number of creature cards in your graveyard is counted when the third ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed resolves. Once the ability resolves, the bonus doesn’t change if that number changes later in the turn.
2011-09-22 The second ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed doesn’t target a creature. However, when that ability resolves, you must sacrifice a creature if you control one.
2011-09-22 You can’t activate a loyalty ability of Garruk Relentless and later that turn after he transforms activate a loyalty ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed.
2011-09-22 You don’t add or remove loyalty counters from Garruk Relentless when he transforms into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed. In most cases, he’ll have one or two loyalty counters on him.
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).