Howl from Beyond MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 111
1993-10-04 - Number 112
1993-12-01 - Number 112
1993-12-10 - Number 112
1993-12-10 - Number 112
1994-04-01 - Number 114
1994-04-01 - Number 114
1994-06-21 - Number 114
1995-04-01 - Number 141
1995-04-01 - Number 141
1995-06-03 - Number 132
1997-03-24 - Number 168
1999-04-21 - Number 138
2001-04-11 - Number 142
2001-04-11 - Number 142★
2011-01-10 - Number 87
2022-11-28 - Number 108
2022-11-28 - Number 405
2023-01-13 - Number 88
| Card sets | Released in 19 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature gains +X/+0 until end of turn.
Cards like Howl from Beyond
Howl from Beyond serves a specific role in Magic: The Gathering as a finisher by pumping up a creature’s power. When you compare it to other instant spells like Giant Growth, which also enhances a creature’s abilities, the key difference emerges in the scalability. Giant Growth offers a fixed power boost, while Howl from Beyond’s effect scales with the mana you invest into it.
Another parallel can be drawn with Strength of the Tajuru. Both cards’ effectiveness is dependent on how much mana you pour into them. However, Strength of the Tajuru is more flexible, as it distributes +1/+1 counters, enhancing both power and toughness across multiple creatures. In contrast, Howl from Beyond focuses on a single, critical power boost.
Notably, there’s also the comparison with Overrun, which not only increases power but grants trample, potentially impacting multiple creatures. While Overrun is constrained to sorcery speed, Howl from Beyond’s instant speed allows for sudden, surprise adjustments during combat, making it a formidable and unexpected game-changer. Evaluating these cards side by side, Howl from Beyond occupies its unique niche through its tactical versatility in boosting a creature’s offensive prowess.
Cards similar to Howl from Beyond by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Howl from Beyond excels at turning single creature threats into game-ending powerhouses, essentially magnifying the value of the card it empowers. This ability to surprise enemies and push through additional damage often leads to a card advantage, as opponents may lose creatures or even the game if they underestimate the threat.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing mana resources, Howl from Beyond can serve as a pseudo accelerator by effectively minimizing the number of attacks needed to deplete an opponent’s life total. Turning what could be several turns of combat into a swift victory converts tempo into a form of resource advantage.
Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed, Howl from Beyond permits strategic flexibility, allowing players to hold up mana for other spells or interactions. Should an opening present itself, the card can be cast mid-combat to drastically alter the power dynamics on the board and catch adversaries off guard, often resulting in a swift shift in momentum.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike some modern powerful spells, Howl from Beyond necessitates having a creature in play to target, leaving you at a disadvantage if your board is clear.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for black mana decks, Howl from Beyond’s specific mana cost can be restrictive, as it’s not as flexible for multicolored mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its single-target boost effect, the mana investment can be steep compared to other spells that provide widespread buffs or additional abilities.
Reasons to Include Howl from Beyond in Your Collection
Versatility: Howl from Beyond is a classic card that can be slotted into a wide array of black decks. Its ability to boost a creature’s power at instant speed makes it a flexible tool for both offensive and defensive plays.
Combo Potential: For players who love to strategize, Howl from Beyond pairs excellently with cards that have on-hit effects. Increasing the damage output right before a creature connects can lead to unexpectedly high impact plays.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games can switch quickly from a stalemate to a race, Howl from Beyond can be the surprise factor that tips the scales in your favor, making it a relevant choice for decks that aim to unexpectedly close out games.
How to beat
Howl from Beyond is a classic spell known for its potential to turn the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering. This card primarily serves to give a creature an instant boost in power until end of turn for each black mana spent. When facing off against Howl from Beyond, it’s vital to anticipate this trick, especially when your opponent has a significant amount of untapped black mana. It’s also worth noting that while the power increase can be massive, it does not enhance toughness, leaving the creature just as vulnerable to destroy and damage effects.
To counter this card, maintain a strategy that includes instant speed removal, such as Doom Blade or Shock, to eliminate the enhanced creature before it deals lethal damage. Counterspells like Negate can also outright prevent Howl from Beyond from ever resolving. Moreover, employing blocker creatures with deathtouch or enough toughness to withstand the pumped up attacker can mitigate the surprise Howl from Beyond could bring to the battlefield.
Ultimately, careful monitoring of mana and potential threats, coupled with a deck equipped with control elements, can effectively nullify the impact of Howl from Beyond, preserving your standing in the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Howl from Beyond MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Howl from Beyond and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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 Howl from Beyond Magic the Gathering card was released in 17 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 111 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 112 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 112 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 112 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 112 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 114 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 114 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 114 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 141 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 141 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Poole | |
| 11 | 1995-06-03 | Ice Age | ICE | 132 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 12 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 168 | 1997 | Normal | White | John Coulthart | |
| 13 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 138 | 1997 | Normal | White | John Coulthart | |
| 14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 142 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dave Dorman | |
| 15 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 142★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dave Dorman | |
| 16 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 87 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 17 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 108 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 18 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 405 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Poole | |
| 19 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 88 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Dorman |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Howl from Beyond has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |