Howling Wolf MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 252
2014-06-06 - Number 167
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Wolf |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Howling Wolf comes into play, you may search your library for up to three Howling Wolf cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
Cards like Howling Wolf
The Howling Wolf card is an intriguing member of the creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Much like Squadron Hawk, it searches for copies of itself upon entering the battlefield, enabling players to fill their hand with creature cards. While Squadron Hawk focuses on flying defenses, Howling Wolf emphasizes a pack mentality, where each copy can bolster the board presence with its brethren.
Joining the pack, we discover Totem-Guide Hartebeest, which also offers a lookup upon entering the battlefield. However, instead of creatures, it searches for enchantments, offering a different kind of deck consistency. Whereas the Howling Wolf shines in creature-heavy green decks, the Hartebeest leans towards controlling or aura-focused white decks.
Green’s creature-centric mechanics are further highlighted by cards like Wirewood Herald, that not only fetch other creatures upon death but cater to Elf tribal synergies. Unlike the proactive search of Howling Wolf, the Herald requires a sacrifice but also supports specific tribal elements. This gives players multiple pathways to consider when building around creature-based strategies.
In essence, Howling Wolf stands out with its weaving of creature synergy and strategy. It offers straightforward deck support for those who prioritize creature numbers and battlefield presence.
Cards similar to Howling Wolf by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Howling Wolf, you’re not just adding a creature to the battlefield; you’re also stocking up your hand by searching your library for up to three more copies of Howling Wolf. This ensures that your grip remains full and your options varied.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Howling Wolf itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the act of thinning your deck by fetching additional copies increases the likelihood of drawing into more impactful cards and lands, thus indirectly ramping up your game’s momentum.
Instant Speed: This card benefits from acting at sorcery speed, allowing you to plan your moves and set up the board state on your turn. The value of the Howling Wolf lies in strategic deployment, ensuring you maximize your plays according to the developing board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Howling Wolf comes with a discard condition that can be a major setback when your hand is already depleted. Having to lose another valuable card from your hand can make it tough to maintain a strategic advantage on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Howling Wolf requires a precise combination of mana, including the need for green mana sources. This can be restrictive and often not easily compatible with multicolored decks that might run smoother with more versatile cards.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the need to invest a notable amount of mana to bring Howling Wolf into play, it’s considered to have a higher casting cost when compared to other creatures that may offer similar or greater board presence for a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Howling Wolf in Your Collection
Versatility: Howling Wolf is an adaptable card that can fit into a variety of green decks, especially those that aim to establish a strong board presence with creatures. Its ability to search for other copies of itself allows you to beef up your creature count quickly.
Combo Potential: The card shines in combo scenarios where its ability to search out additional copies can be used alongside cards that benefit from casting or entering the battlefield of creatures, potentially setting up powerful plays each turn.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where deck consistency is key, Howling Wolf’s self-replicating nature ensures you’ll have a steading incoming stream of creature cards, making it a valuable asset against control and tempo decks that rely on attrition to wear down opponents.
How to beat
The Howling Wolf card in Magic: The Gathering is known for its unique ability to muster forces, calling fellow wolves into play directly from your deck. Its strength lies in this pack-summoning ability, reinforcing your battlefield presence with every cast. While compelling for wolf-themed decks, there are efficient strategies to counter this card.
Removal spells are your best bet against Howling Wolf; cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can handle the creature before its ability triggers. Board wipes are particularly effective, as they can clear out the Howling Wolf and its summoned kin in a single move. Moreover, cards with the “counter target creature spell” mechanic can interrupt the summoning process, so keeping mana open for counters like Cancel or Mana Leak could effectively neutralize the wolf’s call. Strategic timing and choice of removal or counterplay are key in ensuring the Howling Wolf does not overrun the game.
Overcoming Howling Wolf therefore requires a blend of anticipation and immediate action. Keeping the pressure with removals or utilizing counterspells to disrupt the pack’s cohesion will ensure this creature doesn’t gain the upper hand in your MTG duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Howling Wolf MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Conspiracy, 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 Wolf 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 Howling Wolf Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2014-06-06. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 252 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
| 2 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 167 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Howling Wolf has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |