Kessig Wolfrider MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 379
2021-11-19 - Number 165
2022-01-28 - Number 432
2002-06-24 - Number 95361
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Knight |
| Abilities | Menace |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Gains edge with wolf token generation, enhancing board state and card advantage.
- Needs card discard and specific mana mix, requiring mindful resource management.
- Brings power through adaptability and meta-relevance in creature-focused decks.
Text of card
Menace , , Exile three cards from your graveyard: Create a 3/2 red Wolf creature token.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Kessig Wolfrider provides consistent card advantage by generating Wolf tokens. These tokens are not just creatures to pressure your opponent but also additional resources that can turn into card draws if you’re able to sacrifice them under the right conditions.
Resource Acceleration: This card operates as an engine that slowly ramps up your board presence. Every token you create symbolizes an incremental step toward overwhelming your adversary, giving you a significant edge in resource acceleration as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: While Kessig Wolfrider itself isn’t an instant, it impacts the battlefield during each of your turns. Its ability to create tokens can be used alongside instant-speed spells, allowing you to develop a threatening board while keeping mana open to react to your opponents’ moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In order to activate Kessig Wolfrider’s ability, you need to discard a card. This mechanic requires careful hand management as it can leave you at a disadvantage by depleting valuable cards in your hand, particularly if you are already behind on resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Kessig Wolfrider demands a specific mana composition to cast—two red and one generic mana. This can strain your mana base, especially in multicolored decks, and might not seamlessly fit outside of a mono-red or a heavily red-focused strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Kessig Wolfrider may compete against other three-drop creatures that either pack more power or come with less restrictive, more immediately impactful abilities. Its cost-effectiveness is therefore contextual and may not always offer the best value on turn three or later in the game where mana can be used for more decisive plays.
Reasons to Include Kessig Wolfrider in Your Collection
Versatility: Kessig Wolfrider provides a unique blend of creature aggression and token generation, making it adaptable in decks that leverage wolf synergy or require steady creature deployment.
Combo Potential: The Wolf tokens created by Kessig Wolfrider can feed into various combos, such as enhancing the board presence or being used for sacrificial effects, amplifying the card’s strategic depth.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-based strategies prevail, Kessig Wolfrider can thrive, contributing both offensive pressure and defensive blockers to navigate through diverse competitive scenarios.
How to beat
Kessig Wolfrider brings a unique challenge to the battlefield with its wolf-spawning capability. To tackle this, one must understand that its strength lies in the player’s ability to accumulate enough mana to utilize its ability repeatedly. The key to undermining Kessig Wolfrider is to deploy removal spells or abilities quickly, as allowing it to linger on the field can be detrimental to your defenses.
Considering its three-power, it’s vulnerable to common burn spells such as Lightning Bolt, or more recently, Fire Prophecy. Sweepers are also an excellent countermeasure; cards like Wrath of God can clear the board before the wolf tokens begin to overwhelm you. If looking for a more lasting solution, exile effects from cards like Path to Exile ensure Kessig Wolfrider doesn’t return from the graveyard.
Finally, don’t overlook the value of instant-speed interaction that can dismantle the Wolfrider during your opponent’s turn, thereby disrupting their strategy and giving you the upper hand. By staying vigilant and reactive, you can prevent Kessig Wolfrider from ever becoming the pack leader your opponent desires.
Cards like Kessig Wolfrider
Kessig Wolfrider stands as an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, bearing resemblance to other creature cards with wolf synergy and token generation abilities. Similar cards include Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves, which not only creates wolf tokens but also provides a life gain advantage upon entry. Tolsimir lacks Kessig Wolfrider’s repeatable token generation, instead relying on a one-time effect coupled with creature removal benefits.
Wolfbriar Elemental is another card that parallels Kessig Wolfrider in its ability to flood the board with wolf tokens. While Wolfbriar Elemental requires a significant mana investment to maximize its token production during a multikicker spell cast, Kessig Wolfrider presents a more consistent token production strategy through its activated ability. Moreover, Nightpack Ambusher provides an alternative angle on wolf token generation by rewarding players who opt to perform no spells in a turn, differing from Kessig Wolfrider’s direct approach.
Choosing between these cards often comes down to the deck’s overall strategy and synergy. Kessig Wolfrider’s repeatable token generation provides a reliable way to maintain board presence, making it a valued asset in decks that capitalize on wolf-related synergies.
Cards similar to Kessig Wolfrider by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kessig Wolfrider MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, 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 Kessig Wolfrider and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Kessig Wolfrider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Bram Sels.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 95361 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels | ||
| 2 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 379 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels | |
| 3 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 165 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels | |
| 4 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 432 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bram Sels |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kessig Wolfrider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
