Wretched Throng MTG Card
2021-11-19 - Number 91
2022-01-28 - Number 358
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Horror |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Token generation leads to a powerful card advantage and overwhelming board states.
- Instant speed play offers versatile and reactive strategies during games.
- Demands careful hand and mana management to maximize its potential.
Text of card
When Wretched Throng dies, you may search your library for a card named Wretched Throng, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, again!" —Beltstad, cathar recruit, last words
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wretched Throng’s ability to generate multiple tokens can overwhelm opponents and provide substantial card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: With each attack, Wretched Throng offers the capability to multiply your field presence rapidly, effectively accelerating your board state without spending additional resources.
Instant Speed: Its ability to be played at instant speed ensures that you can react to your opponent’s moves, making it a versatile card that can adapt to the unfolding game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wretched Throng’s utility may be hindered by its prerequisite of discarding another card. In situations where your hand is already depleted, this mandatory discard could hamper your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: With its blue mana demand, Wretched Throng is tailored for blue-centered decks, potentially restricting its versatility. Players running multi-colored decks may find this a challenge when trying to manage their mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of four mana to cast, Wretched Throng may lag behind other creatures with a similar cost. Players might find other options that provide a more significant immediate impact on the board state or offer lower-cost alternatives for deck efficiency.
Reasons to Include Wretched Throng in Your Collection
Versatility: Wretched Throng is a flexible card that can slide into various deck archetypes, particularly those emphasizing creature-based strategies and graveyard synergy. Its ability to multiply upon dying makes it a resilient threat in many game scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card holds significant combo potential in decks that manipulate the graveyard. With the right setup, you can repeatedly sacrifice and recur Wretched Throng to generate a vast army of zombies, overwhelming your opponent.
Meta-Relevance: As the metagame shifts and adapts, cards that are resilient to common removal spells and board wipes tend to gain value. Wretched Throng, with its persistent board presence, can thrive against many popular strategies, making it a savvy addition to your collection in a diverse playing environment.
How to beat Wretched Throng
Delving into the depths of graveyard-focused decks, Wretched Throng emerges as a deceptively formidable foe in Magic: The Gathering. This card, in a similar fashion to renowned zombifying spells like Endless Ranks of the Dead, hinges on death to rise in power. Its unique ability to replicate itself through the undying mechanic poses a constant threat, akin to the persistent threat of a Relentless Dead.
As with any card teetering on the basis of recursion, strategic removal is key. Tapping into silence effects such as those found in Hushbringer can be particularly effective. Similarly, dealing with this creature en masse calls for broad-sweeping answers like Wrath of God, which bypasses its undying potential by not singling it out. Graveyard hate cards, like the quicksilver Rest in Peace, also serve as a fitting countermeasure, surgically targeting the core strength of Wretched Throng—its ability to return from the graveyard.
Ultimately, while Wretched Throng can overwhelm unprepared opponents, recognizing and employing the right counter-strategies enables players to maintain an upper hand. Identifying the suitable mix of graveyard disruption and mass removal options will ensure that this persistent threat is thoroughly neutralized.
Cards like Wretched Throng
Wretched Throng introduces a unique approach to creature deployment in MTG. Much like spells such as Skaab Goliath, it adds to the arsenal of blue zombie cards with a self-milling strategy. Where Wretched Throng focuses on returning to the owner’s hand each turn it attacks and isn’t blocked, Skaab Goliath requires sacrificing two creatures as part of its casting cost but results in a much larger creature on the battlefield.
Another card that echoes this return-to-hand technique is Riptide Chimera. Both the Chimera and Wretched Throng require the player to return the card to their hand during the upkeep phase. However, the Chimera applies to enchantments, thus serving a different niche within the blue strategies. Then there’s the Veilborn Ghoul, which can be returned to one’s hand when a Swamp enters the battlefield, offering a recurring threat in a land-based deck.
Overall, Wretched Throng finds its place among these cards by offering a balance between automatic return and being a menace on the battlefield. It provides more persistent board presence for players looking to benefit from repeated casting and synergies with enter-the-battlefield abilities in MTG.
Cards similar to Wretched Throng by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wretched Throng MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Wretched Throng 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 Wretched Throng Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Filip Burburan.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-11-19 | Innistrad: Crimson Vow | VOW | 91 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | |
| 2 | 2022-01-28 | Innistrad: Double Feature | DBL | 358 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wretched Throng has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
