Kessig Naturalist // Lord of the Ulvenwald MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kessig Naturalist excels at providing players with continuous card advantage. Once it transforms into Lord of the Ulvenwald, its ability to draw you a card each time you cast a werewolf spell bolsters your hand, keeping your options plentiful and pressure on your opponent steady.

Resource Acceleration: The card shines in its capability to accelerate resources on the battlefield. While in its human form, Kessig Naturalist’s ability to add one mana of any color enhances your potential to cast spells sooner than usual, effectively ramping up your game pace and enabling a faster deployment of your strategy.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Kessig Naturalist benefits from the overarching mechanics of werewolves in MTG, which can transform at instant speed under the right conditions. This unpredictable element forces opponents to play cautiously, as the flip side, Lord of the Ulvenwald, presents an immediate and powerful threat that can arise at the end of your opponent’s turn, ready to strike with increased power.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kessig Naturalist comes with no such condition, however, running this card means potentially missing out on powerful creatures with beneficial discard triggers that could synergize with other aspects of your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The Naturalist requires both red and green mana to cast, which could be restrictive. Decks not committed to a Gruul (red-green) color base may find it challenging to accommodate the mana needs consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a two mana 2/2 that can potentially transform is valuable, there are numerous two-drop creatures in the current card pool that might offer immediate value or align better with a wider range of deck themes. This is especially relevant in formats with a high emphasis on deck synergy and tempo.

Reasons to Include Kessig Naturalist in Your Collection

Versatility: Kessig Naturalist is a versatile addition, seamlessly integrating into numerous deck archetypes, particularly those emphasizing creatures and mana acceleration.

Combo Potential: This card transforms into Lord of the Ulvenwald, providing further synergies and enhancing strategies that revolve around werewolves or creature-based decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to ramp mana and its relevance in werewolf tribal or human decks, Kessig Naturalist holds its ground well in various meta environments that value quick board development.

How to beat

The Kessig Naturalist is a dynamic card that ramps up your mana in Magic: The Gathering and becomes the focal point of many strategies. This dual-faced werewolf not only boosts your mana pool but also transforms into a potent attacking force. When facing this card, the priority shifts to stymieing its transformation. Keeping up the spell count on each player’s turn ensures that Kessig Naturalist remains in its less threatening form. Removal spells are effective here, but choose your timing wisely to avoid its bolstered nighttime counterpart.

Another tactic is to outpace the growth it offers. Deploy efficient mana dorks or artifacts that provide an immediate advantage. Should the Naturalist transform into a more formidable werewolf, it’s a more delicate situation. Counterplays include deploying bigger creatures to block or using spot removal before the opponent’s combat phase. Ultimately, recognizing the tempo and board state will guide you to the appropriate response, whether that’s suppression through creature control or seizing the initiative with a faster game plan.

Although the Kessig Naturalist presents a twofold threat in both resource acceleration and offensive transformation, understanding the rhythmic dance of werewolf mechanics in MTG enables players to counteract its advantages and turn the tide of battle in their favor.

BurnMana Recommendations

Armed with insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Kessig Naturalist, you’re poised to make informed decisions on integrating this valuable card into your MTG arsenal. Balance your deck to leverage its resource acceleration and transformative duality. Whether you’re optimizing a werewolf-heavy deck or enhancing a Gruul-based strategy, the Naturalist’s versatility offers a blend of aggression and mana generation that can tip scales in your favor. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies and discover how to maximize your plays with Kessig Naturalist by your side. Let’s delve into the world of MTG together and unlock new levels of mastery.