Lesser Werewolf MTG Card

Lesser Werewolf’s transformation grants significant board advantage as it provides two creature states in one card. Post-transformation abilities strengthen your resources, facilitating a quicker and more potent gameplay offensive. The instant-speed transformation poses a dynamic threat, keeping adversaries on their toes with strategic opportunities.

Legends (LEG)
1994-06-01 - Number 110

Lesser Werewolf - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Masters Edition III (ME3)
2009-09-07 - Number 71

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Werewolf
Power	2
Toughness	4

Text of card

oo B Lesser Werewolf gets -1/-0 until end of turn. Put a -0/-1 counter on target creature that blocks or is blocked by the Werewolf. Use this ability after defense is chosen but before damage is dealt. You may not use this ability to reduce the Lesser Werewolf's power below 0.

Cards like Lesser Werewolf

When evaluating the strategic nuances of transformation cards within Magic: The Gathering, Lesser Werewolf earns its unique spot. Its transformative ability harkens to the dual nature of cards like Breakneck Rider, which also flip into a more menacing creature under specific conditions. Yet, the Lesser Werewolf’s strength lies in its continuous ability to weaken the opponent’s creatures, contrasting Breakneck Rider’s focus on bolstering its own pack.

Another comparable card is Village Ironsmith, presenting a similar transformative charm with day and night shifts, yet offering a more offensive prowess upon transformation. While Village Ironsmith becomes a potent first striker, Lesser Werewolf shifts the playing field with a different tact, hampering foes rather than enhancing its own offense. Additionally, we glance towards the Lambholt Elder. While it transforms under a card draw condition, it becomes a source of card advantage, diverging from Lesser Werewolf’s disruptive nature.

In weighing the cards side by side, Lesser Werewolf’s utility within MTG becomes evident. Not only does it give players unique control over the battlefield, but it also presents a constant dilemma for opponents, a hallmark of its design. Its singularity among werewolf and shapeshifter cards carves out a specific strategic space for the card, distinguishing it within the lore and the game.

Cards similar to Lesser Werewolf by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Lesser Werewolf enables you to transform it into a more powerful creature under certain conditions, essentially providing two cards in one and increasing your board presence without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: Once transformed, the upgraded werewolf may offer abilities that generate additional resources, be it mana or tokens, helping to ramp up your play and outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: With the hallmark trait of werewolves, the ability to flip from human to werewolf often triggers at a speed that keeps opponents guessing, allowing strategic players to leverage the threat of instant-speed transformation as both a defensive and offensive tool.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the main drawbacks of the Lesser Werewolf is its discard requirement. For certain strategies, parting with a card could hinder your progression, more so if your hand is already struggling to maintain a substantial size. Conserving resources is crucial in gameplay and being compelled to discard without a way to mitigate the loss can be a critical drawback in tightly contested games.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands specific colors, the Lesser Werewolf may not slot easily into multicolor decks. This limitation restricts its playability to decks that heavily feature the colors present in its mana cost. As a result, players may find this werewolf less appealing when deck building, as it cannot be as readily included as more flexible cards with generic mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Another aspect to consider is its relatively high mana cost. In the world of MTG, getting the most value out of each mana spent is key. There are alternatives available that offer greater impact or versatility at a lower cost. This makes the Lesser Werewolf a less attractive option for competitive play, where efficiency can dictate the pace and outcome of the duel.

Reasons to Include Lesser Werewolf in Your Collection

Versatility: Lesser Werewolf provides a solid option for players looking to build decks around creature strategies. As a shapeshifter, it can adapt to various roles on the battlefield, depending on the ongoing game scenario.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in synergistic configurations, particularly in decks that capitalize on werewolf transformation or abilities that trigger from changing creature types.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies frequently at play in many MTG metas, Lesser Werewolf can be a stalwart contender, holding its own against other popular deck archetypes.

How to Beat Lesser Werewolf

Overcoming the challenge of a Lesser Werewolf in MTG can be key to your victory. This creature is nimble and its transformation ability under the light of the full moon – a common trait among werewolves in the game – can surprise the unprepared opponent. Managing this lycanthrope requires a strategy that minimizes the triggers that allow it to become a more ferocious threat on the battlefield.

Effective removal spells are a solid way to deal with a Lesser Werewolf. Options like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can exile it before it transforms. Timing is crucial; you’ll want to cast these spells before your opponent’s transforming conditions are met. In addition, sweepers like Wrath of God can clear the board, Lesser Werewolf included, regardless of its current form.

Preventive strategies are also valuable. Typical werewolf cards from sets like Innistrad flip under specific conditions. By understanding these mechanics, keeping up the pace of your spell casting, and denying your opponent the chance to transform their werewolf, you negate the strength of their deck design. Plan ahead, maintain control, and the threat of the Lesser Werewolf will be mitigated.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Lesser Werewolf MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition III, 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 Lesser Werewolf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Lesser Werewolf Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2009-09-07. Illustrated by Quinton Hoover.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1994-06-01	Legends	LEG		110	1993	Normal	Black	Quinton Hoover
2	2009-09-07	Masters Edition III	ME3		71	1997	Normal	Black	Quinton Hoover

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Lesser Werewolf has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lesser Werewolf card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2009-10-01	You may activate Lesser Werewolf’s ability no matter what its power is. However, if Lesser Werewolf’s power is 0 or less at the time the ability resolves, the ability won’t do anything.