Thorntooth Witch MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Treefolk Shaman
Released	2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Lorwyn
Set code	LRW
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	144
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	William O'Connor

Key Takeaways

Thorntooth Witch provides card filtering by drawing when Treefolk creatures are played.
Instant speed interaction ensures advantage, even during opponents’ turns.
Demands discard and specific mana, potentially limiting its versatility.

Text of card

Whenever you play a Treefolk spell, you may have target creature get +3/-3 until end of turn.

The crone's boughs creaked as she spoke. "You look peaked, little one. Come, sip from my warm brew. It'll have you blooming in no time."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thorntooth Witch offers a repeatable source of card filtering for decks utilizing creature spells. Whenever another treefolk creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card, allowing for a steady stream of new options to enter your hand.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself does not directly accelerate resources, it synergizes well with other cards that generate creature tokens or rely on creature casts, effectively amplifying the value you get from playing creatures and potentially accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The benefit of Thorntooth Witch lies in its passive ability which can trigger during any phase of the game. This means that creature spells you cast at instant speed still enable you to draw a card off of the witch’s ability, ensuring that you retain card advantage during unforeseen circumstances in a match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its activation, Thorntooth Witch demands a card to be discarded, which could deplete your hand and reduce your options, especially in the late game when each card’s value is pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Thorntooth Witch requires not only two green mana but also an additional one which may not align with multi-colored or splash decks, thereby restricting its flexibility and playability across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Thorntooth Witch enters the battlefield at a stage where players often hope to establish a game presence with more impactful creatures or disruptive spells, making it a costly investment for its offered utility.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thorntooth Witch can seamlessly integrate into various deck archetypes, making it an asset for players who appreciate adaptable cards. Its ability to leverage creature spells for board control means it can find a place in anything from tribal to spell-heavy builds.

Combo Potential: With the right lineup of creatures, Thorntooth Witch can be the linchpin of devastating combo sequences. Each spell cast can translate into targeted removal, allowing players to craft a controlled environment for their win conditions to thrive.

Meta-Relevance: As game formats evolve and creature-based strategies emerge, Thorntooth Witch maintains relevance by providing consistent value. Its capacity to disrupt opponents’ boards makes it a compelling choice in metas that favor creature-heavy play.

How to beat Thorntooth Witch

Thorntooth Witch is an intriguing card that demands strategic consideration to counter effectively. With its capability to spawn 1/1 green Wolf creature tokens whenever you cast a Treefolk spell, it’s essential to manage its presence on the battlefield before it can generate an overwhelming board state. To bypass the Witch’s growth, one could employ removal spells swiftly, targeting it before the opportunity for token generation arises. Examples include Lightning Bolt, which delivers a quick and efficient answer, ensuring that the Witch doesn’t get a foothold.

Alternatively, spells like Wrath of God present a sweeping solution, clearing the board of all creatures including any tokens that may have already been produced. In this same category, Counterspell serves as a preemptive measure, halting the Witch before it even enters play. Timing and anticipation are crucial, knowing when to hold back your removal or when to push forward and eliminate the Witch can determine the pace and outcome of the match.

Tactically handling threats like Thorntooth Witch speaks to the depth of resource management inherent in the game. It accentuates the importance of decision-making, showcasing card knowledge and the timing of plays as pivotal elements in securing victory against formidable cards.

Cards like Thorntooth Witch

The allure of Thorntooth Witch in the grand tapestry of MTG pulls in players fond of potent creature synergies. Its resemblance to cards like Wirewood Symbiote is clear; both cater to strategies that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield or being returned to the hand. Thorntooth Witch, integral to elf synergy, benefits from each elf cast, growing stronger, a perk not shared by the Symbiote.

Glimpse of Nature serves as another point of comparison. While not a creature itself, Glimpse rewards players as they cast creatures, offering a surge in card advantage instead of pumping a single threat. In some ways, Heritage Druid echoes a similar dynamic, turning each elf into a burst of mana, yet it lacks the direct growth mechanic inherent to Thorntooth Witch.

Examining these likenesses and differences helps players evaluate Thorntooth Witch’s role. Its unique breed of power-up makes it stand out and potentially snowball a game in your favor, assuming an elf-heavy library. Its influence on gameplay weaves a strategy that could escalate your elf summons into an indomitable legion, a trait avidly searched for in creature-centric decks.

Cards similar to Thorntooth Witch by color, type and mana cost

Chittering Harvester - MTG Card versions

Crossway Troublemakers - MTG Card versions

Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thorntooth Witch MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Thorntooth Witch and other MTG cards: