Cackling Witch MTG Card


Cackling Witch - Mercadian Masques
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Spellshaper
Released1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameMercadian Masques
Set codeMMQ
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number119
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBrian Despain

Key Takeaways

  1. Grants card advantage by forcing opponent discards, impacting their strategic options during play.
  2. Indirectly leads to resource acceleration, weakening opponent’s board state for strategic tempo control.
  3. Flexible activation at instant speed allows for disruptive plays during the opponent’s turn.

Text of card

o Xo B, oc T, Discard a card from your hand: Target creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn.

The touch of his madness can drive anyone into a killing frenzy.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Cackling Witch card offers players the ability to disrupt their opponent’s strategy by forcing them to discard cards when used effectively. This can give you a card advantage as it might deplete their hand, leaving them with fewer options.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly affecting resources, the Cackling Witch’s ability can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by weakening your opponent’s board state and their available resources, allowing you to outpace them and take control of the game’s tempo.

Instant Speed: While the Cackling Witch itself doesn’t act at instant speed, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This grants you the flexibility to cast spells or activate abilities during your opponent’s turn, potentially disrupting their plays or strategies when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to the Cackling Witch is its activation cost, which requires players to discard a card. This can be a significant drawback, particularly in tight situations where card advantage is crucial, and each card in hand is valuable.

Specific Mana Cost: Another consideration for deck builders is the Witch’s specific mana cost. The card requires black mana, limiting its integration to decks that run black or at least have the mana fixing to accommodate it. This restricts the card’s versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Lastly, the Cackling Witch comes with a comparatively high mana cost for its effect, which is something players need to weigh carefully. In fast-paced games or against decks that build momentum quickly, the Witch’s cost might be impractical, considering other lower-cost options available in the format that can provide similar or more immediate benefits to your strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cackling Witch offers a unique ability to disrupt the board by enhancing spells, making it a fitting addition to various decks that seek to exploit spell power or require a versatile response to opponents’ moves.

Combo Potential: This card can significantly boost the damage of instant or sorcery spells, thereby enabling powerful combinations that can turn the tide of the game in your favor, especially in decks built around spell-slinging.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on creature-based strategies, Cackling Witch can give you an edge by enhancing your removal spells, ensuring your survival against the most formidable of creature swarms.


How to beat

The Cackling Witch card presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. With its ability to turn any card in hand into a potential source of damage, players must approach it with a clear strategy. To effectively counter this threat, prioritize removal options to prevent the Cackling Witch from utilizing its ability. Consider instant-speed removal spells that can deal with the Witch before its power is activated. Spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can quickly dispatch the Witch without giving the opponent a chance to capitalize on its ability.

It’s also beneficial to manage your life total cautiously. Since Cackling Witch can be a means to an unexpected finish, keeping your life total high can grant you extra turns to find an answer. If possible, limit the number of cards your opponent has in hand. This minimizes the damage potential of the Witch’s ability. Employing hand disruption tactics like Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek can be effective in this regard. All in all, a combination of threat elimination and controlling the opponent’s hand will improve your chances against a deck harnessing the deceptive power of the Cackling Witch.


Cards like Cackling Witch

The Cackling Witch card brings a unique dynamic to Magic the Gathering deck strategies. Analogous to Cackling Witch in effect, we have cards like Disciple of Griselbrand. Both cards allow players to utilize life points as a resource for beneficial gameplay effects. However, Disciple of Griselbrand grants life in exchange for creature sacrifice, differing from Cackling Witch’s versatile capability to bolster attack power.

Another card that enters the discussion is Bog Witch. This card permits players to convert cards into black mana via discard, which parallels Cackling Witch’s ability to transform quantitative resources—in this case, life points—into qualitative advantage on the battlefield. While both facilitate a resource exchange, Bog Witch strictly targets mana acceleration whereas Cackling Witch leans towards increasing offensive potential swiftly.

Surveying the MTG landscape, Cackling Witch occupies a unique position. Its utility to instantly inflate a creature’s attack mirrors few other cards, presenting players with the valuable tactical option to surprise opponents and turn the tides of combat, making it a distinctly formidable addition to any deck that manages life as a strategic asset.

Disciple of Griselbrand - MTG Card versions
Bog Witch - MTG Card versions
Disciple of Griselbrand - Innistrad (ISD)
Bog Witch - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

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

Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Nether Shadow - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cyclopean Mummy - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Black Knight - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nether Shadow - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Erg Raiders - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cyclopean Mummy - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Cuombajj Witches - Rinascimento (RIN)
Order of the Ebon Hand - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Bog Imp - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Corpses - Mirage (MIR)
Blighted Shaman - Mirage (MIR)
Rabid Rats - Stronghold (STH)
Dakmor Bat - Portal Second Age (P02)
Ravenous Rats - Invasion (INV)
Flesh Reaver - Urza's Saga (USG)
Bloodcurdler - Odyssey (ODY)
Nantuko Shade - Commander 2014 (C14)
Piper of the Swarm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undead Augur - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Black Knight - The List (PLST)
Shepherd of Rot - Onslaught (ONS)
Swarm of Rats - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cackling Witch has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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