Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Zombie Warrior
Power 3
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts Zombie decks by providing card advantage and maintaining a strong board presence.
  2. Triggers token generation and resource acceleration, enhancing strategic depth and versatility.
  3. Demands specific mana colors, which may limit deck building but offers high combo potential.

Text of card

Whenever another Zombie you control dies, if it didn't have decayed, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed. At the beginning of your end step, you may sacrifice a Zombie. If you do, draw a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wilhelt the Rotcleaver is designed to synergize with your undead army, offering continuous card advantage as you amass a legion of Zombies. Each time a Zombie you control dies, Wilhelt allows you to draw a card, thereby replenishing your hand and maintaining pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Wilhelt excels in resource acceleration by providing you with a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed whenever a nontoken Zombie you control dies. These tokens aren’t just for attacking; they serve as fodder for sacrificial effects or for mana generation with the right synergies, effectively ramping your in-game resources.

Instant Speed: While Wilhelt the Rotcleaver doesn’t operate at instant speed himself, his ability to create Zombie tokens at any time when your Zombies die allows for instant-speed interaction with various sacrifice mechanics. This means you can optimize your strategy and make impactful plays even during your opponent’s turn, keeping the flow of your undead force steady and relentless.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wilhelt the Rotcleaver allows you to create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with decayed whenever another Zombie you control dies, it requires you to potentially sacrifice valuable zombies. This can be particularly taxing if you’re unable to establish a wide zombie presence or if your hand is already depleted, often leaving you at a disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Wilhelt’s casting cost demands both blue and black mana, making it less flexible outside of the dedicated zombie tribal or dimir decks. This specificity in mana can sometimes hinder deck building, restricting the incorporation of Wilhelt into more varied or color-intensive strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Wilhelt the Rotcleaver carries a combined mana cost of four, which includes two specific colors. This cost is relatively steep when benchmarked against other commanders or creatures that contribute to board presence or card advantage. Players might find other options that offer a quicker tempo for their zombie strategies or diversified game plans without the stringent color requirement.


Reasons to Include Wilhelt the Rotcleaver in Your Collection

Versatility: Wilhelt the Rotcleaver proves to be a versatile commander, thriving in decks focused on zombie tribal themes or those seeking to exploit death triggers for strategic advantages.

Combo Potential: This enigmatic figure lays the groundwork for numerous combos by generating a zombie token each time another zombie you control dies, leading to potential infinite loops with the right board setup.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prominent, Wilhelt’s ability to continuously create board presence and capitalize on death effects makes it a contender. Balancing aggression with token generation, he maintains relevance in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

Wilhelt the Rotcleaver is a formidable force in the zombie tribal decks of Magic: The Gathering. He accelerates the undead army by creating a zombie token whenever another zombie you control dies. Additionally, Wilhelt contributes to your strategy by allowing you to draw a card and lose 1 life whenever you sacrifice another zombie.

To tackle this threat, it’s crucial to prevent Wilhelt from leveraging his token generation. One approach is to use creature removal spells before your opponent can build a sizable zombie horde. Instant-speed removal like “Swords to Plowshares” or “Path to Exile” can disrupt Wilhelt before he starts siphoning value from your opponent’s graveyard. Board wipes can also be quite effective; “Wrath of God” or “Damnation” can clear out both Wilhelt and his zombie tokens, stalling your opponent’s momentum considerably.

Additionally, graveyard hate cards can be a strong counter. Enchantments like “Rest in Peace” or “Leyline of the Void” prevent zombies from hitting the graveyard in the first place, nullifying Wilhelt’s ability to make tokens. By prioritizing these strategies, Wilhelt the Rotcleaver becomes much less of a threat, enabling you to take control of the game. Remember, if you can keep the zombies in check, Wilhelt loses a lot of his cutting edge.


BurnMana Recommendations

Whether you’re harnessing the relentless power of undead forces or finessing your deck to exploit every death trigger, Wilhelt the Rotcleaver is a card that demands attention in the MTG arena. His ability to expand your zombie legion and fuel your strategy with each fallen comrade opens doors to numerous tactical advances. Are you ready to weave Wilhelt’s dark artistry into your gameplay and outpace the opposition with an unstoppable zombie tide? Connect with us to gain deeper insights and add the cutting edge of Wilhelt the Rotcleaver to your MTG collection.


Cards like Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver

Wilhelt the Rotcleaver stands out in Magic: The Gathering’s roster of zombie tribal commanders. Its ability to create a zombie token whenever another zombie you control dies ensures a persistent board presence. This trait shares similarities with The Scarab God, which also allows for the creation and recursion of zombie creatures. However, unlike The Scarab God, Wilhelt ensures a token is available immediately upon a zombie’s demise, offering a faster token generation.

Liliana, Untouched by Death is another card that benefits zombie decks, with her -3 ability to cast zombies from your graveyard for a turn. While she doesn’t create tokens like Wilhelt, her ability enhances the strength of zombie decks through return and replay of zombie spells. Ghoulcaller Gisa is also noteworthy, enabling the sacrifice of a creature to create several zombie tokens based on the sacrificed creature’s power, thereby potentially providing a more significant one-time token advantage than Wilhelt’s steady token generation.

In summary, Wilhelt the Rotcleaver holds a unique position in Magic: The Gathering as a zombie tribal commander. His automated token creation upon zombie deaths offers a reliable and ongoing mechanism to maintain a formidable zombie army on the battlefield.

The Scarab God - MTG Card versions
Liliana, Untouched by Death - MTG Card versions
Ghoulcaller Gisa - MTG Card versions
The Scarab God - Amonkhet Invocations (MP2)
Liliana, Untouched by Death - Core Set 2019 (M19)
Ghoulcaller Gisa - Commander 2014 (C14)

Cards similar to Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Fiend - MTG Card versions
Doomsday Specter - MTG Card versions
Possessed Aven - MTG Card versions
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Moroii - MTG Card versions
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Ulamog's Nullifier - MTG Card versions
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Drunau Corpse Trawler - MTG Card versions
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Duskmantle Seer - MTG Card versions
Kathari Remnant - MTG Card versions
Hostage Taker - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Brawler - MTG Card versions
Notion Thief - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Fiend - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Doomsday Specter - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Possessed Aven - Torment (TOR)
Marsh Crocodile - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Moroii - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Blizzard Specter - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - Commander 2020 (C20)
Evil Twin - Innistrad (ISD)
Glen Elendra Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Ulamog's Nullifier - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Drunau Corpse Trawler - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Gisa and Geralf - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Duskmantle Seer - Commander 2018 (C18)
Kathari Remnant - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Hostage Taker - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Deadeye Brawler - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Notion Thief - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver MTG card by a specific set like Midnight Hunt Commander and Midnight Hunt Commander, 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 Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2021-09-24. Illustrated by Chris Rallis.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 402015normalblackChris Rallis
22021-09-24Midnight Hunt CommanderMIC 22015normalblackChris Rallis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-09-24 Decayed does not create any attacking requirements. You may choose not to attack with a creature that has decayed.
2021-09-24 Decayed does not grant haste. Creatures with decayed that enter the battlefield during your turn may not attack until your next turn.
2021-09-24 Decayed represents a static ability and a triggered ability. “Decayed” means “This creature can't block” and “When this creature attacks, sacrifice it at end of combat.”
2021-09-24 Once a creature with decayed attacks, it will be sacrificed at end of combat, even if it no longer has decayed at that time.

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