Pack Guardian MTG Card
Text of card
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.) When Pack Guardian enters the battlefield, you may discard a land card. If you do, put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token onto the battlefield.
Cards like Pack Guardian
Pack Guardian stands as a unique figure among creature spells in the Magic: The Gathering universe. It finds company with cards like Wolfir Avenger, which can also flash onto the battlefield, surprising opponents. Both share the ability to impact the board during the opponent’s turn. Yet, Pack Guardian has the added benefit of putting to use excess land cards by creating a 2/2 Wolf creature token if a land card is discarded.
Comparing it further, we have Briarpack Alpha, another wolf-themed card with a flash ability. While Briarpack Alpha is known to bolster another creature with a +2/+2 boost when it enters the battlefield, Pack Guardian instead focuses on expanding the number of creatures under your control. This can be crucial in games where a wide board presence is advantageous. Loam Dryad stands out as well, not for its entry effects but for its tap ability to provide any color of mana, which can be vital for multicolored decks.
In terms of battlefield influence and versatility, Pack Guardian hence holds a strong position among its counterparts, especially for players keen on managing and making the most of their hand even during the later game stages.
Cards similar to Pack Guardian by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Pack Guardian offers a unique way to gain card advantage by allowing you to put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield when it enters the play. This not only potentially puts you a turn ahead of your opponent but also thins your deck, increasing the chance of drawing more impactful cards.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling you to put an additional land into play, Pack Guardian accelerates your resources. This acceleration can be critical in mid-game scenarios where deploying larger threats ahead of schedule can sway the game in your favor.
Instant Speed: The ability to flash in Pack Guardian adds a layer of strategic depth to your gameplay. You can surprise your opponent by bringing in a creature on their turn, effectively using your mana at a time that could disrupt their plans and potentially offer favorable blocks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When you cast Pack Guardian, you may opt to discard a land card to create an additional 2/2 green Wolf creature token. However, this mechanic presents a predicament if your hand is already stretched thin. Discarding a precious land could hinder your gameplay, especially when you’re striving to keep pace with your opponent’s board development or aiming to cast high-cost spells in the late game.
Specific Mana Cost: Pack Guardian’s mana cost is somewhat unique, asking for two generic and two green mana. This means that in a multi-colored deck, the specific green mana requirement may not always sync with your mana base, particularly if you’re running three or more colors. This can cause Pack Guardian to become a dormant card in your hand, unable to be played when you most need it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of four, Pack Guardian might not be your most mana-efficient choice in a strategy that calls for swift creature deployment. There are numerous four-mana creatures that can potentially offer a greater immediate board impact or carry a higher power and toughness ratio. Thus, in a metagame where speed and efficiency are paramount, the cost of Pack Guardian may not align with the most streamlined deck builds.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Pack Guardian offers a flexible playstyle as it can seamlessly fit into various green-based decks. Its Flash ability allows you to protect your board at unexpected times or end the turn with a surprise blocker on the field.
Combo Potential: This card has great synergy with land-centric strategies. Dropping a land card when casting it during your opponent’s turn gives you an additional 2/2 Wolf creature token to bolster your forces or enhance landfall mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures are king, Pack Guardian stands out for its ability to swing board presence in your favor. With the current trend of creature-heavy decks, having an instant-speed creature that boosts your board can be a game-changer.
How to beat
Pack Guardian is an intriguing creature card standing out for its Flash ability, enabling surprise plays and instant board presence. It capitalizes on the strategic advantage of being able to summon creatures during your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions. To effectively counter Pack Guardian, one should consider disruption strategies such as instant-speed removal, which can eliminate the creature immediately after it hits the board, negating any potential combat interactions. It’s also notable that Pack Guardian’s strength can be amplified by its ability to discard a land card, creating a 2/2 Wolf creature token.
Battle-wise, it is essential to maintain open mana for spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile, which can handle the unexpected appearance of Pack Guardian efficiently. Alternatively, counterspells work perfectly for preventing Pack Guardian from entering the battlefield in the first place. Ensuring a controlled board state and keeping reactive spells at the ready will help players navigate the challenges posed by this versatile card.
Despite its strength, with thoughtful strategy and the right removal or counter spells on deck, the impact of Pack Guardian can be minimized, allowing players to maintain control over the game’s flow.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pack Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Pack Guardian and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Pack Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Filip Burburan.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 221 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | |
| 2 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows over Innistrad Remastered | SIR | 208 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pack Guardian has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Guide to Flash card ability
Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.