Predatory Hunger MTG Card


Boosts creatures powerfully with opponents’ creature plays, rapidly escalating threat levels. Efficient resource management, enhancing gameplay focus and strategic maneuvering. Spurs interactive, dynamic gameplay, influencing opponents’ creature summoning tactics.
Predatory Hunger - Exodus
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set nameExodus
Set codeEXO
Number117
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrom

Text of card

Whenever any opponent successfully casts a creature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature.

Hunger growls, never purrs.


Cards like Predatory Hunger

Predatory Hunger is a unique enchantment in MTG that offers a distinct take on creature enhancement. Its key trait is the way it accrues +1/+1 counters whenever an opponent plays a creature, symbolizing the thematic concept of growth through predation. In comparison with other counter-based cards like Rite of Passage, which grants a +1/+1 counter whenever the creature takes damage, Predatory Hunger provides a proactive approach to creature growth without necessitating combat.

Another comparison can be drawn to Ordeal of Nylea, which adds counters incrementally through attacks, eventually culminating in a beneficial effect. However, Predatory Hunger’s potential for growth is tied solely to opponent’s actions, leaving its fate somewhat in their hands. Lastly, Hardened Scales stands as a powerhouse in counter-play, amplifying each counter’s effect, effectively synergizing with, but not directly competing against, Predatory Hunger’s mechanics.

Ultimately, Predatory Hunger holds its own within the domain of enchantments designed to bolster creatures, with a passive yet interactive strategy that can swiftly turn the tides of a game when facing creature-heavy decks.

Rite of Passage - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Nylea - MTG Card versions
Hardened Scales - MTG Card versions
Rite of Passage - MTG Card versions
Ordeal of Nylea - MTG Card versions
Hardened Scales - MTG Card versions

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Living Artifact - MTG Card versions
Fastbond - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions
Instill Energy - MTG Card versions
Cocoon - MTG Card versions
Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Elven Fortress - MTG Card versions
Earthlore - MTG Card versions
Revelation - MTG Card versions
Carapace - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Woods - MTG Card versions
Mortal Wound - MTG Card versions
Spider Climb - MTG Card versions
Elephant Grass - MTG Card versions
Briar Shield - MTG Card versions
Storm Front - MTG Card versions
Mirri's Guile - MTG Card versions
Bequeathal - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Predatory Hunger offers strategic growth for creatures under your command. The more times your opponents summon creatures, the mightier your own creature becomes. This organic advantage can quickly escalate, turning even the most unassuming creature into a formidable threat.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, Predatory Hunger can save resources by building one creature’s power, potentially reducing the need for many other spells or creatures to control the board. This allows for a more efficient use of mana and can accelerate your game plan as you focus on other strategic plays.

Instant Speed: Although Predatory Hunger itself is not an instant, it nudges opponents to carefully consider playing creatures at sorcery speed. This enchantment can affect board dynamics instantaneously as opponents’ creatures enter the battlefield, which in turn offers you a form of interactive gameplay even during their turn without needing to expend additional resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: There’s no need to worry about discarding cards in your hand when you cast Predatory Hunger. This card instead imposes a different type of challenge with its conditionality based on opponent’s actions.

Specific Mana Cost: Predatory Hunger requires one green mana, which means decks not running green or with limited mana fixing may struggle to include it effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although with a mana cost of one green, Predatory Hunger is not costly by itself, its reliance on opponents playing creatures for incremental growth could tie up mana better spent on more immediately impactful spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Predatory Hunger fits seamlessly into a variety of green deck builds, particularly those revolving around creatures and counters. It can scale well throughout the game, as more creatures enter the battlefield, boosting your own.

Combo Potential: This enchantment card pairs exceptionally well with multi-creature generating tokens or effects that provoke creature casting from opponents, ramping up your creature’s power substantially.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-heavy strategies are prevalent, Predatory Hunger can serve as a powerful tool to sway the board state in your favor, turning even the smallest creature into a significant threat over time.


How to beat

Predatory Hunger is a unique enchantment card that has its own challenges when playing against it in Magic: The Gathering. It grants a creature an additional +1/+1 counter each time an opponent plays a creature spell, which can turn an unassuming creature into a formidable threat rapidly. Managing the potential growth of a creature enchanted with Predatory Hunger is critical. To counter this, considering removal spells that can bypass the counters and eliminate the creature directly is a solid strategy. Cards that prevent your opponent from casting creatures altogether can also halt the accumulation of counters and keep the enchanted creature in check.

Moreover, enchantment destruction plays a key role since Predatory Hunger itself can be a target. There are a variety of spells that allow you to destroy or exile enchantments, thereby reversing the imminent danger. Board wipes can also be a clean sweep to remove the threat without having to confront the growing creature head-on. Planning your creature plays strategically so as not to inadvertently empower an opponent’s creature equipped with Predatory Hunger is also essential.

To sum it up, tactically controlling the pace of your creature spells, using enchantment removals, direct creature removals, and considering broad board control strategies can effectively neutralize the advantages granted by Predatory Hunger in a game of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re looking to refine your MTG collection and gameplay, Predatory Hunger is a card not to be overlooked. Embodying growth and strategic advantage, it offers a subtle yet powerful boost to your creatures. Crafting your deck with this enchantment can lead to surprising turnarounds on the battlefield, especially in creature-centric matches. Balance is key; remember to complement it with spells that protect and multiply your threats. Like a persistent predator in the wild, mastering the ebb and flow of when to let your creatures grow can define your victory. Dive in deeper with us, and discover how to best harness the potential of Predatory Hunger in your deck.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predatory Hunger MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Predatory Hunger and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Predatory Hunger has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2008-04-01 A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells.