Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger MTG Card


Transforms for card draw and power boost, offering strategic depth and board advantage. Accelerates resources, aligning its power and toughness with hand size for stronger plays. Demands careful play around its high mana cost and hand reveal, testing deck synergy.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Shaman Werewolf
Abilities Transform
Power *
Toughness *

Text of card

Sage of Ancient Lore's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand. When Sage of Ancient Lore enters the battlefield, draw a card. At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Sage of Ancient Lore.


Cards like Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger

Sage of Ancient Lore is an intriguing card, often compared to creatures like Tovolar’s Sagebrush and Werewolf Pack Leader in Magic: The Gathering. This creature card flips into a powerful Werewolf, Werewolf of Ancient Hunger, when certain conditions are met, reminiscent of the transforming nature showcased by Ludevic’s Test Subject, which morphs into Ludevic’s Abomination. However, the Sage stands out as it not only transforms but also scales with the number of cards in your hand.

Another card in the conversation is Arlinn’s Wolf, as it bears the Werewolf theme, yet doesn’t offer the dynamic changing ability or tie its power to your hand size. Masked Admirers is also worth mentioning, sharing the card draw theme but lacking the variable power and flavor of a Werewolf twist. Finally, Mayor of Avabruck offers a boost to other Werewolves and transforms, it doesn’t provide the hand scaling benefit.

Reviewing these creatures, Sage of Ancient Lore’s duality as a card advantage engine and potent threat based on your hand makes it a unique and strategic choice among Werewolf tribe cards and creature cards aiming for sizeable power presence on the battlefield.

Werewolf Pack Leader - MTG Card versions
Ludevic's Test Subject - MTG Card versions
Ludevic's Abomination - MTG Card versions
Arlinn's Wolf - MTG Card versions
Masked Admirers - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck - MTG Card versions
Werewolf Pack Leader - MTG Card versions
Ludevic's Test Subject - MTG Card versions
Ludevic's Abomination - MTG Card versions
Arlinn's Wolf - MTG Card versions
Masked Admirers - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger by color, type and mana cost

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Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Panther Warriors - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Sage of Ancient Lore transforms into Werewolf of Ancient Hunger, its controller draws a number of cards equal to its power. This can result in a significant card advantage, replenishing your hand and giving you more options to stay ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: As a versatile creature card, Sage of Ancient Lore can help ramp up your resources. Initially, it can serve as a blocker or an attacker, and upon transformation, its power and toughness become equal to the total number of cards in your hand, potentially accelerating the pressure you can put on your opponent.

Instant Speed: While the card itself is not an instant, it benefits from the dynamic nature of werewolves in MTG. It can flip to its more powerful side during any upkeep where no spells were cast in the previous turn. This allows for strategic planning and the potential for a surprise shift in board state at instant speed timing between turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When you cast Sage of Ancient Lore, you must reveal your hand, potentially forcing a strategy change if you’re guarding key cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature has a mana cost that includes both generic and green mana, necessitating a sufficient green mana base, which may not always be optimal in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of five, Sage of Ancient Lore demands a significant investment that may not always align with the pace of your deck, especially when faster options are available.


Reasons to Include Sage of Ancient Lore in Your Collection

Versatility: Sage of Ancient Lore adapts to various deck themes due to its werewolf duality. It can enhance a creature-focused deck or serve as a formidable transformation element in werewolf tribal builds.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to draw upon entry and its power tied to hand size creates opportunities for synergies in decks that concentrate on card advantage or hand manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: With fluctuating metas, a card that can potentially be a game-changer as both a creature and a werewolf is valuable. Its relevancy can surge specifically in environments where large hands are common, making it a formidable force on the board.


How to Beat

Sage of Ancient Lore represents a dynamic presence on the battlefield, a card that can shift the tides in Magic the Gathering. As a creature that possesses power and toughness equal to the number of cards in your hand, and flips into a werewolf that boosts each player’s draws, it can become an overwhelming force.

Adapting your strategy is key to overcoming this creature. Start by targeting its strength – your hand size. Implementing hand disruption techniques can effectively undermine its power. Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek serve as perfect tools for this task, stripping away the cards that fuel Sage’s transformation. Additionally, spot removal spells like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can dispatch the creature before it flips or right after its transformation, ensuring you maintain control over the game. Board wipes can also reset the playing field, removing the Sage regardless of its current form.

Clever deck construction and timing are your allies against Sage of Ancient Lore. By managing your hand and removal resources wisely, you can contain this otherwise influential card and maintain an edge over the wolves of MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Deciphering the ins and outs of MTG encompasses more than just card knowledge; it’s about deep strategic insight and recognizing potential within your collection. Sage of Ancient Lore exemplifies a powerful asset for those with a keen eye for deck-building finesse. It’s a multifaceted creature that can swiftly adapt to the evolving game board, offering both a challenge and a significant advantage when utilized effectively. For players captivated by the dance of might and intellect, adding this card to your arsenal is worthy of consideration. Unlock its full potential and you may discover your deck’s next cornerstone. Dive deeper with us to expertly harness the Sage’s abilities and enhance your MTG gameplay experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2252015TransformBlackSlawomir Maniak
22016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 225s2015TransformBlackSlawomir Maniak
32023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2112015TransformBlackSlawomir Maniak

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sage of Ancient Lore // Werewolf of Ancient Hunger has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-04-08 If you have no cards in hand after Sage of Ancient Lore enters the battlefield, it will be put into your graveyard before its first triggered ability resolves. You’ll draw a card, but Sage of Ancient Lore will already be gone.
2016-04-08 The abilities that transform a Werewolf back and forth look at the entire previous turn, even if the Werewolf with that ability wasn’t on the battlefield for some or all of that turn.
2016-04-08 To trigger the Werewolf’s back face’s transform ability, a single player must have cast two or more spells during the previous turn. If multiple players each cast just one spell during the previous turn, the ability won’t trigger.
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).