Scourge Wolf MTG Card

Scourge Wolf offers extra effects upon flipping, providing a multifaceted threat from a single card. This creature fits well in red-based aggressive decks, potentially enhancing early-game plays. It mirrors cards like Kird Ape, evolving with game conditions, and excels with graveyard strategies.

Scourge Wolf - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 179

Scourge Wolf - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 179s

Scourge Wolf - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
2023-03-21 - Number 175

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Wolf Horror
Abilities	Delirium,First strike
Power	2
Toughness	2

Text of card

First strike Delirium — Scourge Wolf has double strike as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.

Cards like Scourge Wolf

Scourge Wolf is a unique creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering that finds parallels in cards like Kird Ape and Wild Nacatl. Much like these creatures, the Scourge Wolf can quickly become a force on the battlefield through certain conditions being met. Where Kird Ape gains strength with a forest on your side, Scourge Wolf thrives by achieving delirium, enabling it to tap to deal damage – a boon for aggressive strategies.

Looking further, we see similarities with Experiment One, another creature that can grow stronger over time. While Experiment One evolves with other creatures entering the battlefield, Scourge Wolf’s delirium mechanic relies on card types in the graveyard to unlock its potential. Both can become key assets as they grow, but they achieve their power in very different ways, reflecting their distinctive role in a deck’s dynamic.

As we pit Scourge Wolf against its kindred creatures, it’s evident that this card might appeal to a player who favours a setup that can capitalize on graveyard mechanics, offering a tactical advantage within the parameters of Magic: The Gathering’s various playstyles, from control to beatdown.

Cards similar to Scourge Wolf by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scourge Wolf allows you to maintain a competitive edge by offering additional effects when it flips. This can lead to a multi-faceted threat that could potentially give you more leverage from a single card.

Resource Acceleration: While Scourge Wolf itself doesn’t directly ramp up your mana resources, its efficiency and early threat level enable faster gameplay, pushing you to leverage your mana pool quickly for board dominance.

Instant Speed: The inherent abilities of Scourge Wolf may not operate at instant speed, but the card thrives in a deck that supports instant-speed interactions, allowing you to adapt and respond swiftly to the ever-changing battlefield conditions in MTG.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scourge Wolf demands a card be discarded to activate its key abilities. This can potentially set you back if you are already dealing with a depleting hand, making it a risky play when you’re aiming to maintain card advantage on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: The required Red mana for casting Scourge Wolf means it fits primarily into Red or multicolored decks. This restricts its versatility, as decks without Red mana cannot leverage this aggressive creature, potentially limiting the card’s overall utility in a player’s arsenal.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Scourge Wolf may bring some impact to the game, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar stats or abilities. Players might find alternative creatures or spells that offer more value or a stronger board presence for the same, or less, investment.

Reasons to Include Scourge Wolf in Your Collection

Versatility: Scourge Wolf is a solid choice for red-based aggressive decks, capable of turning into a formidable threat with its double strike ability when delirium is active. Its initial low casting cost also makes it an excellent play in the early game.

Combo Potential: As a creature with a straightforward path to getting stronger, Scourge Wolf fits into strategies aiming to quickly stack the graveyard with various card types, thus enabling the delirium condition to boost its prowess on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where efficiency is key, this card offers significant advantages. It’s an achievable threat that demands an answer, aligning well with fast-paced game plans often seen in competitive play. Its presence can shape the opponent’s tactics, knowing that if left unchecked, Scourge Wolf can lead to a swift defeat. Furthermore, in a creature-centric meta, having early aggressors such as Scourge Wolf can be critical in establishing board dominance.

How to beat

Scourge Wolf is a creature that players in MTG may sometimes find challenging due to its double strike ability, especially since it can get stronger if you have Delirium – having four or more card types among cards in your graveyard. It might seem daunting, but this formidable creature has its weaknesses. To counter it effectively, consider utilizing removal spells that can handle creatures regardless of their size. Spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can dispatch it before the Delirium ability activates.

In addition, creatures with deathtouch pose a serious threat to Scourge Wolf, as they can destroy it upon contact, regardless of how formidable it has become. Alternatively, board control cards that change the state of the battlefield can be particularly effective. By restricting your opponent’s ability to maintain a full graveyard, you limit Scourge Wolf’s potential, as Delirium becomes harder to achieve.

Lastly, look towards cards that can bypass the creature’s ability by imposing conditions upon attacking or blocking creatures. This stratagem ensures Scourge Wolf’s abilities are negated, allowing for a tactical advantage. Remember, understanding your opponent’s strengths is pivotal in crafting your path to victory in MTG.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scourge Wolf 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 Scourge Wolf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Scourge Wolf Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Jama Jurabaev.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad	SOI	179	2015	Normal	Black	Jama Jurabaev
2	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad Promos	PSOI	179s	2015	Normal	Black	Jama Jurabaev
3	2023-03-21	Shadows over Innistrad Remastered	SIR	175	2015	Normal	Black	Jama Jurabaev

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Scourge Wolf has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scourge Wolf 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	Because you consider only the characteristics of a double-faced card’s front face while it’s not on the battlefield, the types of its back face won’t be counted for delirium.
2016-04-08	In some rare cases, you can have a token or a copy of a spell in your graveyard at the moment that an object’s delirium ability counts the card types among cards in your graveyard, before that token or copy ceases to exist. Because tokens and copies of spells are not cards, even if they are copies of cards, their types will never be counted.
2016-04-08	The card types in Magic are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal (a card type that appears on some older cards). Supertypes (such as legendary and basic) and subtypes (such as Human and Equipment) are not counted.
2016-04-08	The number of card types matters, not the number of cards. For example, Wicker Witch (an artifact creature) along with Catalog (an instant) and Chaplain’s Blessing (a sorcery) will enable delirium.