Somberwald Alpha MTG Card


Somberwald Alpha provides card advantage and boosts combat with its blocking-related card draw. Its instant speed ability to grant +1/+1 and trample can unexpectedly alter combat outcomes. Integration into decks may require careful mana management due to its specific casting cost.
Somberwald Alpha - Magic Origins
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wolf
Released2015-07-17
Set symbol
Set nameMagic Origins
Set codeORI
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number198
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byFilip Burburan

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.: Target creature you control gains trample until end of turn. (It can deal excess combat damage to defending player or planeswalker while attacking.)


Cards like Somberwald Alpha

Somberwald Alpha, a card that boosts your board presence in MTG, shares similarities with other combat influential creatures. Much like the well-known Khenra Charioteer, Somberwald Alpha provides trample to your creatures, ensuring that excess damage isn’t wasted during fights. However, Somberwald Alpha introduces an additional layer of strategy with its ability to give a single creature +1/+0 and trample until end of turn, thereby increasing its combat versatility when compared to the always-on effect of Khenra Charioteer.

Another card with a comparable support role is Goblin Chieftain. While the Chieftain exclusively empowers goblins, Somberwald Alpha does not discriminate, offering its trample ability to any creature you control. This makes it a more flexible option in decks that are not tribe-specific. The Chieftain, though, has haste and gives it to other goblins, allowing immediate and aggressive plays, unlike the Alpha’s more patient tactical approach.

The differences between Somberwald Alpha and these cards highlight its unique position in MTG gameplay. Its ability to selectively augment creature power and provide evasion through trample ensures that it can be a valuable asset in decks looking to maximize combat effectiveness.

Khenra Charioteer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Khenra Charioteer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions

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Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Somberwald Alpha lets you maintain pressure on your opponent while building your own board presence. Each creature you control that gets blocked grants you a card, ensuring that you continuously replenish your hand and keep options open.

Resource Acceleration: It’s a powerhouse in boosting your creature’s potency in combat. Every time a creature is turned sideways in an attack, you have the potential to force your opponent’s hand early, allowing your other creatures to sneak through defenses or become more menacing through its ability to grant a bonus to attacking creatures.

Instant Speed: Though the Somberwald Alpha itself is not an instant, its ability to give a creature +1/+1 and trample until end of turn can be activated at instant speed. This allows you to adapt mid-combat, possibly turning the tide by surprising an unprepared opponent during the heat of battle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Holding onto Somberwald Alpha in your hand could mean having to bid farewell to another valuable card if certain gameplay mechanics force a discard, weakening your overall hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building can be constrained as Somberwald Alpha demands a specific blend of mana types, potentially limiting its integration into multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Pricier mana-wise than similar creatures, Somberwald Alpha can impact your game tempo, especially when faster options may fit into your strategy more seamlessly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Somberwald Alpha brings a flexibility to your green decks that can be pivotal in combat. Its ability to give your creatures a boost during a fight and assist with trample makes it a candidate for various deck archetypes, enhancing your board presence in creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card finds synergy with effects that care about power increases or when you need to ensure that combat damage goes through blockers, making it a key piece in combos that benefit from such interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-heavy decks or where ground stalls are common, Somberwald Alpha holds its ground. It not only makes each creature a more formidable attacker but can also turn the tide in creature combat, keeping your creatures relevant as the game progresses.


How to beat Somberwald Alpha

Somberwald Alpha may seem daunting with its ability to bolster attacking creatures, especially in a deck geared towards creature synergy. Yet, like any MTG card, it has its Achilles’ heel. Consider counterspells – keeping one handy can nip the problem in the bud before it hits the battlefield. Blue spells like Negate or Essence Scatter are great for this. Removal is also key. Cards like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can dispatch Somberwald Alpha quickly and efficiently, negating the bonuses it confers to other creatures.

Adjusting your playstyle can also make a difference. Playing around the Alpha’s buff ability by not engaging in unfavorable blocks can save your creatures for a more opportune moment. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation clear the path, eliminating the Alpha along with any creatures that may have benefitted from its presence. Lastly, keep an eye out for timing. Interrupt the Alpha’s power-play during your opponent’s turn, and you can easily turn the tide of the game. Employing these strategies smartly can ensure that Somberwald Alpha is less a threat and more a minor hiccup in your path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Somberwald Alpha MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins, 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 Somberwald Alpha and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Somberwald Alpha has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2015-06-22 Somberwald Alpha’s first ability will give each creature you control that becomes blocked +1/+1 until end of turn. It doesn’t matter how many of your opponent’s creatures are blocking each of your creatures.