Voracious Hatchling MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Lifelink |
| Released | 2008-07-25 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Eventide |
| Set code | EVE |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 97 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeremy Enecio |
Text of card
Lifelink Voracious Hatchling comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it. Whenever you play a white spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Voracious Hatchling. Whenever you play a black spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Voracious Hatchling.
Cards like Voracious Hatchling
Voracious Hatchling stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique Lifeblood mechanic which presents an intriguing playstyle. It shares similarities with cards like Ajani’s Pridemate which also grows stronger as you gain life, yet Voracious Hatchling’s initial power comes with the drawback of starting out as a weaker creature that must build itself up through life gain events specifically on your turn.
Another card worth mentioning is Bloodthirsty Aerialist which also benefits from your life-gaining activities, potentially becoming a formidable threat in the air. However, unlike Voracious Hatchling, the Aerialist can increase its power continuously, regardless of whose turn it is, as long as you’re gaining life. Yet the Hatchling’s growth is capped to once per turn, presenting a measured pace to its strength development.
When assessing the dynamics of Voracious Hatchling in comparison to other life gain synergy cards like Crested Sunmare, which offers a potentially continuous stream of indestructible Horse tokens, the Hatchling’s appeal lies in the immediate presence of a creature that can potentially become a massive threat given the right conditions and with tactical life gain play.
Cards similar to Voracious Hatchling by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Voracious Hatchling offers players strategic flexibility by allowing them to potentially draw additional cards if it survives multiple combats, thanks to its lifelink ability sustaining your life total.
Resource Acceleration: As a creature that can grow over time, Voracious Hatchling synergizes with effects that trigger upon gaining life or dealing damage, acting as a focal point for an engine that can potentially churn through your deck faster.
Instant Speed: While Voracious Hatchling itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its lifelink ability can become crucial during instant-speed interactions on an opponent’s turn, as it can buffer your life in emergencies and provide a surprise swing in your favor during combat scenarios.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Voracious Hatchling demands a particular ongoing investment to reach its full potential. Players are required to continuously feed it with white spells, which could strain your hand and deplete your resources faster than anticipated. When you’re managing a slim hand, ensuring the Hatchling’s growth might mean sacrificing valuable options.
Specific Mana Cost: Deckbuilding with Voracious Hatchling can be tricky due to its hybrid mana cost. Starting with one black and one white mana, this card fits primarily into monochrome or dual-color decks that can consistently provide the necessary mana types. This can be restrictive and challenging for those wanting to integrate it into a more diverse color scheme.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Starting at a four mana value, Voracious Hatchling isn’t the most mana-efficient creature you can summon early in the game. Especially considering its initial 6/6 stats can shrink unless you play white spells, there are alternative creature cards that hit the battlefield ready to swing without the additional upkeep.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Voracious Hatchling is a dynamic card that can be slotted into lifegain and aggro decks alike. Its Lifelink ability synergizes with other life-modifying spells and creatures, making it a flexible addition to any collection.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that trigger upon life gain or from creatures entering the battlefield. Its potential to grow quickly can be exploited in numerous combo strategies, utilizing its growing power as a strategic advantage in both the early and late game.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to become a significant threat while stabilizing your life total, Voracious Hatchling proves its worth in various metagames. Its relevance increases in environments where aggressive starts are common, making it a smart choice for those looking to counter such strategies and gain board presence.
How to beat
The Voracious Hatchling card in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge due to its life-link ability and initial power buff. This creature starts strong but weakens with each spell you cast. Key to outplaying your opponent’s Hatchling is to prioritize removal spells or abilities that can target it instantly before it grows out of hand or nets significant life gain for your opponent. Cards such as Path to Exile or Murder are effective choices, swiftly dealing with the threat without triggering any unfavorable game states.
Alternatively, playing defensively until you can establish a board presence with creatures that outclass the Hatchling in combat is also a viable strategy. Aim to control the tempo of the game. Effective creatures like Doom Blade or Grasp of Darkness can neutralize it even after it decreases in power, thanks to their -X/-X mechanics. Engaging the Hatchling in combat should be a last resort unless you’re certain your creatures will prevail or if you have tricks up your sleeve to tip the scales in your favor.
Overall, managing this MTG card requires a careful balance of immediate action and calculated long-term strategies. Keeping removal at the ready and controlling the pace are your tickets to success against the Voracious Hatchling.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Voracious Hatchling MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Voracious Hatchling 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Voracious Hatchling has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Voracious Hatchling card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | If there are no -1/-1 counters on it when the triggered ability resolves, the ability does nothing. There is no penalty for not being able to remove a counter. |
| 2008-08-01 | If you cast a spell that’s both of the listed colors, both abilities will trigger. You’ll remove a total of two -1/-1 counters from the Hatchling. |