Wicker Warcrawler MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Scarecrow |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
| Number | 269 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Carl Critchlow |
Text of card
Whenever Wicker Warcrawler attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it at end of combat.
It's the twisted creation of a kithkin diviner who dreamed of very large crows.
Cards like Wicker Warcrawler
Wicker Warcrawler is a unique creature card that adds strategic depth to MTG decks that favor artifacts and self-mill strategies. It operates similarly to other artifact creatures such as Myr Retriever, which also interacts with the graveyard but instead, it allows you to retrieve another artifact card once it’s put into the graveyard from the battlefield. This ability contrasts with Wicker Warcrawler’s, which has its focus on progressively growing power as you mill more cards.
Dhund Operative is another card that synergizes well with artifacts, getting a boost in power and deathtouch as long as you control an artifact. However, it doesn’t offer the milling interaction or the escalating threat that Wicker Warcrawler provides. Scrapyard Recombiner is an artifact creature with a modular mechanic, allowing it to transfer +1/+1 counters to another artifact creature upon death. While Recombiner doesn’t grow by self-milling, it brings modular flexibility to the gameplay.
Evaluating their place in the MTG universe, what sets Wicker Warcrawler apart is its potential to become a towering force on the battlefield. It aligns with strategies that can afford milling as a resource, forging a distinctive niche among self-enhancing artifact creatures.
Cards similar to Wicker Warcrawler by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Wicker Warcrawler’s persistent nature in reanimating itself offers a renewable asset that ensures you maintain card advantage. Its return to your hand after being destroyed is a quintessential edge, particularly in longer, grinding matches where maintaining a board presence is crucial.
Resource Acceleration: By offering a substantial body on the battlefield, Wicker Warcrawler has the potential to divert your opponent’s resources, effectively accelerating your position as they deal with the threat. This can free up your mana and other resources to deploy additional threats or answer opponents’ moves.
Instant Speed: While the Wicker Warcrawler itself is not played at instant speed, its ability to fit into a deck that operates largely at instant speed is key. Its return to hand mechanic synergizes well with holding up mana for instant-speed interaction, enabling you to redeploy it on your turn or continue to apply pressure with other instant-speed spells at the ready.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wielding the Wicker Warcrawler can put a significant dent in your hand, as it necessitates tossing a card to fulfill its entry conditions. This mechanic might hinder your game plan, especially if you’re already running low on cards.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of the Wicker Warcrawler is quite peculiar, demanding a specific blend of mana that could potentially clash with the mana curve of many decks. This may hamper its integration into a diverse array of strategies, particularly in formats where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Wicker Warcrawler comes with an intriguing set of abilities, its mana cost is on the steeper side. Players might find that other creatures or spells available offer either a similar or greater impact on the game, without the hefty mana investment the Warcrawler demands.
Reasons to Include Wicker Warcrawler in Your Collection
Versatility: Wicker Warcrawler is a robust addition to decks leveraging artifact synergies or requiring resilient creatures. Its ability to persist on the battlefield after taking damage adds value across various game situations, adapting to both aggressive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: Crafted wisely, this card can be a key piece in powerful combinations. Its capacity to gain or lose counters presents opportunities to integrate with proliferate mechanics, sacrifice outlets, or modular creature features for impactful in-game advantages.
Meta-Relevance: Given the adaptive landscape of competitive play, Wicker Warcrawler’s enduring design can hold its own against prevalent control archetypes. Its sheer endurance means it has the potential to remain a consistent force on the board, influencing the pace and tactics of matches within various meta environments.
How to beat
The Wicker Warcrawler brings a unique challenge to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As an artifact creature with the potential to grow stronger whenever a player casts a noncreature spell, it can quickly become a formidable threat. However, there are strategies that can help you overcome this mechanical monstrosity. The simplest approach is to remove it from the battlefield. Cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can swiftly handle the Wicker Warcrawler, bypassing its strength-building mechanic entirely.
Another effective method is to limit the number of noncreature spells being played. This can be done by playing more creature spells yourself, or by disrupting your opponent’s hand and strategy with thoughtseize effects or counter spells. Utilizing artifacts or enchantments that hamper an opponent’s ability to play noncreature spells, like Damping Sphere, can also stifle the Warcrawler’s growth. It’s a balance of predicting your opponent’s moves and maintaining control over the pace of the game.
Ultimately, knowing your deck and anticipating the Warcrawler’s presence in the meta can lead you to include preemptive countermeasures. This foresight ensures you’ll be prepared to dismantle the threat swiftly, maintaining the flow of the match in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wicker Warcrawler MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Wicker Warcrawler 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 Wicker Warcrawler has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wicker Warcrawler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | The -1/-1 counter is put on Wicker Warcrawler at end of combat, after combat damage has already been dealt. (Note that this is different from how Dusk Urchins works.) |