Wild Mongrel MTG Card
2001-10-01 - Number 283
2002-08-14 - Number rl283
2002-08-14 - Number bk283
2002-08-14 - Number shh283
2003-08-07 - Number dh283
2010-11-08 - Number A89
2014-06-16 - Number 239
2014-12-05 - Number 5
2018-12-07 - Number 194
2019-11-07 - Number 1372
2022-11-02 - Number 2001
2002-06-24 - Number 36240
2020-09-26 - Number DDD-5
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Dog |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Discard a card from your hand: Wild Mongrel gets +1/+1 and becomes the color of your choice until end of turn.
It teaches *you* to play dead.
Cards like Wild Mongrel
Wild Mongrel holds a unique place in Magic: The Gathering, standing out among green creature cards. It shares its creature type with other hounds, like Basking Rootwalla, which can be played at a low cost with the potential to beef up its power temporarily. Wild Mongrel offers a consistent power boost mechanism, enabling players to increase its strength while converting unwanted cards into advantageous play.
Aptly compared to Noose Constrictor, both cards allow the player to discard in exchange for a temporary power increase. Noose Constrictor also grants reach, providing defense against flying creatures which Wild Mongrel lacks. However, the Mongrel’s ability to change its color can be a clever tactical response to various threats on the battlefield. Aquamoeba is another similar card, with the discard ability present, but it doesn’t quite match the power boost potential of Wild Mongrel, trading strength for toughness instead.
Considering the strategic versatility and the direct power increment it provides, Wild Mongrel proves to be a worthy inclusion in decks that benefit from discard mechanics or require versatile defenders. Its synergies with graveyard mechanics further solidify its prominence within the Magic: The Gathering universe.
Cards similar to Wild Mongrel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Wild Mongrel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Madness | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Five-color Combo | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am | |
| Five-color Midrange | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am | |
| Azorius Aggro | Premodern | $1K - Pre-Modern - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 9:30 am | |
 | Gruul Aggro | Pauper | Mono-Green Aggro | BLUE - SAT - 1PM - Chicago Pauper Cup |
 | Madness Survival | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | |
 | Decklist | Free form | 80#CS | |
 | Mono-Green Aggro | Pauper | Mono-Green Aggro | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-10 |
 | BRG | Legacy | Legacy League 2023-12-18 | |
 | Caw-Gates | Pauper | Caw-Gates | Pauper Challenge 64 2023-12-17 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wild Mongrel provides a utility that can indirectly contribute to card advantage. Although it doesn’t allow you to draw cards directly, it facilitates the discarding of unwanted cards, potentially enabling interactions with graveyard mechanics that turn this action into an advantage.
Resource Acceleration: This card can be vital for decks that thrive on graveyard synergy. Discarding a card to the Mongrel might seem like a cost, but in archetypes built around the graveyard, it works as an acceleration tool by populating the graveyard with resources for other spells or creature abilities that gain power from it.
Instant Speed: The ability to discard a card to Wild Mongrel at instant speed gives it flexibility. This adaptability is essential as it allows players to react to an opponent’s moves, protect the Mongrel from color-specific removal, or unexpectedly alter combat math in their favor at a moment’s notice.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Part of what makes Wild Mongrel unique also restricts its full potential. To make the most of its ability to buff its strength and change its color, you’re tasked with discarding a card. This action can be a double-edged sword, particularly if your hand is already short on cards, effectively reducing your strategic options.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Wild Mongrel requires green mana, which pigeonholes it into green-centric or multi-colored decks. Its dependency on green mana could be a hindrance in formats where mana flexibility is crucial or in monochrome decks not aligned with green.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it may initially seem efficient, Wild Mongrel’s two mana cost can be steep in the early game, especially when players are racing to establish their board presence. In an environment where creatures with impactful enter-the-battlefield effects or evasion capabilities abound, the investment in casting Wild Mongrel could be better allocated elsewhere.
Reasons to Include Wild Mongrel in Your Collection
Versatility: Wild Mongrel offers a flexible role in various deck builds. It allows players to discard cards at will, making it a valuable asset in graveyard-based strategies or for setting up threshold bonuses.
Combo Potential: This creature synergizes with decks that capitalize on discarding cards. Whether enabling madness abilities or growing in power with each discarded card, Wild Mongrel can become a formidable force while enabling other combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive strategies are effective, Wild Mongrel excels by quickly adapting on the battlefield. It can dodge color-specific removal and can unexpectedly swing for increased damage, making it a persistent threat in varied metas.
How to beat
Wild Mongrel, with its flexible color discarding ability, poses an interesting challenge on the battlefield. As a creature card, its power lies in its capacity to become unpredictable. The key to overcoming Wild Mongrel lies in its strength—discarding cards. This can be turned against it by waiting for your opponent to empty their hand, thus reducing their ability to alter the Mongrel’s power and toughness at will. Spot removal spells can work wonders if timed correctly after the opponent has committed to discarding, leaving them with fewer resources.
An alternative strategy entails controlling the game’s pace by utilizing instant-speed removal or board wipes. This can catch an opponent off-guard, especially if they’ve tapped out their mana to play other cards. By keeping removal in hand and being patient, the tables can turn quickly against a Wild Mongrel. Moreover, graveyard disruption tools can severely constrain the benefits gained from discarding, rendering the ability significantly less advantageous for your adversary.
In essence, patience and strategic timing are your best allies in countering this adaptable green creature. The proper use of removal and disruption can ensure that Wild Mongrel’s bite is much weaker than its bark.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wild Mongrel MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey and Magic Online 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 Wild Mongrel 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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Printings
The Wild Mongrel Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2001-10-01 and 2022-11-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001-10-01 | Odyssey | ODY | 283 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36240 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | ||
| 3 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | rl283 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 4 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | bk283 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 5 | 2002-08-14 | World Championship Decks 2002 | WC02 | shh283 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 6 | 2003-08-07 | World Championship Decks 2003 | WC03 | dh283 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 7 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A89 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 8 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 239 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 9 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 5 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 10 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 194 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 11 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1372 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 12 | The List | PLST | DDD-5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | ||
| 13 | 2022-11-02 | Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit | SLC | 2001 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Crocodile Jackson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wild Mongrel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |