Wildwood Scourge MTG Card


The Scourge’s growth potential offers scaling power that parallels board development, maximizing card efficiency. Flexibility in casting cost and board impact makes Wildwood Scourge a versatile card in various game stages. Though potent, reliance on green mana and +1/+1 counters may limit scalability in non-focused decks.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Hydra
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Wildwood Scourge enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on another non-Hydra creature you control, put a +1/+1 counter on Wildwood Scourge.


Cards like Wildwood Scourge

Wildwood Scourge joins the ranks of hydra creatures within Magic: The Gathering, standing out with a versatile X cost mechanic. It shares the battlefield with other adaptative threats such as Hydroid Krasis, which also enters the game with a customizable number of +1/+1 counters. Unlike Hydroid Krasis, Wildwood Scourge doesn’t offer card draw or life gain, but it grows whenever a non-Hydra creature you control gets a +1/+1 counter, potentially becoming a massive threat.

Managorger Hydra is another card to consider when looking at counterparts. It also gains +1/+1 counters whenever a player casts a spell, which can make it grow rapidly in more spell-heavy games. However, Managorger lacks the direct synergy with other counter-placing creatures that Wildwood Scourge exhibits. Then there’s Voracious Hydra, a creature that not only scales with X but also tramples over defenses or fights another creature upon entry.

Each hydra provides a unique angle in gameplay strategy, but Wildwood Scourge holds its ground by fostering an environment where every +1/+1 counter placed on your creatures can escalate its power, making it a potent asset in MTG’s counter-centric decks.

Hydroid Krasis - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Voracious Hydra - MTG Card versions
Hydroid Krasis - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Voracious Hydra - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Wildwood Scourge. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Naya MidrangeNaya Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 12 2024
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wildwood Scourge’s ability to grow in power and toughness whenever you put a +1/+1 counter on another creature you control offers a compounding card advantage. As your board presence increases, so does the Scourge’s threat level, without the need for additional card investment.

Resource Acceleration: Due to its flexible casting cost, this Hydra scales neatly with your available resources. Whether you’re looking for an early game presence or a late-game behemoth, Wildwood Scourge can adapt to the game’s pace, providing strategic versatility and potential for explosive turns.

Instant Speed: While Wildwood Scourge itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells that distribute +1/+1 counters. This allows you to bolster the Scourge unexpectedly during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, making it a formidable and unpredictable force on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wildwood Scourge doesn’t mandate discarding as a form of cost, managing resources wisely is critical. In decks that aren’t centered around +1/+1 counters, it could be prone to sitting on the battlefield as a low-impact creature if you’re unable to consistently distribute counters.

Specific Mana Cost: Wildwood Scourge’s hybrid mana cost allows for some flexibility, but still demands green mana. This restricts its use primarily to green-centric decks or those that can comfortably generate green mana, potentially limiting its application in various other deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although you can cast Wildwood Scourge for just two mana, to make it a formidable threat, significant investment is needed. In fast-paced games, dedicating multiple turns to grow the Scourge could be less efficient compared to deploying threats that are immediately impactful regardless of the number of counters present on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Wildwood Scourge in Your Collection

Versatility: Wildwood Scourge is a dynamic card that can grow in power alongside other creatures you control with +1/+1 counters, making it a solid addition to decks centered around counter synergy or as a standalone threat that gets stronger over time.

Combo Potential: With the ability to scale its power and toughness, Wildwood Scourge works well with strategies that proliferate or double the number of +1/+1 counters, thereby maximizing its impact on the board and potentially enabling game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where long-lasting board presence and incremental advantages are vital, the scalable nature of Wildwood Scourge makes it a relevant choice that can adapt to the ever-changing battlefield, holding its ground against various deck types.


How to beat

Wildwood Scourge is an adaptable creature card that grows in power and toughness every time a +1/+1 counter is placed on another non-Hydra creature you control. With the potential to become a colossal threat, tackling it early in the game is crucial. To counter this growing menace, consider using removal spells such as “Path to Exile” or “Fatal Push” before it becomes too large to handle efficiently. Alternately, employing counter magic like “Essence Scatter” can prevent Wildwood Scourge from hitting the battlefield in the first place.

Board wipes are another effective strategy. Wraths like “Damnation” or “Wrath of God” reset the board, removing all creatures including any sizeable Scourges. If the Scourge does become a formidable force, consider employing bounce spells to return it to its owner’s hand. Spells such as “Unsummon” or “Brazen Borrower” can disrupt your opponent’s tempo and strategy. In addition, be wary of +1/+1 synergies and aim to disrupt these interactions to prevent the Scourge from growing out of control. Efficiently managing the board and thwarting +1/+1 counters synergy are key to beating Wildwood Scourge in your next MTG matchup.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is about understanding the nuances of each card, including the adaptive Wildwood Scourge. From the early stages of play to swinging for lethal damage, this versatile hydra can be a game-changer in your green-centric decks. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of turning a modest creature into an overwhelming force or refining your deck’s +1/+1 counter strategy, further exploration is warranted. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies and discover how Wildwood Scourge can fit into your collection to bring about exhilarating wins. Absorb the insights, strategize, and reshape your approach to the game with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wildwood Scourge MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Commander Masters, 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 Wildwood Scourge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wildwood Scourge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Bryan Sola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 2142015NormalBlackBryan Sola
22023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3322015NormalBlackBryan Sola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wildwood Scourge has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-06-23 Abilities that trigger when counters are put on a creature trigger when a creature enters the battlefield with counters and when a player puts counters on a creature.
2020-06-23 If you have two non-Hydra creatures with Wildwood Scourge's ability (perhaps because they were mutated using the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths mutate ability), putting a +1/+1 counter on any non-Hydra creature you control will cause the two abilities to trigger each other indefinitely. If no player takes an action to break this loop, the game ends in a draw.
2020-06-23 Wildwood Scourge gets just one +1/+1 counter, no matter how many counters were put on the non-Hydra creature.