Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer MTG Card

Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer - Dark Ascension

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Human Werewolf
Abilities	Transform
Released	2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dark Ascension
Set code	DKA
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	133
Frame	2003
Layout	Transform
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Wolfbitten Captive provides card efficiency by offering a transformative upgrade without needing extra cards.
Transformation at instant speed allows surprise tactics and efficient use of mana during gameplay.
The card’s disadvantages include a discard requirement and a green mana constraint limiting its versatility.

Text of card

: Wolfbitten Captive gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn. At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Wolfbitten Captive.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer provides not just a one-drop creature but also a transformative ability that can lead to a more powerful entity without requiring an additional card. This duality ensures your investment continues to yield benefits as the game evolves.

Resource Acceleration: With Wolfbitten Captive’s transformation into Krallenhorde Killer, you’re essentially getting a more substantial creature for the same initial mana cost. This upgrade economically leverages your resources to put more pressure on your opponents without further tapping into your mana pool.

Instant Speed: The ability to flip Wolfbitten Captive into Krallenhorde Killer at instant speed is a strategic gem. It allows you to adapt reactively to the flow of the game, using your mana efficiently and catching your opponent off guard with a more formidable creature after they’ve committed to their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer offers fascinating transformation abilities, it necessitates discarding another card to fully utilize its werewolf transformation. This might not always be optimal, particularly in situations where your hand is already sparse, making it a costly investment at a critical moment in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The initial casting of Wolfbitten Captive requires green mana, which could restrict its integration into multi-colored decks that don’t have a consistent source of green mana. This can sometimes make it a less flexible choice compared to more color-flexible options.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the transformed side, Krallenhorde Killer, brings a substantial power boost, achieving this state comes with a hefty mana investment. The requirement of four mana to transform could be a steep price, considering other cards in your deck may offer similar or better upgrades without the same level of investment, leading to inefficiency in mana usage.

Reasons to Include Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer in Your Collection

Versatility: Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer slides effortlessly into decks built around werewolf synergy, and those embracing transform mechanics. Its low mana cost makes it an early play that can evolve into a formidable creature on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card’s transformation can activate various werewolf-related abilities in your deck. Pairing it with cards that manipulate day and night cycles, or those that benefit from having powerful creatures, can unlock new strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: With its ability to transform into Krallenhorde Killer, it can stand up against bigger threats that define an aggressive meta. Additionally, its presence in a deck means opponents must carefully consider the timing of their spells to avoid inadvertently powering up your board.

How to beat

Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer is a versatile card that brings dynamic options to a game of MTG. This card excels in decks that capitalize on transforming mechanics or benefit from early aggressive creatures. As a 1/1 that can become a 2/2 on your turn, it’s important to anticipate its potential growth into the 3/3 Krallenhorde Killer.

To effectively counter this card, one could utilize instant-speed removal to disrupt the transformation cycle or employ control strategies to hinder its activation. Keeping a watchful eye on the mana your opponent has available is key; they can only transform the Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer during their turn. Cards with flash can serve as surprises that remove or neutralize the creature before it becomes a greater threat.

Timing is essential when facing this adaptable opponent. Strategic removal or the application of “fight” mechanisms can prove invaluable in managing the pace and pressuring a Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer user. Understanding the potential risk it poses emphasizes the need for mindful play and resource allocation to maintain dominance on the battlefield.

Cards like Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer

Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer stands out in the realm of transforming cards within Magic: The Gathering. This werewolf card resembles other dual-faced cards like Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha in its transformative nature, flipping from a human to a powerful lycanthrope. The Captive begins as an efficient one-drop creature but evolves into the formidable Krallenhorde Killer with an activated ability.

Another card worth comparing to is Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration, which also starts off as a less intimidating creature and metamorphoses to pose a larger threat. While Delver transforms based on the library manipulation mechanics, Wolfbitten Captive relies on player choice, offering a more controlled but resource-demanding change. Joining the roster is Scorned Villager // Moonscarred Werewolf, a creature offering ramp in its human form and accelerated mana production post-transformation, yet it lacks the standalone combat prowess of Krallenhorde Killer.

All said, Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer provides a unique blend of early game presence and potential late-game impact, making it a card that requires strategic planning to optimize, but can be a game-changer when used effectively within the MTG landscape.

Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions

Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration - MTG Card versions

Scorned Villager // Moonscarred Werewolf - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wolfbitten Captive // Krallenhorde Killer has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2011-01-22	If you activate one face’s ability, and some effect causes the card to transform twice that turn, you won’t be able to activate that face’s ability again that turn.
2011-01-22	You can activate Wolfbitten Captive’s ability, let it transform into Krallenhorde Killer, then activate Krallenhorde Killer’s ability, all on the same turn, and vice versa.
2016-07-13	For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).