Hunter's Edge MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Hunter’s Edge is a versatile card, offering creature strength boost and opponent threat removal.
  2. It lacks instant speed, requiring thoughtful incorporation into strategic main phase actions.
  3. Comparing similar cards reveals Hunter’s Edge’s unique niche with a lasting +1/+1 counter effect.

Text of card

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Then that creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature you don't control.

The hunt ends. Lunch begins.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hunter’s Edge, in its essence, offers players a valuable trade-off. By removing a threatening creature on your opponent’s side, it can effectively swing the balance of creatures in your favor. This shift gives you a leg up in board control and can lead to maintaining or gaining card advantage in the midst of the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Hunter’s Edge itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, the resource it helps accelerate is your creatures’ power. It does so by placing a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control, potentially turning it into a more formidable force and accelerating your pathway to victory.

Instant Speed: Hunter’s Edge operates at sorcery speed which encourages strategic planning for your main phases. While it doesn’t offer the flexibility of an instant, the power boost and removal effects are aligned with the sorcery speed, ensuring that your plays during your turn have significant impact and reshape the state of the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hunter’s Edge doesn’t have a discard requirement, which could be seen as a plus. However, this also means it doesn’t help filter your hand or take advantage of cards that benefit from being in your graveyard.

Specific Mana Cost: While flexible, Hunter’s Edge requires one green mana. This specificity can be restrictive for decks that are not green-centric or have difficulty generating the right mana in critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three and a green, Hunter’s Edge may not always be the most mana-efficient removal option available, especially considering the fast pace of many MTG games where lower-cost spells can be pivotal.


Reasons to Include Hunter’s Edge in Your Collection

Versatility: Hunter’s Edge is a multifaceted card that can be a significant addition to green decks, particularly those requiring removal options. It not only strengthens one of your creatures but can also take down problematic blockers or threats on the opposing side.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with creatures that have +1/+1 counter mechanics or benefit from having additional power. Moreover, Hunter’s Edge can be a key component in strategies focused on permanent removal while simultaneously bolstering your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: When creatures hold the battlefield, Hunter’s Edge stands out for its ability to disrupt opponent strategies while advancing your own creature-centric game plan. In a creature-dense metagame, Hunter’s Edge enhances your ability to engage and come out ahead in pivotal skirmishes.


How to beat

Hunter’s Edge is a green sorcery card that can be pretty impactful in Magic: The Gathering, letting a creature you control get a +1/+1 counter and taking out a foe by dealing damage equal to its power. To counter it, you should aim to keep your opponent’s board clear, limiting their chances to synergize or build up a creature powerful enough to make Hunter’s Edge a game-changer.

Instant-speed removal spells are the key to dismantling the Hunter’s Edge play. By eliminating the target creature in response to the Hunter’s Edge cast, not only do you negate the opponent’s spell essentially turning it into a wasted card but you also maintain board advantage. Board wipes are another strategy, clearing the field before the opponent even draws into their Hunter’s Edge. Lastly, consider using counterspell abilities to disrupt their plan, ensuring that this combat trick never sees resolution.

Overall, the trick to beating Hunter’s Edge lies in preemptive control and responsive play. By staying one step ahead of the opponent’s strategies and managing the board state, you ensure that Hunter’s Edge loses its edge in the match. Remember, timing your removal and counters correctly plays a fundamental role in triumphing over this green spell.


Cards like Hunter's Edge

Hunter’s Edge is an intriguing spell in MTG that offers a unique blend of creature enhancement and removal. It’s often compared with other spells like Rabid Bite and Ram Through. Each serves the purpose of having one of your creatures deal damage to another, but Hunter’s Edge provides an additional boon with a +1/+1 counter. Rabid Bite is a simpler form of this effect, strictly dealing damage without the bonus of a permanent buff. Ram Through, however, takes it a step further by potentially dealing excess damage to the opponent if your creature has trample.

Another comparable card is Prey Upon, which comes at a lower cost but requires your creature to also take damage. In contrast, Hunter’s Edge, while costlier, protects your creature from harm and grants it a power increase, potentially setting up for more aggressive plays. Lastly, there’s Band Together, which can have two of your creatures deal damage to another target but lacks the valuable +1/+1 counter that bolsters Hunter’s Edge.

Examining these spells side by side, Hunter’s Edge occupies an interesting niche within MTG. It’s a solid choice for decks that seek to build stronger creatures while also removing threats, highlighting its dual role as a versatile tool in creature-focused strategies.

Rabid Bite - MTG Card versions
Ram Through - MTG Card versions
Prey Upon - MTG Card versions
Band Together - MTG Card versions
Rabid Bite - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Ram Through - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Prey Upon - Innistrad (ISD)
Band Together - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Hunter's Edge by color, type and mana cost

Tsunami - MTG Card versions
Taste of Paradise - MTG Card versions
Splendid Genesis - MTG Card versions
Unyaro Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Natural Balance - MTG Card versions
Elven Cache - MTG Card versions
Creeping Mold - MTG Card versions
Bee Sting - MTG Card versions
Rejuvenate - MTG Card versions
Titania's Boon - MTG Card versions
Splinter - MTG Card versions
Pack Hunt - MTG Card versions
Reverent Silence - MTG Card versions
Nature's Resurgence - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Falls - MTG Card versions
Natural Order - MTG Card versions
Scapeshift - MTG Card versions
Explosive Vegetation - MTG Card versions
Reap and Sow - MTG Card versions
Joyous Respite - MTG Card versions
Tsunami - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Taste of Paradise - Alliances (ALL)
Splendid Genesis - Celebration Cards (PCEL)
Unyaro Bee Sting - Mirage (MIR)
Natural Balance - Mirage (MIR)
Elven Cache - Visions (VIS)
Creeping Mold - Kaladesh Remastered (KLR)
Bee Sting - Portal Second Age (P02)
Rejuvenate - Urza's Saga (USG)
Titania's Boon - Urza's Saga (USG)
Splinter - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Pack Hunt - Nemesis (NEM)
Reverent Silence - Nemesis (NEM)
Nature's Resurgence - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Invigorating Falls - Torment (TOR)
Natural Order - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Scapeshift - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Explosive Vegetation - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Reap and Sow - Darksteel (DST)
Joyous Respite - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hunter's Edge MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2021 and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Hunter's Edge and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hunter's Edge Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1892015normalblackJohann Bodin
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6752015normalblackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hunter's Edge has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 If either creature is an illegal target as Hunter's Edge tries to resolve, the creature you control won't deal damage.
2020-06-23 If the creature you don't control is an illegal target as Hunter's Edge tries to resolve but the creature you control is a legal target, you just put a +1/+1 counter on the creature you control.
2020-06-23 You can't cast Hunter's Edge unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don't control as targets.

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