Hooded Horror MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Horror
Released	2013-11-01
Set symbol
Set name	Commander 2013
Set code	C13
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	80
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Allen Williams

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage and can catch opponents off-guard with instant speed deployment and strong defense.
Its flexibility and combo potential make it a dangerous foe in the late game, especially against depleted hands.
Despite requiring a particular mana setup, it can fit into various strategies and influence the game significantly.

Text of card

Hooded Horror can't be blocked if defending player controls the most creatures or is tied for the most.

Insidious fear can be the undoing of the greatest of armies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hooded Horror provides a unique dynamic to your hand by keeping your card count high when facing a situation where you’re outnumbered by an opponent’s creatures. It ensures that you’re never falling behind in card availability during the late stages of the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card integrates smoothly with strategies aiming to ramp up resources. Though not directly providing mana, its synergy with sacrifice mechanics and graveyard manipulation can effectively accelerate your game plan.

Instant Speed: Hooded Horror can be played at instant speed thanks to flash, offering the dual advantage of surprise defense and optimized timing. The flexibility to deploy Hooded Horror on your terms often means outmaneuvering opponents and making the most of each turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hooded Horror comes with a condition that may compel the player to discard a card. This could be a drawback for those who already find themselves stretched thin in the game, grappling to maintain a healthy hand size.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Hooded Horror to the battlefield demands a certain combination of mana, specifically one black and three others. This could be less than ideal for multi-colored decks or those that struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that scales to a total of four mana, strategists might find themselves weighing Hooded Horror against other potential inclusions. There may be other creatures or spells that offer a more impactful board presence or strategic advantage at a similar, if not lower, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hooded Horror slips seamlessly into various deck strategies, particularly those looking for efficient creatures in the mid to late game. As it can only be blocked by one creature if an opponent has two or fewer cards in hand, it serves as a solid attacker or an effective blocker in the right circumstances.

Combo Potential: This card has intriguing combo potential, especially in decks that manipulate the number of cards in opponents’ hands. Pairing it with discard strategies could make Hooded Horror nearly unblockable and apply consistent pressure.

Meta-Relevance: Considering many current decks strive for card advantage, Hooded Horror can thrive in environments where opponents frequently possess few cards in hand during the end game. Its ability to escape typical blocking rules makes it a force against decks that draw their strength from card-rich hands.

How to beat

Hooded Horror, as an MTG card, presents unique challenges on the battlefield. This creature thrives in scenarios where it’s outnumbered, gaining protection from all creatures with greater power. To successfully counter this elusive threat, players need to adopt clever strategies.

One effective method is to maintain parity in power with your creatures or to simply outnumber the Hooded Horror. Tactics such as deploying numerous tokens or smaller creatures can negate its protection ability, making it vulnerable to combat damage or spells that target creatures without protection. Additionally, you could employ removal spells that do not target, such as sweepers or global effects. Cards that change base power and toughness like Inside Out can also turn the tables against Hooded Horror, rendering it vulnerable.

The key to defeating Hooded Horror lies in versatile deckbuilding and adaptive gameplay. By understanding its mechanics and planning ahead with the appropriate cards, players can overcome this obstacle and control the pace of the game.

Cards like Hooded Horror

Hooded Horror finds its place in Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing creature with a unique balance of power and cost. This card can be compared to other creatures like Dusk Feaster, which also operates under conditional power mechanics, depending on the graveyard’s card count. However, Dusk Feaster demands a specific setup to reduce its cost, whereas Hooded Horror consistently offers its power unless the opponent has a full hand.

Another comparable card is Nighthowler, which gains strength from the number of creatures in all graveyards, thus rewarding a more aggressive play style. While Nighthowler can potentially become more potent than Hooded Horror, it lacks the same stability offered by the latter’s fixed power metric based on hand size. Additionally, Abattoir Ghoul is a creature of similar cost with a straightforward life gain ability, offering a different approach to accruing advantage on the battlefield without the conditional aspect of Hooded Horror.

The card evaluation here shows that Hooded Horror, with its blend of consistent power level and straightforward gameplay, holds a distinctive position among creatures with variable power conditions in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Hooded Horror by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hooded Horror MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2013, 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 Hooded Horror and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hooded Horror has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-10-17	Once Hooded Horror is blocked, it doesn’t matter if the defending player controls the most creatures. The block won’t be undone.
2013-10-17	The number of creatures each player controls is evaluated only as blocking creatures are declared. If, at that time, the defending player doesn’t control the most creatures or isn’t tied for the most, Hooded Horror can be blocked.