Shape of the Wiitigo MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set name	Coldsnap
Set code	CSP
Number	120
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Grants card advantage by freeing up your hand while continuously powering up a creature.
Enables resource acceleration through a manageable upkeep cost for snowballing battlefield presence.
Mimics instant-speed effects, allowing game tempo control and creating a persistent threat.

Text of card

Enchant creature When Shape of the Wiitigo comes into play, put six +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature. At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature if it attacked or blocked since your last upkeep. Otherwise, remove a +1/+1 counter from it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to the Shape of the Wiitigo, this card sets the stage for significant card advantage through its ability to continually bolster your creature’s power. Each turn, your creature grows stronger, essentially drawing power from the card itself, keeping your hand free to manage other threats and opportunities.

Resource Acceleration: With its cumulative upkeep cost, the Shape of the Wiitigo enables resource acceleration by essentially converting a small investment each turn into a larger force on the battlefield. This exchange can quickly tip the scales in your favor as your creature becomes an increasingly dominating presence.

Instant Speed: The Shape of the Wiitigo may not be an instant itself, but the card’s ongoing effect is akin to having an instant in play. The constant threat of your creature growing out of control allows you to dictate the pace of the game, forcing your opponents to respond on your terms and keeping them guessing about your actual hand.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Shape of the Wiitigo requires a significant investment upfront, demanding you discard a card from your hand. This can be a steep price, particularly in the late game where each card in hand can be vital. For decks that run fewer cards or rely on maintaining card advantage, this discard cost can sometimes be more detrimental than the benefit gained from casting this creature.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Shape of the Wiitigo is highly specific, necessitating one green and five other mana sources. This can be problematic in multicolored decks that might struggle to have the right mana available at the crucial moment. Furthermore, decks focusing on spells with more generic mana costs may find this card less flexible and harder to fit into their mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Shape of the Wiitigo ranks on the higher end of the mana curve. In environments where speed is key, such a sizable investment may slow you down. Other cards at a similar mana cost could potentially offer immediate board impact or more versatile abilities, making this card a less appealing option in competitive scenes where mana efficiency is paramount.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shape of the Wiitigo offers adaptability in deck building, especially in those decks that focus on counter manipulation or creature growth strategies. Its ability to continually bolster a creature turns any resilient creature into a looming threat.

Combo Potential: The scalability of this card’s effect allows for strong synergies in decks designed around +1/+1 counters. Its potential to exponentially increase a creature’s power can turn even the smallest of creatures into game-ending monsters.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames that revolve around creature combat and incremental advantage, Shape of the Wiitigo can be a game-changer. It aligns well with current strategies that emphasize permanence and continuous value over time.

How to Beat Shape of the Wiitigo

Shape of the Wiitigo is a unique card in MTG, offering growth potential for your creatures that can become a serious threat if left unchecked. With its ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters, it’s vital to address this snowballing card early in the game. One strategy to counteract it is through removal spells. Instant removal like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy can be pivotal in disrupting the card’s momentum.

Enchantment destruction is also a solid route to take. Consider running cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant to directly target and remove Shape of the Wiitigo. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also reset the board and clear any creature buffed by the card. Lastly, combat tricks through spells like Unsummon can provide a temporary solution by returning the enhanced creature to its owner’s hand, disrupting the flow and buying crucial time.

Overall, encountering Shape of the Wiitigo means staying proactive and ready with a responsive hand of either targeted removal or global effects to prevent your opponent from gaining the immense advantage it offers.

Cards like Shape of the Wiitigo

Shape of the Wiitigo stands as an intriguing aura in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, likening itself to other aura cards that bolster creature prowess. Its closest relative might be Ordeal of Thassa, which, much like Shape of the Wiitigo, offers a creature a power boost, in this case, through +1/+1 counters upon attacking. However, Shape of the Wiitigo diverges with its initial six +1/+1 counters and conditional upkeep to increase the creature’s stat further, distilling a potent threat over time.

Another card worth mentioning is Blessing of the Nephilim. While it doesn’t provide counters, it scales a creature’s power and toughness with the diversity of colors among permanents you control. Shape of the Wiitigo isn’t quite as flexible, yet it compensates with a massive immediate impact and ongoing growth potential. Then there’s Forced Adaptation, offering a model of consistency by adding a +1/+1 counter at every upkeep, ensuring steady growth albeit at a slower pace compared to the explosive nature of Shape of the Wiitigo.

As we survey the field of enhancing auras within Magic: The Gathering, Shape of the Wiitigo distinguishes itself as a formidable card, with the ability to swiftly escalate a single creature into a formidable adversary.

Blessing of the Nephilim - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Shape of the Wiitigo by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shape of the Wiitigo MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Shape of the Wiitigo and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shape of the Wiitigo has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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