Arlinn's Wolf MTG Card


Arlinn's Wolf - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Wolf
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number151
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKimonas Theodossiou

Key Takeaways

  1. Arlinn’s Wolf thrives in Arlinn planeswalker decks, adept at avoiding blocker-heavy strategies.
  2. Demands clever deckbuilding, tying players to specific mana needs and potential discard synergies.
  3. This wolf card offers strategic advantages in tribal and meta-specific deck compositions.

Text of card

Arlinn's Wolf can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.

"If you don't speak wolf, allow me to translate: 'One step closer and I'll rip out your throat.'" —Arlinn Kord


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Arlinn’s Wolf’s ability to bypass blockers when controlled by an Arlinn planeswalker could ensure more consistent damage to your opponent, indirectly pressuring their resources.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its synergy with Arlinn planeswalkers can lead to more efficient utilization of your cards and mana.

Instant Speed: Although Arlinn’s Wolf operates at sorcery speed, its inherent ability could complement strategies that capitalize on instant-speed interactions, as it demands an immediate answer from your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Arlinn’s Wolf can sometimes feel restrictive due to the deckbuilding constraints it imposes. The card doesn’t directly require a discard, but in a strategy centered around harnessing its full potential, you might find it necessitating the inclusion of cards that enable discard to achieve synergy, thereby indirectly influencing your hand management and possibly constraining your play options.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailoring a deck that accommodates Arlinn’s Wolf demands attention to its mana cost, as the necessity for both green mana can shape the entire mana base of your deck. For players who have a penchant for versatility and flexibility, this might limit the card’s inclusion to mostly dedicated green or werewolf-themed decks where its cost is a natural fit.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the efficiency of a card like Arlinn’s Wolf, its mana cost can seem disproportionate compared to other creatures in the same cost bracket. With a casting cost of three mana, including two green, players might find that there are alternative creatures or cards that offer more substantial board presence or beneficial effects for a similar, if not lower, investment in mana resources.


Reasons to Include Arlinn’s Wolf in Your Collection

Versatility: Arlinn’s Wolf is a flexible card that easily slots into wolf or werewolf tribal decks as well as any deck that values a solid three-mana creature. Its innate ability to be unblockable by creatures with defender adds a reliable way to chip in for damage every turn.

Combo Potential: This wolf synergizes well with cards that benefit from creatures attacking or dealing combat damage, adding strategic depth to your plays. It complements an aggressive strategy, helping you to maintain pressure on the opponent.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where defender-based strategies or passive decks are present, Arlinn’s Wolf becomes a consistent threat. Its ability ensures it remains relevant as a card that can consistently apply pressure and bypass common defense tactics.


How to beat

Arlinn’s Wolf may not be the most formidable creature on the battlefield, but it has its unique strengths. Specializing in fending off blockers, this Wolf makes a solid addition to any Green-themed deck that leverages creatures who can avoid being blocked by creatures with abilities. But what about when this creature is growling on the opponent’s side?

The key here lies in its inability to dodge creatures without abilities. Therefore, straightforward strategies to suppress Arlinn’s Wolf include using creatures with solid stats but no abilities as defenders. Think straightforward and efficient—those vanilla creatures can sometimes be your best line of defense. Don’t overlook the power of removal spells either. Simple direct damage or targeted removal spells effectively deal with Arlinn’s Wolf before it becomes a recurring threat. Sweepers are also a perfect solution if the wolf is part of a larger creature-based aggression. Overall, while Arlinn’s Wolf may dodge some blockers, it’s far from invincible, and with a well-thought-out deck, overcoming it becomes less of an ordeal and more of a strategic victory.


Cards like Arlinn's Wolf

Arlinn’s Wolf may seem like a simple creature card in Magic: The Gathering, but its specifics make for an interesting comparison to other cards within the game. Like Arlinn’s Wolf, Young Wolf also comes from a lineage of lupine creatures, offering undying as a notable feature. While Arlinn’s Wolf can’t be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less, Young Wolf doesn’t share this trait. However, Young Wolf compensates for this with its ability to return to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter after it dies—if it didn’t already have one.

Another similar creature is Timberpack Wolf, which benefits from having other wolves on your battlefield, gaining strength for each one. Although Arlinn’s Wolf doesn’t have this pack-based power boost, its unblockable nature by smaller creatures can be more advantageous in certain gameplay situations. Moreover, Silverfur Partisan presents a different angle: while not sharing the specific traits of Arlinn’s Wolf, it does create a token whenever a Wolf or Werewolf becomes the target of a spell, highlighting the diverse strategic angles these related yet distinct wolf cards offer.

Taken together, Arlinn’s Wolf stands out for its protective trait, specifically against small blockers, suggesting varied approaches to incorporating wolf-themed cards into your MTG strategy.

Young Wolf - MTG Card versions
Timberpack Wolf - MTG Card versions
Silverfur Partisan - MTG Card versions
Young Wolf - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Timberpack Wolf - Magic 2013 (M13)
Silverfur Partisan - Shadows over Innistrad Promos (PSOI)

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Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
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Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
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Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pincher Beetles - Tenth Edition (10E)
Yavimaya Elder - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Awakener Druid - Magic 2011 (M11)
Brindle Boar - Magic 2011 (M11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arlinn's Wolf MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Arlinn's Wolf and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arlinn's Wolf has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 Once a creature with power 3 or greater has blocked this creature, changing the power of the blocking creature won’t cause this creature to become unblocked.

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