Hunted Witness MTG Card


Hunted Witness - Guilds of Ravnica
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human
Released2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set nameGuilds of Ravnica
Set codeGRN
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number15
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDavid Palumbo

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms into a Loyal Companion token upon demise, providing subtle card advantage and board presence.
  2. Contributes to sacrificial synergy strategies, boosting resource acceleration with its afterlife token.
  3. Supports various deck types, especially those utilizing creature tokens or life gain tactics.

Text of card

When Hunted Witness dies, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with lifelink.

He ferried weapons, spells, exotic animals—but his most dangerous cargo was the truth.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Hunted Witness meets his end on the battlefield, he leaves behind a Loyal Companion token. This transformation is a subtle form of card advantage, effectively giving you another card’s worth of board presence without dipping into your hand or mana pool.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Witness itself doesn’t ramp up your resources directly, the Loyal Companion it creates can be an asset in strategies revolving around sacrificial synergies. It can contribute to resource acceleration when used in conjunction with cards that benefit from creature tokens entering the battlefield or dying.

Instant Speed: While Hunted Witness lacks the ability to act at instant speed, its death-triggered ability provides a strategic edge. Should it perish during combat or due to an opponent’s instant, the resultant Loyal Companion token is poised to serve immediately, even potentially during an opposing turn, maintaining your battlefield presence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hunted Witness doesn’t directly demand a discard, it can indirectly lead to card disadvantage. If you’re required to sacrifice it as part of another card’s cost or effect, you’re essentially discarding another resource to utilize its afterlife ability.

Specific Mana Cost: Hunted Witness can only be cast with white mana, making it less versatile in multicolored decks that may need mana of different types at the early stages of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Hunted Witness only costs a single white mana, in the competitive landscape of MTG, a 1/1 creature without immediate impact may not provide the best value compared to other one-drops that could be included in your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hunted Witness is an excellent addition to a variety of decks, particularly those utilizing sacrificial mechanics or in need of reliable creatures for defense. Its low mana cost makes it an easy first or second turn play that can influence the board early on.

Combo Potential: Upon death, Hunted Witness provides a 1/1 token with lifelink, pairing well with strategies that use creature tokens or life gain. Its ability to replace itself on the battlefield makes it a great combo piece for decks that thrive on creatures entering and leaving play.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by aggressive strategies, having a creature that deters attacks and can turn into a lifelink token is invaluable. The Hunted Witness can be a formidable tool for stabilizing the game or for furthering attrition strategies where each creature’s impact is accentuated.


How to beat

Hunted Witness is a low-cost creature card that can be tricky for opponents because of its afterlife ability, which creates a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with lifelink when it dies. To effectively handle this card, one strategy is to use spells that exile it from the game without triggering its death ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone bypass the token generation, keeping the board clear of additional threats.

Another approach is to prioritize creatures or effects that nullify the token’s impact. For instance, cards with deathtouch such as Foulmire Knight prevent the opponent from gaining an advantage even if Hunted Witness is removed. One could also employ cards that restrict token generation altogether, like Tocatli Honor Guard or Hushbringer, to suppress the Hunted Witness’s afterlife ability and keep the opposing side in check.

Understanding card interactions and choosing the right removal or preventative measures can turn the tide against Hunted Witness. While the card may appear simple at first glance, recognizing its potential and countering effectively is key to gaining an advantage in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Hunted Witness can shape both your play style and deck-building approach. This card’s afterlife ability can serve as a stepping stone to more intricate strategies that capitalize on board presence and token synergy. Considering its potential to influence the early game, Hunted Witness can fit into multiple MTG deck archetypes, particularly those focused on life gain or token generation. If you’re looking to add depth to your collection and discover new tactics for commanding the battlefield, delve deeper with us. Transform your game knowledge into strategic prowess and take your MTG skills to new heights.


Cards like Hunted Witness

Hunted Witness is an efficient creature card in Magic: The Gathering that serves a specific role in decks looking for early board presence and resilience against removal. In terms of its ability to leave behind value after death, Doomed Traveler offers a similar function. Both creatures, upon demise, provide their controller with a token creature, ensuring that your side of the battlefield is not left barren even after a loss.

Comparing this more directly, Martyr of Dusk also shares this trait but instead of a 1/1 token that Hunted Witness provides, it gives a 1/1 Vampire token with lifelink. This can offer a slight edge in games where maintaining life total is crucial. Another relative to Hunted Witness is Garrison Cat, which similarly replaces itself with a 1/1 token when it dies, though this time, it’s a Human Soldier, a slight deviation in creature type that may matter in certain tribal decks.

When considering utility and impact on gameplay, Hunted Witness fits well in strategies that leverage creature deaths or token generation. Its inclusion in a deck can dissuade opponents from removing it quickly, knowing that it will only be replaced by another creature, maintaining board presence.

Doomed Traveler - MTG Card versions
Martyr of Dusk - MTG Card versions
Garrison Cat - MTG Card versions
Doomed Traveler - Innistrad (ISD)
Martyr of Dusk - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Garrison Cat - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Cards similar to Hunted Witness by color, type and mana cost

Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Benalish Hero - MTG Card versions
Icatian Infantry - MTG Card versions
Icatian Scout - MTG Card versions
Icatian Javelineers - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Warrior - MTG Card versions
Trade Caravan - MTG Card versions
Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Volunteer Militia - MTG Card versions
Nomads en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Soul Warden - MTG Card versions
Resistance Fighter - MTG Card versions
Honorable Scout - MTG Card versions
Devoted Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - MTG Card versions
Kor Duelist - MTG Card versions
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - MTG Card versions
Mother of Runes - MTG Card versions
Daru Mender - MTG Card versions
Eager Cadet - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Benalish Hero - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Icatian Infantry - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Icatian Scout - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Icatian Javelineers - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Kjeldoran Warrior - Ice Age (ICE)
Trade Caravan - Homelands (HML)
Honor Guard - Stronghold (STH)
Volunteer Militia - Portal Second Age (P02)
Nomads en-Kor - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Soul Warden - Historic Anthology 1 (HA1)
Resistance Fighter - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Honorable Scout - Planeshift (PLS)
Devoted Caretaker - Odyssey (ODY)
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kor Duelist - Wizards Play Network 2009 (PWP09)
Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mother of Runes - The List (PLST)
Daru Mender - Legions (LGN)
Eager Cadet - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hunted Witness MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Hunted Witness and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hunted Witness has restrictions

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

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