Willbreaker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Willbreaker offers significant card advantage, especially useful in games with multiple players.
  2. Its ability to transform opponents’ creatures into resources accelerates your board presence.
  3. Instant speed lets you react and adapt swiftly, seizing creatures as opportunities arise.

Text of card

Whenever a creature an opponent controls becomes the target of a spell or ability you control, gain control of that creature for as long as you control Willbreaker.

"Master your mind, or I shall master it for you."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Willbreaker can dominate the battlefield by taking control of multiple creatures without specifically targeting them, potentially granting you a numerical and tactical edge over your opponent. This ability can effectively tip the scales in your favor, especially in multiplayer games.

Resource Acceleration: While Willbreaker itself doesn’t directly provide mana, its ability to claim opponents’ creatures can accelerate your board presence dramatically. Not only could you potentially use their abilities, but having more creatures can also be converted to additional resources through various synergies within your deck.

Instant Speed: Willbreaker’s ability works at instant speed, meaning any time you target an opponent’s creature with an instant spell or ability, you can gain control of it immediately. This allows strategic flexibility during both your turn and your opponent’s, as you can react to threats and opportunities on the fly with any targeting effects you have available.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The unique ability of Willbreaker to control target creatures can be obstructed by the requirement of having to discard cards to activate certain abilities that target creatures. This can be particularly challenging when your hand is already depleted and may discourage you from optimizing its potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Willbreaker carries a specific mana cost of 3 blue mana and 2 of any color, which makes it exclusive to blue-centered or heavy blue decks. Players not running a deck with sufficient blue mana sources might find it difficult to integrate Willbreaker successfully.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Willbreaker can be considered to have a high mana cost, especially when evaluated alongside its relative fragility with only three toughness. In competitive play where tempo is crucial, investing five mana in a creature that could be easily removed might not be the most efficient use of resources.


Reasons to Include Willbreaker in Your Collection

Versatility: Willbreaker’s unique ability to take control of creatures that become targets of spells or abilities makes it a powerful addition to control and manipulation decks. Its five mana cost fits accessibly into the mid-game curve.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that play numerous targeted spells or abilities, allowing you to turn your opponents’ creatures into your assets with just a single trigger, thus multiplying its value exponentially in the right combo.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies frequently dominating the field, Willbreaker can act as a disruptive force. It can turn the tide of a game by seizing key pieces from the opponent’s battlefield, making it a tactically relevant choice for your collection.


How to beat

Willbreaker is a card that can turn the tide of Magic: The Gathering matches by gaining control of your opponents’ creatures. Its ability triggers whenever a creature an opponent controls becomes the target of a spell or ability you control, which makes it a prime element in any control strategy. However, there are several effective tactics to counteract Willbreaker’s influence on the battlefield.

Firstly, removing Willbreaker from the battlefield is key. Cards like Murder or Path to Exile can handle this effectively before its ability can be exploited. Another strategy is to avoid targeting creatures with spells or abilities while Willbreaker is in play. Alternatively, using board wipes such as Wrath of God, which don’t target individual creatures, circumvents Willbreaker’s control ability.

Lastly, countering Willbreaker before it hits the field is another effective approach. Counterspells like Negate or Mana Leak can prevent Willbreaker from ever becoming an active threat. By understanding Willbreaker’s mechanics and having a plan to address it, players can maintain the upper hand and nullify its potential impact on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuanced playstyles and strategies of MTG is essential, and Willbreaker encapsulates this complexity with its game-changing abilities. Perfect for blue-centric decks, it’s a potent force in multiplayer settings, promising to sway the battlefield in your favor. Delve deeper with us as we further explore the strategic depth of Willbreaker and how you can maximize its potential. Whether you aim to wield its power or devise countermeasures against it, we provide the insights to enhance your tactics. Elevate your deck’s capabilities and outmaneuver opponents as you discover more about Willbreaker’s role in your winning formula.


Cards like Willbreaker

Willbreaker, an intriguing creature card in Magic the Gathering, stands out among cards with the power to control opponents’ creatures. Much like Act of Treason, Willbreaker can shift the tide of a game by redirecting enemy forces. Yet, Willbreaker stands alone by offering sustained control rather than Act of Treason’s one-turn theft. Nevertheless, Act of Treason is more straightforward to cast, demanding less setup.

Another comparable card is Beguiler of Wills, a creature that similarly wrests control of opponent’s minions. Both cards share a focus on dominance over the enemy’s assets, but Beguiler of Wills requires a set up of having more creatures than your opponent for its ability, providing a different strategic angle. Moreover, Beguiler is also contingent on its own power, unlike Willbreaker, which reacts to any instance of a creature becoming the target of a spell or ability.

In the realm of control magic within MTG, Dominating Licid presents another method to commandeer opponents’ creatures. What makes it distinctive from Willbreaker is its Licid ability, offering a repeatable control effect. Unlike Willbreaker’s passive ability that works broadly with targeted spells or abilities, Dominating Licid requires a more active approach for changing allegiances but can be more reliable in each turn’s control.

Understanding these likenesses and distinctions helps players evaluate Willbreaker’s strategic potential and its role in decks focusing on manipulating opponents’ forces.

Act of Treason - MTG Card versions
Beguiler of Wills - MTG Card versions
Dominating Licid - MTG Card versions
Act of Treason - Magic 2010 (M10)
Beguiler of Wills - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Dominating Licid - Exodus (EXO)

Cards similar to Willbreaker by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Water Elemental - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Air Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Sandbar Crocodile - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Pirate Ship - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Segovian Leviathan - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Mawcor - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Timin, Youthful Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Geology Enthusiast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Coastal Hornclaw - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Cloudhoof Kirin - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Drelnoch - Coldsnap (CSP)
Adarkar Windform - Coldsnap (CSP)
Infiltrator il-Kor - Future Sight (FUT)
Mulldrifter - The List (PLST)
Chasm Drake - Magic 2012 (M12)
Belltower Sphinx - Magic 2012 (M12)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Willbreaker MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins Promos and Magic Origins, 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 Willbreaker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Willbreaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2015-07-17. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic Origins PromosPORI 84s2015normalblackDan Scott
22015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 842015normalblackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Willbreaker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-06-22 If Willbreaker leaves the battlefield, you no longer control it, and its control-change effect ends.
2015-06-22 If another player gains control of Willbreaker, its control-change effect ends. Regaining control of Willbreaker won’t cause you to regain control of the creature.
2015-06-22 If you lose control of Willbreaker before its ability resolves, you won’t gain control of the creature at all.

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