Moonlit Wake MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment
Released	1999-10-04
Set symbol
Set name	Mercadian Masques
Set code	MMQ
Number	29
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Greg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

Moonlit Wake provides strategic card draw and ramps up deck performance for sustained advantage in matches.
Playing at instant speed allows players to maintain a responsive and adaptable game plan with Moonlit Wake.
Drawbacks include a specific mana need and potentially hampering tempo due to its discard requirement and mana cost.

Text of card

Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, you gain 1 life.

"As long as Rushwood glows, no life is ever truly lost." —Ta-Karnst, Cho-Arrim healer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Moonlit Wake is a strategic enhancement to any deck that aims for longevity in the game. By offering additional draws, it empowers players to access more of their resources, leading to a substantial edge over the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card can smoothly integrate into decks that capitalize on ramp strategies. It enables players to efficiently manage their resources, quickening the pace at which they can deploy powerful threats and pivotal game-changing spells.

Instant Speed: The ability to play Moonlit Wake at instant speed provides a tactical advantage, allowing for reactive gameplay. This lets players make the most of their turn while keeping options open to disrupt the opponent’s moves or adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Moonlit Wake is its need for you to discard a card. This mandatory action can be a strategic setback, especially when your hand is already dwindling and each card’s value is at a premium.

Specific Mana Cost: Moonlit Wake demands a particular combination of mana types which can present a hurdle in multicolor decks that don’t heavily feature white mana. This requirement can make the card less flexible and more challenging to cast on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost, Moonlit Wake is an investment that can impact your tempo. In the current fast-paced game environment, utilizing your mana efficiently is crucial, and there are alternative options that may achieve similar outcomes without the steep cost.

Reasons to Include Moonlit Wake in Your Collection

Versatility: Moonlit Wake proves to be a flexible enchantment for decks that aim to gain life. Its ability to provide an additional benefit each time you gain life makes it useful in a variety of lifegain-focused strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can easily become a linchpin in combos centered around life gain. With each instance of life gain yielding more value, you can synergize it with cards that trigger off life gain or require additional mana to activate powerful abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where lifegain is a crucial component of successful decks, Moonlit Wake enhances those strategies and gives players an edge. Its ability to turn life gain into card advantage or an additional resource can be pivotal in long, drawn-out matches.

How to Beat Moonlit Wake

Moonlit Wake is a unique enchantment in the realm of MTG, offering distinct advantages in decks that thrive on life gain. Its ability to add one life for each creature put into your graveyard presents a way to outlast opponents through incremental gains. If your strategy revolves around stalling and amassing life, Moonlit Wake can be a pivotal card.

To effectively tackle a card like Moonlit Wake, consider incorporating graveyard disruption into your deck. Cards that exile creatures from the graveyard, such as Scavenging Ooze or Leyline of the Void, can negate the life gain benefit Moonlit Wake provides. It’s also beneficial to focus on removal spells that bypass the graveyard altogether. Utilizing spells like Path to Exile or cards with Flashback or Unearth can minimize the impact Moonlit Wake has on your opponent’s strategy.

Additionally, aggressive strategies that deal non-combat damage or use abilities to decrease life directly can outpace the life gain from Moonlit Wake. By adjusting your deck to either disrupt the graveyard or heighten offensive pressure, you can diminish the value Moonlit Wake offers and maintain the upper hand in your duels.

Cards like Moonlit Wake

Moonlit Wake offers a unique approach to life gain strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to provide a consistent increase in life with each creature’s departure is reminiscent of cards like Suture Priest. While Suture Priest rewards you for your creatures entering the battlefield and punishes opponents for the same, Moonlit Wake focuses solely on life gain from any departing creature, making it beneficial during moments of sacrifice or combat losses.

When compared to Deathgreeter, Moonlit Wake’s utility becomes apparent. Deathgreeter only triggers on creatures you control, limiting its life gain potential. On another note, there’s Falkenrath Noble, which expands on this concept by offering life gain and loss with flying as a sweet bonus. However, Moonlit Wake’s noncreature card status gives it a resilience against removals that target creatures.

This card’s passive ability to nourish your life total makes it a sleeper hit in decks that thrive on creature turnover. It quietly amasses life points, providing a cushion against aggressive strategies. In the landscape of life-gaining enchantments, Moonlit Wake stands out with its universal applicability, making it a valuable addition to any MTG deck looking to capitalize on every creature’s end.

Cards similar to Moonlit Wake by color, type and mana cost

The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions

Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Moonlit Wake MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Moonlit Wake and other MTG cards: