Hollow Warrior MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Golem Warrior
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	138
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Adam Rex

Key Takeaways

Hollow Warrior offers strategic combat control, forcing opponents into difficult decisions during blocking.
Cost-efficient for early plays, it allows for flexible mana usage to pressure opponents rapidly.
Can become unblockable, it synergizes with instant speed spells for surprise battlefield advantages.

Text of card

Hollow Warrior can't attack or block unless you tap an untapped creature you control. (This cost is paid as attackers or blockers are declared.)

Though it moves like a living thing, anyone can tell it lacks a soul—not to mention mercy.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Hollow Warrior provides you a strategic edge by forcing your opponent to decide whether to block and lose creatures or take damage. This can often lead to advantageous board states for you, ensuring you maintain control of the game.

Resource Acceleration: As a cost-effective creature, the Hollow Warrior allows you to deploy other spells or creatures with the remaining mana, keeping the pressure on your opponent and accelerating your board presence to outpace your opponent’s resources.

Instant Speed: While Hollow Warrior itself doesn’t have instant speed, its ability to become unblockable when equipped or enchanted capitalizes on the impact of your instant speed equip and enchantment spells. This synergy can catch opponents off guard and turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hollow Warrior demands you to discard another card when you want to block with it. This can be quite taxing on your hand, especially in attrition battles where resource management is key to maintaining board control.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card requires a strict payment of four mana, which includes two generic and two white. This can be restrictive as it ties the card’s playability to decks capable of producing white mana consistently, potentially excluding it from various multicolor strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that leans on the higher side for its base stats and abilities, Hollow Warrior might fall behind in the efficiency curve. Many four-mana creatures in the game offer more impactful abilities or higher stats, diminishing Hollow Warrior’s appeal in competitive play.

Reasons to Include Hollow Warrior in Your Collection

Versatility: Hollow Warrior is a flexible addition to artifact-centric decks or those looking to amplify assault tactics. Its ability to become unblockable under the right conditions can suit various playstyles.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to collaborate with other cards that manipulate tap abilities, Hollow Warrior can be a key component in strategies designed to control the flow of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board presence and creature-based strategies prevail, Hollow Warrior’s resilience against sorcery-speed removal can give it a solid footing in your roster.

How to beat Hollow Warrior

Hollow Warrior is a card that might seem intimidating due to its automatic untap ability that activates whenever it is blocked or becomes blocked. This artifact creature can serve as a formidable blocker but it also presents a unique challenge for players trying to discover the most efficient strategy to bypass it or remove it from play.

It’s imperative to recognize that its strength is also its weakness. The triggering condition requires it to be blocked by another creature to leverage its untapping potential. Herein lies the strategy – instead of engaging it in combat, removing it through spells that bypass the blocking condition can neutralize it effectively. Spells that force a sacrifice, direct damage, or exile effects are particularly useful since they do not rely on blocking mechanisms.

Furthermore, effects that tap artifacts and keep them from untapping on the following untap steps can effectively sideline the Hollow Warrior without engaging in combat at all. This ensures that your important creatures remain available for attacks or defenses on your terms while the opposing Hollow Warrior stays dormant. Ultimately, by being aware of and utilizing non-combat solutions, a player can confidently manage the challenge presented by Hollow Warrior.

Cards like Hollow Warrior

Hollow Warrior is an interesting card in the realm of creature spells in MTG. It shares similarities with artifact creatures like Phyrexian Colossus, which also brings a significant presence on the battlefield. Hollow Warrior, however, comes with a caveat – it requires you to tap an untapped creature you control in order to allow it to attack or block. The Phyrexian Colossus, while having a greater power output and no need for tapping other creatures, demands life payment instead, showcasing a different type of resource management.

Looking into other comparable cards, we encounter the Guardian Automaton. This artifact creature offers a balance of defense and a death-triggered life gain, which Hollow Warrior lacks. Whereas Hollow Warrior leans on a synergistic approach, calling for other creatures to aid its battle readiness, Guardian Automaton operates independently but doesn’t impose as much of a threat strength-wise.

In evaluating Hollow Warrior against its counterparts, it’s clear that it suits decks that regularly summon creatures, leveraging those numbers for its activation. Its dependency on other creatures is a key factor to consider when integrating it into your strategy, as it can be both an advantage with the right support or a potential drawback if left without ample backup.

Cards similar to Hollow Warrior by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Ironworks - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hollow Warrior MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Hollow Warrior and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hollow Warrior has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	This card can’t tap itself to allow itself to attack or block. You have to tap a different creature which is not being declared as an attacker or blocker.