Woodwraith Strangler MTG Card

Woodwraith Strangler - Ravnica: City of Guilds

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Plant Zombie
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	241
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pat Lee

Key Takeaways

Offers disruptive card advantage through opponent’s creature and card removal combo at instant speed.
Its specific mana cost limits flexibility, demanding a targeted deck construction approach.
High versatility and meta relevance make it a valuable contender in graveyard-centric decks.

Text of card

Remove a creature card in your graveyard from the game: Regenerate Woodwraith Strangler.

"Nothing could be more natural than roots sucking nourishment from the dead." —Savra

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Woodwraith Strangler offers a distinct edge by potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategical setup, causing them to lose not just a creature but also the card from their hand associated with that creature. This two-for-one scenario can swing the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Eliminating an opponent’s threat can lead to a shift in board control. Though the Woodwraith Strangler doesn’t directly create resources, the advantage gained by removing an opponent’s resource can accelerate your own gameplay by diminishing resistance to your strategies.

Instant Speed: This creature’s ability functions at instant speed, providing the flexibility to surprise an opponent during their turn or in response to an action. The timing of this skill is crucial and can decisively impact the match when played correctly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The puppetry of the undergrowth comes with a cost. Woodwraith Strangler necessitates the discard of another card from your hand to employ its abilities. This can strategically hinder players, particularly when the hand is already suffering from a barren spell or the discarded card could tip the scales in a later turn.

Specific Mana Cost: Channeling the necromantic energies of Golgari requires a precise blend of mana. For Woodwraith Strangler, you need both black and green sources. This specificity demands a well-tuned mana base, restricting the strangler’s utility to decks that can consistently provide the necessary swamp and forest magic.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Summoning the Woodwraith Strangler comes at the not insignificant cost of four mana. In a game where speed can be critical, there are alternatives that might offer a more immediate impact on the battlefield or demand fewer resources, allowing for a more versatile game plan.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Woodwraith Strangler slips easily into various deck archetypes, particularly those that make use of graveyard mechanics or favor creature control strategies. Its ability to exile cards from opponent’s graveyards offers strategic advantages across multiple game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card can be a lynchpin in combos that prey on graveyard interactions. Pairing it with cards that benefit from or trigger upon creature death or exile can establish powerful and potentially game-winning combos within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, graveyard-centric decks often emerge. Woodwraith Strangler can serve as an effective counter to such strategies, making it a crucial inclusion for anyone looking to stay competitive and disrupt opposing game plans that rely heavily on graveyard resources.

How to beat

Woodwraith Strangler emerges as a formidable card within the swathes of Magic: The Gathering’s creature base. Navigating around this card requires a clear strategy, given its ability to disrupt graveyard synergy and potentially generate card advantage for the controller. One efficient tactic is to limit the number of creature cards that go to the graveyard, thereby reducing the chance for Woodwraith Strangler to exploit its ability.

It’s also advantageous to have exile effects at the ready. These can be found on spells or activated abilities from cards that remove targeted creatures permanently from the game, bypassing the graveyard altogether. By keeping such removal in your hand, Woodwraith Strangler can be neutralized effectively, minimizing the influence it can have on the game state.

Furthermore, utilizing instant speed removal can help you outmaneuver your opponent, enabling you to respond to the creature’s activation before it can generate any advantage. This pre-emptive approach ensures that your creature cards remain free from the Strangler’s grasp, preserving your graveyard strategy and momentum within the match.

Cards like Woodwraith Strangler

The Woodwraith Strangler steps into the diverse landscape of creature removal in Magic: The Gathering with its unique spin on the mechanic. Like Fleshbag Marauder, it demands a sacrifice from each player when it enters the battlefield, leveraging the symmetry of the effect. Nonetheless, the Woodwraith Strangler stands out with its focus on targeting only creatures with haunt, narrowing its scope but elevating its thematic congruence within certain decks.

Another card with similar vibes is the Slum Reaper, offering the same sacrifice effect without the haunt restriction. However, it’s the timing and the strategic niche that keep Woodwraith Strangler interesting for players seeking a more selective creature removal tool. Meanwhile, Merciless Executioner mirrors this effect but differs slightly in creature type, which could be critical in tribal-themed decks.

In the context of such alternatives and the fine balance between broad applicability and strategic specialization, the Woodwraith Strangler aligns for players who favor haunt mechanics or specific deck themes. It exemplifies a tailored approach rather than a one-size-fits-all, situating it intriguingly amongst its counterparts in the game.

Merciless Executioner - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Woodwraith Strangler by color, type and mana cost

Savra, Queen of the Golgari - MTG Card versions

Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - MTG Card versions

Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions

Storrev, Devkarin Lich - MTG Card versions

Polukranos, Unchained - MTG Card versions

Acornelia, Fashionable Filcher - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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