Moonwing Moth MTG Card


Moonwing Moth - Saviors of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Insect
Abilities Flying
Released2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameSaviors of Kamigawa
Set codeSOK
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number20
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byFranz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

  1. Drawing a card upon death, Moonwing Moth helps maintain card balance in your hand against opponents.
  2. The creature’s Flash ability allows strategic play, keeping opponents guessing at your next move.
  3. Despite its utility, its specific mana cost may limit its integration into diverse decks.

Text of card

Flying : Moonwing Moth gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

"Night wings sprinkled with dust Of a thousand soldiers dead And a thousand cities fallen." —Snow-Fur, kitsune poet


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Moonwing Moth offers the ability to replace itself in your hand when it dies, allowing you to maintain card parity. This can be crucial in keeping up with an opponent’s plays and not falling behind in terms of resources available.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Moonwing Moth can contribute to resource acceleration by enabling sacrificial strategies. Its death trigger can synergize with effects that capitalize on creature death, effectively advancing your board state faster than normal.

Instant Speed: With Flash, Moonwing Moth can be played at instant speed, which keeps your options open and can surprise your opponent. This allows you to pass your turn without committing to a play, retaining the ability to respond to an opponent’s actions or end-of-turn deploy a threat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Moonwing Moth necessitates the discard of another card to trigger its most potent abilities. This can backfire when your hand is already depleted, leaving you with fewer options for subsequent turns.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature’s casting cost demands both generic and specific mana, which means it fits best within certain deck themes, primarily those that can easily generate blue mana. Decks not aligned with these colors may struggle to cast it efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Moonwing Moth comes with a mana value that is on the higher side when you consider its stats and abilities. In cases where the game tempo is crucial, players might opt for lower-cost creatures that offer a quicker impact on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Moonwing Moth possesses the utility of fitting seamlessly into numerous deck styles, with its flying ability often being underrated. It’s not just a creature; it’s a robust defender in the skies, capable of warding off an assortment of threats.

Combo Potential: More than just an airborne blocker, Moonwing Moth can be integral to synergies, especially its interaction with enchantments. The capability to enhance or benefit from enchantment-based strategies can open doors to powerful gameplay moments.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the current trends, this card’s relevance could shift. In an environment where enchantments play a crucial role or smaller evasive creatures can turn the tide, having Moonwing Moth in your repertoire gives you the flexibility to adapt and capitalize on the evolving battlefield dynamics.


How to beat

Moonwing Moth presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its duality of flight and lifesaving abilities. This pesky creature is known for swooping in and disrupting your combat strategies. However, the trick to overcoming this card lies in preemptive action and key card choices. Direct damage spells that can target creatures in the air, like Shock or Lightning Bolt, are superb tools for grounding Moonwing Moth before it can become a nuisance. Removal spells that don’t target, such as Wrath of God, can also clear the field without triggering protective effects.

Another avenue is to employ spells that limit the abilities of your opponent’s creatures. For instance, cards like Linvala, Keeper of Silence can prevent activated abilities from being used, which includes Moonwing Moth’s ability to save a target from destruction. Furthermore, if you’re aiming to keep the board clear, cards with Deathtouch, such as Typhoid Rats, can make opponents think twice about blocking or attacking, as their Moth would still perish in combat. Strategic planning and smart card choices will keep Moonwing Moth from becoming a thorn in your side.


Cards like Moonwing Moth

The Moonwing Moth card is an intriguing creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Card aficionados will note its parallelism with the likes of Luminous Moth, both of which are moths with flight abilities. Moonwing Moth distinguishes itself with its ability to grant life gain whenever you cast a spell during your opponent’s turn, an addition that offers a tactical edge by encouraging a defensive playstyle.

Comparatively, the Healer’s Hawk shares the flying virtue but with a more proactive life link ability, engaging in combat to activate the health boost. Despite Healer’s Hawk’s offensive capabilities, Moonwing Moth shines with its spell-triggered life gain, providing sustained benefits without the necessity for battling.

Moving on to another contender, the Jubilant Skybonder, which, much like our Moonwing Moth, influences the aerial pace of the match. However, it focuses more on keeping other flying creatures safe from opponent interactions than boosting your life total. Strategically, Moonwing Moth holds its ground in MTG decks aiming for resilience and longevity in every interaction.

Analysis of these different attributes shows that Moonwing Moth aligns well with creature cards in Magic: The Gathering that offer aerial advantages, life gain, and synergies that refine control-style gameplay, solidifying its place in certain deck strategies.

Healer's Hawk - MTG Card versions
Jubilant Skybonder - MTG Card versions
Healer's Hawk - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Jubilant Skybonder - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)

Cards similar to Moonwing Moth by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Moonwing Moth MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Moonwing Moth and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Moonwing Moth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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