Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Werewolf
Abilities Transform
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Hinterland Logger transforms without additional costs, offering an efficient upgrade to a more formidable creature.
  2. Its green mana requirement and setup for transformation may restrict deck building to certain archetypes.
  3. Logger’s potential in combos and aggressive metas make it a variable threat across different game stages.

Text of card

At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Hinterland Logger.

"There's a forester lives up in the highlands. Tried to sell her one of my finest axes at a bargain, but she wasn't interested." —Old Rutstein


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Flips into a Timber Shredder, offering a substantial creature upgrade without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: As Timber Shredder, this card enhances board presence quickly, effectively accelerating your resource deployment with its Trample ability.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the transformation into Timber Shredder at instant speed creates surprise blocking or attacking opportunities during the upkeep.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it’s worth noting that transforming it requires a specific setup that could entail discarding valuable cards from your hand to enable delirium or other transformation conditions.

Specific Mana Cost: Hinterland Logger demands a green mana for casting, which means it’s not accessible for decks without green mana sources. This can limit the card’s versatility and confine it to only green-inclusive or mono-green decks. Moreover, the transition to Timber Shredder also necessitates green mana, upholding the limit to specific deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exceedingly high, Hinterland Logger’s cost to value can be considered disproportionate compared to other two-drop creatures. This is especially true when considering other cards available in MTG that may provide greater impact or versatility for a similar mana investment.


Reasons to Include Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder in Your Collection

Versatility: Hinterland Logger shines due to its transformative ability. Initially a cost-effective creature, it also flips into Timber Shredder under the right conditions, appealing to strategies favoring adaptable board presences.

Combo Potential: With its flipped form offering trample, this card has the potential to become potent when paired with buffs or equipment, amplifying its impact and enabling devastating attacks that can push through a cluttered battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive play is advantageous, the modest casting cost and solid stats of Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder make it a formidable addition, adept at pressuring control decks or outpacing other aggro opponents.


How to beat

Hinterland Logger, alongside its nightbound form Timber Shredder, presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering matches. This transforming card initially appears as a modest 2/1 creature for two mana, illustrating its value in early game aggression. As night falls and it flips into Timber Shredder, its power and prowess surge, boasting an enhanced 4/2 profile capable of tearing through defenses.

To effectively counter this lycanthropic force, players may consider employing cheap removal spells that can address the Logger before it transforms. Swift action is key; spells such as Shock or Fatal Push can eliminate the Hinterland Logger during your opponent’s turn or before they can manage to shift it into its nightbound counterpart. Moreover, efficient use of blockers to force unfavorable trades can also stem the tide of these relentless shapeshifters. Should the Logger morph into the Timber Shredder, it’s advisable to exploit its lack of trample, using creatures with enough toughness to survive the attack or spells that can neutralize a 4-power creature without suffering too much tempo loss.

Tackling the Logger before its metamorphosis or smartly navigating the combat phase when it’s in beast form are the strategic keys to preventing it from dominating the battlefield and securing your position in the game.


Cards like Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder

Hinterland Logger is a versatile creature card in Magic: The Gathering that transforms into the powerful Timber Shredder. Its closest relatives in the MTG world include cards like Breakneck Rider, which shares the transforming ability and Atarka Efreet, known for morphing and giving a surprise burst of damage. Both these creatures showcase the game’s love for dynamic cards that adapt as the rounds progress.

Yet Hinterland Logger stands out due to its seamless transition from a reliable early-game creature into a late-game threat without any additional mana investment, something that Atarka Efreet with its morph cost, doesn’t allow. Breakneck Rider, on the flip side, requires a specific condition to be met to transform, while Hinterland Logger works with the natural flow of the game, flipping at the next upkeep given the only requirement is met. Moreover, the Logger enhances its offensive capabilities once transformed, unlike its relatives, which may not always guarantee an immediate board impact.

Whether used for early aggression or as a sleeper threat that grows as the game progresses, Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder presents itself as a low-risk, high-reward card for players who appreciate strategic depth and adaptability on the battlefield.

Atarka Efreet - MTG Card versions
Atarka Efreet - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, 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 Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2102015transformblackKarl Kopinski
22023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2012015transformblackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hinterland Logger // Timber Shredder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-04-08 The abilities that transform a Werewolf back and forth look at the entire previous turn, even if the Werewolf with that ability wasn’t on the battlefield for some or all of that turn.
2016-04-08 To trigger the Werewolf’s back face’s transform ability, a single player must have cast two or more spells during the previous turn. If multiple players each cast just one spell during the previous turn, the ability won’t trigger.
2016-07-13 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Shadows over Innistrad mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-mechanics).

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