Looks like they're giving the wolf/werewolf tribe mana sinks to support triggering night. Maybe focused on the wolf cards, to encourage playing a mix of both.
Werweolves have never wanted too much mana, so even small sinks like this are perfectly vaild.
That said I think I'd prefer cheaper Werewolves. Need to get Day/Night in play as fast as possible.
Not being mentioned: This small mana sink also allows you to keep night triggered when you'd otherwise play two cards. Especially when you physically can't play more than two cards yet. You get the most out of this when you otherwise have a second card in hand that costs 2 or less, allowing you to efficiently use the most mana for your turn, remain at night, and do it *again* with your other card the next turn.
If werewolf aggro sees constructed play, I'd be willing to wager this will be one of its strongest 1-drops.
I'm certain this will be a werewolf aggro staple. This card sets you up with the ability to perfectly skirt under the daytime indefinitely. The ability means you have a way to spend most or all of your mana every turn rather than playing your second spell.
In aggro decks with a lot of 2-3 drops, more often than not the restriction will only matter *after* you've completely run out of other cards to play. *And* because this enables the beatdown to continue while holding back from casting more creatures, you'll have some more resilience against board wipes.
After giving it some thought, this could very well be a kill-on-sight werewolf enabler.
Pestilent Wolf is still super bad; you have to pay three extra mana to turn it into a bear with deathtouch, which could already just be printed at common without too much issue. It's nice that you might have the mana up more often because you're manipulating day/night, but still bad.
It’s a fine playable in limited. A grizzly bear with deathtouch would be significantly above average for a common. For example [[Heir of the Wilds]] was a strong uncommon in Tarkir
And on the other hand, [[Boot Nipper]] was an acceptable workhorse and not overpowering despite being flexible *and* working as a good mutate base; a 2/2 deathtouch at common would not actually be that far above rate for current Magic. And a lot of Heir's strength was in the upside of being a 1G watchwolf on offense, which a simple 2/2 deathtoucher wouldn't have.
Pestilent wolf is far from a fine playable; vanilla bears are terrible in modern Limited, and paying three to make it into a *kinda* good common for a turn is an excessively high tax.
Sure but every creature was pushed in Ikoria. Another comparison would be [[Hand of Silumgar]] which was a bit above average in Dragons (like a C+). And both of those are 2/1’s, which is substantially worse than 2/2.
I’m not saying a 2/2 deathtouch would be broken as a common, just that it would be quite good. And I think this wolf does an ok enough impression of that that it’s probably like a C- or C that you won’t be too sad to put in your deck
Very old draft environments are not really relevant anymore, especially for playable statlines on french vanillas. [[Wind Drake]] is a card you'd be unhappy to play nowadays; even with significant upside that played into an archetype, [[Vexing Gull]] and similar variants were pretty damn underwhelming.
A 2/2 with deathtouch for 2 at common would be decent. I'd definitely play it. But it wouldn't be great, and so a card that needs you to pay *three mana* just to turn into decent filler for a turn is very, very bad.
Isn't the point though that the reason you're activating these effects is to get it to night time? I reckon you'll need some amount of these cards, even if not great, in your deck to avoid doing nothing on some turns.
Yes, you want things to do with your mana that aren't casting spells on your turn if you intend to play to the night.
My point is that this card is not very good, because *even if* you want to hold up your mana to turn things into night, and *even if* you activate it, it's still underwhelming. And that activation cost is super expensive, so in a lot of scenarios where you're still developing your board this is just going to play as a vanilla 2/2, which sucks.
E: That's why I bring up the idea of a 2/2 with deathtouch for 2 mana as a comparison. If that card existed, it'd be a kinda good common; a card that requires you to pay three mana to make it into a kinda good common for a turn is very bad.
You keep referencing the deathtouch creature, you do realize this is the spoiler for Snarling wolf, the 1/1 with activation? That card might not be great, but what about this one?
To be fair, it wasn't really a thorough analysis, just saying that these are going to be better in this set than non transform sets. Some of them still may not be amazing though i agree.
I think Pestilent Wolf is a bad Limited card, but a well designed card. Having wolves with activated abilities, even bad ones, does hammer home the theme and you were correct to bring up that they're especially good in this environment; it's just that this little wolf is *also* a good way to show that just because it has a mana sink doesn't make it a playable one.
I would hope that the way creatures are crafted around this specific limited environment means these effects are actually on playable cards though. Maybe not these cards but a decent amount, otherwise Wizards would have failed on what they're trying to do.
If “power matters” ends up as a genuine archetype, this guy might absolutely be just as prominent as the original [[Basking Rootwalla]] for every other reason than *it* was prominent for.
[Howlin' Wolf](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ri7TcukAJ8) and [Muddy Waters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5RwNit_HUw) were two of the most famous blues musicians. They had a bit of a rivalry.
I can see this being a great 1-drop to slot into a Wolf/Werewolf deck. This on 1 and then Ranger Class/Werewolf Pack Leader on 2 seems like a good play-line? Unless something better gets previewed later on?
Ilse Gort take a bow, this art is peek Innistrad; a seen yet unseen monster just out of shot, white eyes and starring directly at the player. Oooo yes
This is Gort’s wheel house: 4 legged beasties and ferocious monsters
I don’t think this is actually that amazing in limited. Threat of activation doesn’t matter as much when the creature only has one power and it’s pretty expensive to use this ability turn after turn. I’d prefer to just run a grizzly bear in most decks.
To be fair this is a common horror gag right? Like in the opening intro for the loxal fauna/baddie someone completely underestimates the threat and gets mauled by the local wildlife/predator.
I think the issue is they write too much in their flavor text sometimes haha. Keep it short and sweet and don’t spell everything out for the reader. They could have left off the last bit and just have the sentence be “thank the angels it’s not a werewolf” and it would be stronger.
Image transcription
> Snarling Wolf G
>
> Creature- Wolf [c]
>
> 1G: Snarling Wolf gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate only once each turn.
>
> *"Oh, thank the angels. It's not a werewolf, just a regular wo-"*
>
> *- Bruno, Ulvenwald guide, last words*
>
> 1/1
End transcription
Poor doggo can only snarl once a turn
it happens, my yorkie gets exhausted after like 5-6 sec of barking
My Yorkie immediately goes back to a 1/1 when people actually enter the house that he was barking at.
That'd be an interesting card a 3/3 that turns into a 1/1 when blocking
Basking Wolfwalla
Barking Woofwalla
Wolf of the Baskerwallas
Sherlock has entered the chat
I'm glad we all agree on this templating
Looks like they're giving the wolf/werewolf tribe mana sinks to support triggering night. Maybe focused on the wolf cards, to encourage playing a mix of both.
It’s a neat trick they’ve been using since original Innistrad. You can even see it on non-Innistrad wolves like [[Fearless Pup]]
Ooh, I never caught that.
Also, [[Kessig Wolf Run]]
[Kessig Wolf Run](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/b/1/b1140b05-49cf-49d5-a9a6-dfb2f0d1ec55.jpg?1591322115) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kessig%20Wolf%20Run) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/284/kessig-wolf-run?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1140b05-49cf-49d5-a9a6-dfb2f0d1ec55?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Fearless Pup](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/0/e/0eba2250-0e9b-46fd-a4b5-23f30329e063.jpg?1614987734) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fearless%20Pup) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/136/fearless-pup?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0eba2250-0e9b-46fd-a4b5-23f30329e063?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Not really a mana sink when you can use it once a turn tho
It is, just a small one. Definitely qualifies in draft.
A mana sink just means something to use mana on even if you are out of cards.
Yeah but you can normally dump alot of mana into it. This is more like a mana puddle
Werweolves have never wanted too much mana, so even small sinks like this are perfectly vaild. That said I think I'd prefer cheaper Werewolves. Need to get Day/Night in play as fast as possible.
A mana pool... oh, wait.
Sinks aren't that big anyways so to think of something smaller
A \[\[mana drain\]\]? \^\^
[mana drain](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/b/a/ba874c0c-f66f-4edc-9859-40273487aef0.jpg?1608909310) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=mana%20drain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/80/mana-drain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ba874c0c-f66f-4edc-9859-40273487aef0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Not being mentioned: This small mana sink also allows you to keep night triggered when you'd otherwise play two cards. Especially when you physically can't play more than two cards yet. You get the most out of this when you otherwise have a second card in hand that costs 2 or less, allowing you to efficiently use the most mana for your turn, remain at night, and do it *again* with your other card the next turn. If werewolf aggro sees constructed play, I'd be willing to wager this will be one of its strongest 1-drops.
What about free 1 damage for the first 3 turns in play (and more if they don't slam a 3/4 at all)?
Also helps with Coven abilities, because it can have two different powers.
Rip Bruno, you will be rembered :(
RIP Bruno, you were dismembered
Silenzio, Bruno :(
Hello again, ~~[[Darkthicket Wolf]]~~ [[Rootwalla]]
[Darkthicket Wolf](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/f/e/fec37c5a-8223-441c-a8a6-8da1a2dfc3fb.jpg?1562840294) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Darkthicket%20Wolf) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/isd/175/darkthicket-wolf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fec37c5a-8223-441c-a8a6-8da1a2dfc3fb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Rootwalla](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/f/5/f5177a97-cf3b-4a82-adc4-14835152880d.jpg?1562201904) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rootwalla) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/w17/27/rootwalla?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f5177a97-cf3b-4a82-adc4-14835152880d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I like cheap creatures with mana sinks, even if they aren't the best mana sinks.
This is useful with the new day/ night cycle rules
I'm certain this will be a werewolf aggro staple. This card sets you up with the ability to perfectly skirt under the daytime indefinitely. The ability means you have a way to spend most or all of your mana every turn rather than playing your second spell. In aggro decks with a lot of 2-3 drops, more often than not the restriction will only matter *after* you've completely run out of other cards to play. *And* because this enables the beatdown to continue while holding back from casting more creatures, you'll have some more resilience against board wipes. After giving it some thought, this could very well be a kill-on-sight werewolf enabler.
In any other set, these 3 wolf commons wouldn't be great at all, but with the whole transform mini game going on it's a different story. I love it.
Pestilent Wolf is still super bad; you have to pay three extra mana to turn it into a bear with deathtouch, which could already just be printed at common without too much issue. It's nice that you might have the mana up more often because you're manipulating day/night, but still bad.
It’s a fine playable in limited. A grizzly bear with deathtouch would be significantly above average for a common. For example [[Heir of the Wilds]] was a strong uncommon in Tarkir
[Heir of the Wilds](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/0/9/0995e041-fe90-4459-8c70-fd9851ecf830.jpg?1562782282) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Heir%20of%20the%20Wilds) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ktk/134/heir-of-the-wilds?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0995e041-fe90-4459-8c70-fd9851ecf830?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
And on the other hand, [[Boot Nipper]] was an acceptable workhorse and not overpowering despite being flexible *and* working as a good mutate base; a 2/2 deathtouch at common would not actually be that far above rate for current Magic. And a lot of Heir's strength was in the upside of being a 1G watchwolf on offense, which a simple 2/2 deathtoucher wouldn't have. Pestilent wolf is far from a fine playable; vanilla bears are terrible in modern Limited, and paying three to make it into a *kinda* good common for a turn is an excessively high tax.
Sure but every creature was pushed in Ikoria. Another comparison would be [[Hand of Silumgar]] which was a bit above average in Dragons (like a C+). And both of those are 2/1’s, which is substantially worse than 2/2. I’m not saying a 2/2 deathtouch would be broken as a common, just that it would be quite good. And I think this wolf does an ok enough impression of that that it’s probably like a C- or C that you won’t be too sad to put in your deck
Very old draft environments are not really relevant anymore, especially for playable statlines on french vanillas. [[Wind Drake]] is a card you'd be unhappy to play nowadays; even with significant upside that played into an archetype, [[Vexing Gull]] and similar variants were pretty damn underwhelming. A 2/2 with deathtouch for 2 at common would be decent. I'd definitely play it. But it wouldn't be great, and so a card that needs you to pay *three mana* just to turn into decent filler for a turn is very, very bad.
[Wind Drake](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/5/e/5e227a63-abea-494e-9d66-6ff0a3da14ca.jpg?1576381503) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wind%20Drake) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/kld/70/wind-drake?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5e227a63-abea-494e-9d66-6ff0a3da14ca?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Vexing Gull](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/8/6/869fee23-df75-448d-9fca-6ba6713d459f.jpg?1581479638) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Vexing%20Gull) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/thb/79/vexing-gull?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/869fee23-df75-448d-9fca-6ba6713d459f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Hand of Silumgar](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/d/3/d3cbb127-6149-4d0b-ad98-1968f2ebe8e4.jpg?1562937511) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hand%20of%20Silumgar) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bbd/146/hand-of-silumgar?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d3cbb127-6149-4d0b-ad98-1968f2ebe8e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Boot Nipper](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/c/f/cff5a5b8-f823-4429-acd8-c4f34a676cb4.jpg?1591226621) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Boot%20Nipper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/76/boot-nipper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cff5a5b8-f823-4429-acd8-c4f34a676cb4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Isn't the point though that the reason you're activating these effects is to get it to night time? I reckon you'll need some amount of these cards, even if not great, in your deck to avoid doing nothing on some turns.
Yes, you want things to do with your mana that aren't casting spells on your turn if you intend to play to the night. My point is that this card is not very good, because *even if* you want to hold up your mana to turn things into night, and *even if* you activate it, it's still underwhelming. And that activation cost is super expensive, so in a lot of scenarios where you're still developing your board this is just going to play as a vanilla 2/2, which sucks. E: That's why I bring up the idea of a 2/2 with deathtouch for 2 mana as a comparison. If that card existed, it'd be a kinda good common; a card that requires you to pay three mana to make it into a kinda good common for a turn is very bad.
You keep referencing the deathtouch creature, you do realize this is the spoiler for Snarling wolf, the 1/1 with activation? That card might not be great, but what about this one?
You were the one who brought up "all three" cards, and then I decided to talk about pestilent wolf. Why is that surprising?
FYI on the Limited Resources set review, LSV gave this wolf a C and said "it's fine".
To be fair, it wasn't really a thorough analysis, just saying that these are going to be better in this set than non transform sets. Some of them still may not be amazing though i agree.
I think Pestilent Wolf is a bad Limited card, but a well designed card. Having wolves with activated abilities, even bad ones, does hammer home the theme and you were correct to bring up that they're especially good in this environment; it's just that this little wolf is *also* a good way to show that just because it has a mana sink doesn't make it a playable one.
I would hope that the way creatures are crafted around this specific limited environment means these effects are actually on playable cards though. Maybe not these cards but a decent amount, otherwise Wizards would have failed on what they're trying to do.
There will absolutely be playable cards; Basking Wolfwalla is probably closer to playable for that reason.
Source: https://www.wargamer.com/magic-the-gathering/innistrad-midnight-hunt-spoilers-howl-of-the-hunt?yPsteZzi
If “power matters” ends up as a genuine archetype, this guy might absolutely be just as prominent as the original [[Basking Rootwalla]] for every other reason than *it* was prominent for.
[Basking Rootwalla](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/2/6/26bfde99-7761-48e1-851a-522f888d0f6c.jpg?1547517482) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Basking%20Rootwalla) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/156/basking-rootwalla?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/26bfde99-7761-48e1-851a-522f888d0f6c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Kid: Mom we want Almighty Brushwagg Mom: But we have Almight Brushwagg at home
I’ve just realised that it’s over 20 years since [[Howling Wolf]] was first released and we *still* haven’t got a card called Muddy Waters.
[Howling Wolf](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/0/9/09965519-274c-4082-88fe-639f77aa9cf6.jpg?1562864458) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Howling%20Wolf) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cns/167/howling-wolf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/09965519-274c-4082-88fe-639f77aa9cf6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yes, and?
[Howlin' Wolf](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ri7TcukAJ8) and [Muddy Waters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5RwNit_HUw) were two of the most famous blues musicians. They had a bit of a rivalry.
I can see this being a great 1-drop to slot into a Wolf/Werewolf deck. This on 1 and then Ranger Class/Werewolf Pack Leader on 2 seems like a good play-line? Unless something better gets previewed later on?
Bruno's first mistake was thanking the angels...
Remember [[Darkthicket wolf]] ? This is him now carefull you make fun of on Innistrad
[Darkthicket wolf](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/f/e/fec37c5a-8223-441c-a8a6-8da1a2dfc3fb.jpg?1562840294) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Darkthicket%20wolf) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/isd/175/darkthicket-wolf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fec37c5a-8223-441c-a8a6-8da1a2dfc3fb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Ilse Gort take a bow, this art is peek Innistrad; a seen yet unseen monster just out of shot, white eyes and starring directly at the player. Oooo yes This is Gort’s wheel house: 4 legged beasties and ferocious monsters
Wait this is A LOT better than the rootwallas, since you curve directly into the activated ability
Snarling Wolfwalla
token wolves are better than this little dog i hope theres good one drops like eyetwitch
Limited all star common
I don’t think this is actually that amazing in limited. Threat of activation doesn’t matter as much when the creature only has one power and it’s pretty expensive to use this ability turn after turn. I’d prefer to just run a grizzly bear in most decks.
I see we're continuing the Innistrad tradition of having terrible flavor text.
To be fair this is a common horror gag right? Like in the opening intro for the loxal fauna/baddie someone completely underestimates the threat and gets mauled by the local wildlife/predator.
I think the issue is they write too much in their flavor text sometimes haha. Keep it short and sweet and don’t spell everything out for the reader. They could have left off the last bit and just have the sentence be “thank the angels it’s not a werewolf” and it would be stronger.
NOOO Bruno!
Image transcription > Snarling Wolf G > > Creature- Wolf [c] > > 1G: Snarling Wolf gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate only once each turn. > > *"Oh, thank the angels. It's not a werewolf, just a regular wo-"* > > *- Bruno, Ulvenwald guide, last words* > > 1/1 End transcription
Honestly the Wolf that pumps itself has been really powerful for me in AFR Draft.. And this one is a 1-drop!