Howlgeist MTG Card


Card advantage is critical, and Howlgeist helps maintain a full hand by bolstering your creature count without card loss. Howlgeist applies pressure and aids in indirect resource management, making it a tactical addition to any deck. Incorporating Howlgeist in your collection can lead to unblockable scenarios and potent combo plays within certain meta choices.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spirit Wolf
Abilities Undying
Power 4
Toughness 2

Text of card

Creatures with power less than Howlgeist's power can't block it. Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)


Understanding Howlgeist

Howlgeist, part of the intriguing lineup of creatures from the Magic: The Gathering universe, embodies the fearsome spirit of the wild that thrives among the plane’s darker forests. A formidable beast in its own right, this card bears a unique set of abilities that contribute to both offensive and defensive strategies on the battlefield.

Cards like Howlgeist

Howlgeist shares its eerie traits with other formidable creatures of the night, such as Phantom Monster. Both of these cards possess the evasiveness granted by flying, making them difficult for opponents to block. Where Howlgeist stands out is through its “undying” ability, which ensures that even upon being destroyed, it returns to the fray just once, slightly stronger than before. Phantom Monster lacks this particular resilience, making Howlgeist a more menacing presence to deal with in repeated combat scenarios.

Howlgeist can also be compared to Ruinator Wurm with its significant power and toughness. Yet again, Howlgeist diverges due to its capacity to resurrect itself once with an additional +1/+1 counter, while Ruinator Wurm does not share this relentless survivability. However, Ruinator Wurm doesn’t have the condition of only being able to block creatures with power greater than its toughness, which offers some versatility when facing a wider range of adversaries.

Howlgeist not only aligns with other creatures in terms of power but also proffers an essence of endurance that can often tip the balance of a game. This gives Howlgeist a distinct place among MTG cards, blending aggression with the tenacity to lead a player to victory.

Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Howlgeist by color, type and mana cost

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Howlgeist ensures you keep your hand full by adding to your creature lineup without sacrificing cards from your hand. This effect can tip the scales in a game where maintaining a presence on the battlefield is key.

Resource Acceleration: The presence of Howlgeist in your deck isn’t directly related to resource acceleration, but its ability to apply pressure may force an opponent to trade or use resources less efficiently, indirectly favoring your resource management.

Instant Speed: While Howlgeist isn’t itself an instant, it benefits from the ability to interact with other instant-speed spells you may have. Its Undying ability makes it a resilient threat, potentially returning to the battlefield at crucial moments when your opponents least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Card effectiveness is tied to the Graveyard size, demanding strategic discards, which can be troublesome if you’re unable to populate your own graveyard.

Specific Mana Cost: Howlgeist requires a mix of generic and specific green mana, narrowing compatibility mostly to green-centric or green-inclusive decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a six mana value for a 4/2 creature body, Howlgeist comes in at a point where other creatures or spells could provide more immediate board impact or versatility.


Reasons to Include Howlgeist in Your Collection

Versatility: Howlgeist is a creature card that can slide into green-centric decks, particularly those that leverage the Undying mechanic or need a strong late-game presence. Its ability to become unblockable as your hand size increases adds strategic depth to gameplay.

Combo Potential: With its Undying trait, Howlgeist synergizes well in decks that manipulate +1/+1 counters or require creatures to re-enter the battlefield, fostering numerous combo opportunities.

Meta-Relevance: In formats where players tend to hold numerous cards in hand, Howlgeist gains an edge by becoming essentially unblockable, making it a smart inclusion to deal with decks focused on card advantage and hand size.


How to beat

Howlgeist, a unique card in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, presents its own set of challenges. This creature embodies a blend of offense and built-in protection, making it a tough opponent on the battlefield. One key feature of Howlgeist is its intimidation factor stemming from the Undying ability. When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield under its owner’s control with a +1/+1 counter.

To effectively counter the resilience of Howlgeist, you’ll need to circumvent its Undying ability. Utilizing exile effects or spells that place it back into the opponent’s hand can prove effective. Cards with the ability to apply -1/-1 counters also counteract the Undying mechanic, as it prevents Howlgeist from returning to the battlefield after destruction. Strategic planning and the right spells will enable you to handle this evasive creature with finesse, keeping it at bay or removing it from play efficiently.

Adjusting strategies to deal with Howlgeist’s unique abilities ensures a more controlled game and diminishes the advantage it can bring to the opposing side. With careful maneuvering, this challenging element of the game can be effectively managed, keeping you one step ahead of the competition.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Howlgeist MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Howlgeist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Howlgeist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-05-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by David Rapoza.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-05-04Avacyn RestoredAVR 1822003NormalBlackDavid Rapoza
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6732015NormalBlackDavid Rapoza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Howlgeist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2012-05-01 The comparison of power is performed only when blockers are declared. Increasing the power of a blocking creature (or decreasing the power of Howlgeist) after this point won’t cause any creature to stop blocking or become unblocked.