Ulvenwald Observer MTG Card


Ulvenwald Observer grants card advantage when creatures with power 4 or greater die, refilling your hand. Its hefty six-mana cost is a significant investment that can delay its impact on the game. Wise inclusion in decks that benefit from creature deaths, shining in the right meta and combos.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Treefolk
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control with toughness 4 or greater dies, draw a card.

"I tell you, the trees were closing in! It's by the grace of the Heron alone that I made it out of the Ulvenwald!" —Ricton, traveling merchant


Cards like Ulvenwald Observer

Ulvenwald Observer stands as a noteworthy creature within Magic: The Gathering’s vast card archive, drawing parallels to cards that share its creature-centric card draw ability. Comparable to Soul of the Harvest, which also grants card draw whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, Ulvenwald Observer instead triggers when a creature with power 4 or greater dies. This subtle difference reshapes the card draw strategy, aligning it with decks that benefit from and manipulate creature deaths as a resource.

Another akin card is Lifecrafter’s Bestiary, an artifact that permits card draw with every creature cast, providing a consistent draw mechanism. While Lifecrafter’s Bestiary favors a proactive creature-playing approach, Ulvenwald Observer’s unique ability hones in on the inevitability of creature loss, converting potential setbacks into opportunities for card advantage. Morbid triggers notably synergize well with the Observer’s ability, adding a layer of strategy and timing to the gameplay.

In analyzing the Observer’s role in the game, it emerges as a valuable engine in decks built around creature toughness and strategic sacrifices, making it a formidable ally in specific deck archetypes where its unique trigger conditions can consistently be met.

Soul of the Harvest - MTG Card versions
Lifecrafter's Bestiary - MTG Card versions
Soul of the Harvest - MTG Card versions
Lifecrafter's Bestiary - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: By enabling you to draw a card whenever a creature with power 4 or greater dies, Ulvenwald Observer ensures a steady flow of resources, keeping your hand replenished and putting you in a favorable position to outlast your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This giant treefolk’s ability may not produce mana or tokens directly, but by accelerating your card draw, you essentially accelerate your access to more lands and spells, indirectly contributing to your resource base growth.

Instant Speed: While the Observer itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with creatures and spells that operate at instant speed. Sacrificing a large creature on your opponent’s turn to trigger a card draw or utilizing a flash creature to ensure Ulvenwald Observer’s ability goes off can greatly enhance your game strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Ulvenwald Observer does not have a discard mechanic, its death-triggered card draw is conditional upon your creatures with power 4 or greater dying, which can be a restrictive and situational requirement. This may lead to holding onto the card without any benefit if you’re unable to meet the condition.

Specific Mana Cost: Ulvenwald Observer’s casting cost demands one green and 5 other mana, making it a substantial investment, particularly in multicolored decks. This specific mana cost commitment can sometimes be challenging to meet in the early to mid-game stages, especially in a format with increasingly efficient removal.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, the Ulvenwald Observer comes into play quite late. This high mana cost means it may sit in your hand while quicker, more immediately impactful plays could be made. In competitive play, where the board state can change rapidly, the investment in such a card must yield high rewards to justify the cost.


Reasons to Include Ulvenwald Observer in Your Collection

Versatility: The Ulvenwald Observer offers significant value to green decks that are prone to losing creatures in combat. This card ensures that you’re rewarded whenever one of your beefier creatures dies, supporting strategies that revolve around board presence and creature sacrifice.

Combo Potential: With its ability to draw a card whenever a creature with 4 or more toughness dies, it pairs well with strategies that aim to exploit death triggers. Think cards with persist, or decks that use creatures as resources for effects or cost payment.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where board wipes and creature removal are omnipresent, the Ulvenwald Observer can deter opponents from targeting your larger threats. It maintains card advantage in creature-heavy metas, making it a worthwhile inclusion against control or attrition strategies where the value of each card is amplified.


How to beat

Ulvenwald Observer is a card that brings resilience and card advantage to green decks in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that allows its controller to draw whenever another creature with power 4 or greater dies, it can be a thorn in an opponent’s side, turning their removal spells into new opportunities for the Ulvenwald Observer’s controller.

To effectively counter this towering sentinel of the woods, it’s important to limit its ability to trigger. This means avoiding the elimination of high-powered creatures unless absolutely necessary. Instead, direct your removal spells at Ulvenwald Observer itself or employ exile effects which circumvent its ability. Sweeper spells that clear the board can also be effective, dealing with both the Observer and potential high-power creatures in a single stroke. Additionally, utilizing counterspells can prevent this creature from ever entering the battlefield while employing hand disruption can remove it before it becomes a problem. For creature-based strategies, flyers or creatures with evasive abilities can offer a direct route to victory, bypassing the need to engage with what lies beneath the Observer’s gaze.

By prioritizing the Observer as a primary target for removal or circumventing its power altogether, you can nullify the card advantage it seeks to provide and keep the upper hand in your MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

The world of MTG is always evolving, and so should your deck. The Ulvenwald Observer adds a strategic layer to your gameplay, adeptly converting each creature’s demise into a resource. Its synergy with decks that embrace the circle of life and death can be pivotal in outmaneuvering opponents. Bolster your collection with this card and navigate the meta with finesse, transforming losses into opportunities for victory. Enhance your deck’s resilience and maintain your hand’s momentum even when the board seems grim. Ready to give your green deck a new edge? Dive deeper with us and discover how to optimize your MTG strategy with the Ulvenwald Observer.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ulvenwald Observer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Eldritch Moon Promos, 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 Ulvenwald Observer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ulvenwald Observer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-07-22 and 2016-07-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 615532015NormalBlackAdam Paquette
22016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 176s2015NormalBlackJaime Jones
32016-07-22Eldritch MoonEMN 1762015NormalBlackJaime Jones
42016-07-22Eldritch Moon PromosPEMN 1762015NormalBlackAdam Paquette

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ulvenwald Observer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-07-13 If Ulvenwald Observer dies at the same time as other creatures with toughness 4 or greater, its ability will trigger for each of those creatures.
2016-07-13 If Ulvenwald Observer’s toughness is still 4 or greater at the time it dies, its ability triggers.