War Screecher MTG Card


War Screecher offers card advantage with its power-boosting ability, essential for flying creature strategies. Moderate mana cost and instant-speed activation make War Screecher a flexible combat trick. War Screecher’s activation hinges on white mana, slightly limiting its deck versatility.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Bird
Abilities Flying
Power 1
Toughness 3

Text of card

Flying , : Other creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.

Soaring over Vitu-Ghazi, New Prahv, and Orzhova, the Conclave's trained falcons provided critical intelligence.


Cards like War Screecher

War Screecher offers a unique dynamic in Magic: The Gathering as a flying creature that also buffs other creatures. This card can be likened to creatures like Hawk of the Haven. Although they both take to the skies, War Screecher stands out with its versatility to strengthen your board presence by boosting other creatures’ power. Hawk of the Haven, however, solely focuses on being an efficient airborne blocker without the same latent support capacity.

Exploring further comparisons, Gust of Wind is another card that interacts well within aerial strategies but diverges into the utility slot rather than creature support, providing tempo advantage by returning nonland permanents to an opponent’s hand. It may not bolster your creatures, but its ability to disrupt opponents complements the qualities of War Screecher’s enhancements.

Moving on, it’s worth noting the similarities War Screecher shares with Aven Squire, a card that not only flies but also imparts bonuses to other creatures through Exalted. While Aven Squire can incrementally increase a single creature’s power per attack, War Screecher allows a more collective approach, potentially affecting multiple creatures at once. These subtle differences underline the tactical diversity within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of cards.

Gust of Wind - MTG Card versions
Aven Squire - MTG Card versions
Gust of Wind - MTG Card versions
Aven Squire - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to War Screecher by color, type and mana cost

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White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With War Screecher in your deck, you gain the ability to bolster your flying forces, offering a strategic upper hand. Its ability to tap and give other creatures a temporary power boost can be the key to surpassing your opponent’s defenses and landing critical hits.

Resource Acceleration: War Screecher’s moderate casting cost works to your advantage, allowing you to curve out efficiently in the early to mid-game. Its presence on the battlefield can make subsequent creature spells more threatening, boosting your tactical position without expending additional resources.

Instant Speed: Although War Screecher itself is not an instant, it carries the flexibility of instant-like abilities by having an activated ability that can be used at any time you could cast an instant. This tactical unpredictability makes it a valuable asset during combat, allowing you to react swiftly to changing battlefield conditions and catch your opponents off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To play War Screecher to its full potential, you’re sometimes faced with a decision that might involve discarding another card from your hand. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running low on options.

Specific Mana Cost: War Screecher’s ability requires white mana, which means it can only be activated in decks that include white. This mana requirement can restrict its versatility, limiting its inclusion to mainly white or multicolored decks that can satisfy the mana cost.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at a point where players start expecting significant impact on the game, War Screecher faces competition from other creatures that might offer more substantial board presence or additional abilities. This cost assessment is critical in deck building where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include War Screecher in Your Collection

Versatility: War Screecher offers flexibility in deck-building due to its flying attribute and ability to bolster your other creatures. It can easily slot into various white-based strategies, enhancing both aggro and token decks.

Combo Potential: With its activated ability to give all your creatures a +1/+1 until the end of turn, War Screecher can be a key piece in combos that rapidly increase creature power for a devastating attack phase.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the skies are less contested, having a flying creature that can also empower your board presence makes War Screecher a valuable addition to combat common ground-based threats.


How to Beat War Screecher

War Screecher is among the unique flying creatures found in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It draws its potency from its ability to bolster your army’s strength through its activated ability to give other creatures you control a +1/+1 boost until end of turn. This simple yet strategic option can quickly turn the tables in your favor during a match. To counteract a War Screecher, consider using an array of removal spells that can directly target flying creatures. Cards like Luminous Bonds can strap down War Screecher, preventing it from either attacking or blocking, and stopping its activated ability.

Another effective strategy is to incorporate creatures with reach or those that can deal damage to flying creatures, such as the sturdy Arboreal Grazer or the quick Skyway Sniper. These cards can block or interact with the War Screecher directly, neutralizing the threat it poses in flight. By understanding your removal options and deploying them at the optimal time, you can effectively handle the challenge posed by War Screecher, ensuring that your opponent’s flying advantage is kept firmly in check.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase War Screecher MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Ravnica: Clue Edition, 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 War Screecher and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The War Screecher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Dan Scott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 392015NormalBlackDan Scott
22024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 802015NormalBlackDan Scott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where War Screecher has restrictions

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