Woebearer MTG Card


Woebearer offers repetitive creature retrieval, strengthening long-term game strategies. It enables strategic resource acceleration, crucial for maintaining battlefield presence. Introduces tactical depth, especially relevant in attrition-based black decks.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Abilities Fear
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Fear Whenever Woebearer deals combat damage to a player, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.


Cards like Woebearer

Woebearer is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering a blend of reanimation and attack capabilities. Several other cards offer somewhat parallel functions, like Gravedigger, which also allows you to return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand when it enters the battlefield. However, Woebearer stands out by offering this ability every time it deals combat damage to a player rather than just a single occurrence upon entering the battlefield.

Murderous Rider is another comparable option due to its creature recovery mechanic. While it doesn’t directly return creatures from the graveyard to your hand, its ‘Swift End’ instant spell provides a removal effect, and the creature itself returns to the library after dying, hinting at a recurring threat. Both cards provide sustainability and value over time in a player’s deck.

Assessing Woebearer against such similar cards, it becomes evident that its repeated use effect can be a tremendous advantage in the long game. Its ability to continually extract creatures from the graveyard and the tactical depth it brings in creature-based strategies makes it a noteworthy choice for players aiming for long-term board presence and recurring value.

Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Woebearer by color, type and mana cost

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Bloodlord of Vaasgoth - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Reaper of Sheoldred - MTG Card versions
Dementia Bat - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions
Bloodlord of Vaasgoth - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Woebearer provides a consistent advantage by returning target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand whenever it deals combat damage to a player. This can swing the dynamics of the game in your favor over time, giving you more options and resources for strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: By reclaiming valuable creatures from the graveyard, Woebearer can essentially accelerate your resource pool without expending additional cards from your hand, allowing you to deploy more threats on the board and overwhelm your opponents.

Instant Speed: While Woebearer itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it allows you to hold back creatures in your hand until the moment is right. This creates potential instant speed plays by maximizing the use of your creatures in response to the flow of the game, especially those with Flash or with effects that trigger when a creature enters the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: It mandates players to let go of one of their valuable cards, which could interrupt the flow of their hand, especially in a tight game state where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The precise mana cost of Woebearer makes it a challenging fit for decks that aren’t heavy on both black and other colors needed. This may restrict deck-building options and reduce the card’s overall flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a significant five mana to play, Woebearer can be seen as an investment that enters the battlefield later in the game when players might opt for more impactful or immediate solutions to the board state.


Reasons to Include Woebearer in Your Collection

Versatility: Woebearer offers a dynamic role in a variety of black-focused decks. It has the unique ability to repeatedly return creatures from your graveyard to your hand, stocking your hand with valuable resources over the course of a game.

Combo Potential: This card’s inherent recursion ability pairs perfectly with sacrifice strategies, or with creatures that have potent enter-the-battlefield effects. It opens the door to numerous combo possibilities and synergies.

Meta-Relevance: Its relevance in the meta can fluctuate, but in games where attrition is key, Woebearer shines by granting sustainability and endurance. It can repeatedly undermine your opponent’s removal strategies by bringing your creatures back, turn after turn.


How to beat

Woebearer is a unique card that presents a recurring threat in MTG, thanks to its ability to resurrect creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield. This feature enriches strategies within black decks, especially those that thrive on creature recursion. One effective strategy to counter Woebearer is the use of graveyard hate cards, such as Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt, which can exile creatures before Woebearer has the chance to bring them back. Another proven method is to remove Woebearer from play with efficient removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, which can neutralize this persistent problem before it starts recouping value for your opponent.

It might also be strategic to avoid trading smaller creatures in combat if Woebearer is on the battlefield, as this prevents your opponent from gaining advantageous targets for its ability. Instead, focus on applying pressure with larger threats or creatures that have beneficial enter the battlefield effects, swaying the resource balance in your favor and making Woebearer’s influence on the game negligible. By incorporating these tactics, the challenge posed by Woebearer in a game of MTG can be mitigated, turning what might seem like a looming threat into a manageable obstacle.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Woebearer MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and Salvat 2005, 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 Woebearer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Woebearer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Matt Thompson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-10-02MirrodinMRD 832003NormalBlackMatt Thompson
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F162003NormalWhiteMatt Thompson
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F512003NormalWhiteMatt Thompson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Woebearer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal