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Today we're talking about werewolves, one of the most flavorful creature types in the game, and the creatures that practically originated the double-faced mechanic!
If you don't count the first three obscure werewolves - Lesser Werewolf, Treacherous Werewolf, and Greater Werewolf - the first real Werewolves actually appeared in Innistrad back in 2011. Today there are a total of 79 Werewolves with a breakdown as follows:
- Innistrad: 12
- Dark Ascension: 7
- Shadows Over Innistrad: 12
- Eldritch Moon: 8
- Innistrad: Midnight Hunt: 19
- Innistrad: Crimson Vow: 14
That accounts for 72 of our Werewolves. Along with the original three, that leaves four remaining Werewolves: Werewhat, a parody test card; Werewolf Pack Leader from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms; the new Vincent Valentine from Final Fantasy; and Rahilda, Wanted Cutthroat from Arena.
Considering how many Werewolves come from Innistrad sets, I'm not sure I've ever seen so many of a creature type concentrated so highly within specific sets before. Now that we've gone over the Werewolves distribution, let's talk about some of the best of them in the context of Magic history!
Let's begin!
Brutal Cathar
Every so often, we get a new version of Fiend Hunter, which I think was the first creature to exile another creature until it left play. Ironically, Fiend Hunter also first appeared in Innistrad! Brutal Cathar is one of the best so far, and I often find myself deciding between it and Werefox Bodyguard. I often lean toward the Cathar due to the potential to be a 3/3, having ward, and only costing one colored mana. Being a Human is also a relevant creature type in many strategies.
Duskwatch Recruiter
The Recruiter has done a tremendous amount of recruiting in his history. Most notably, he was a staple in the Modern combo deck that relied on Vizier of Remedies and Devoted Druid. He was also a key component in the prevalent Winota decks in Pioneer before Winota was banned in the format. Turns out the Recruiter is great at finding other creatures that are parts of combos or oppressive strategies. Aptly named, you might say.
Graveyard Trespasser
Great in Standard when it was legal, still putting up numbers in Pioneer and Modern. The Trespasser does a lot of things very well. Decks are always looking for cards that remove a specific graveyard card here or there, and the Trespasser is fantastic at that. She's also obnoxious to kill due to ward, has great stats, and has a little Blood Artisty effect whenever she removes a creature from the graveyard. Super well-rounded, and definitely a staple.
Huntmaster of the Fells
Huntmaster of the Fells is likely the most iconic transforming Werewolf. It was in nearly every red and green deck that could support him back when he was Standard legal, and he was a key component in nearly every Birthing Pod deck. Being able to sacrifice the Huntmaster to get a five-drop, while also keeping a 2/2 around and gaining two life was a great deal. In my opinion, it still is, and the Huntmaster still has a place in my own Cube.
Mayor of Avabruck
If Huntmaster of the Fells is the most iconic Werewolf, Mayor of Avabruck isn't too far behind. The original Werewolf lord and still the best, he also pumps your Humans and Wolves, while pumping out 2/2 Wolves on his own. He does a tremendous amount of things for two-mana, but he still needs a solid support system to really take advantage of all of his abilities. Mayoral aides, we call those.
Outland Liberator
Part Thrashing Brontodon, part Trygon Predator, all Werewolf. For two mana, the Liberator is basically the gold standard in what to expect from a creature that can destroy an artifact or an enchantment. We have a 2/2 for two, it sacrifices for one mana, great! But transformed, we have a 3/3 that can destroy an artifact or enchantment just by attacking. It doesn't have to deal damage, it doesn't have to be unblocked, it just has to turn sideways. Considering that you can still pay the one mana to kill something manually, this is such a powerful little wolf.
Reckless Stormseeker
Reckless Stormseeker is one in a long line of creatures that give another creature haste during combat. While it doesn't give all your creatures haste, one thing to remember is that most decks often only need to give one new creature haste per turn, which means this basically gives all your creatures haste most of the time. Combine that with the +1/+0 it gives, or the +2/+0 and trample it gives on the backside, and you have a solid addition to any aggressive red strategy.
Werewolf Pack Leader
Werewolf Pack Leader is a weird one. It was the single Werewolf in Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, but it was a good one. A 3/3 for two Green was great for the devotion decks, which is where it primarily finds itself within Pioneer. Any green card that gives you an avenue to draw some extra cards should not be overlooked, although I do find it odd that the Pack Leader's pump ability brings it up to five power and not the required six. I assume they want to make sure you're attacking with a pack, but for a four mana ability, it would be nice to just fulfill the criteria on its own.
Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll catch ya next time!
Frank Lepore
