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Pojo's Magic The Gathering
Card of the Day

Daily Since November 2001!

Huntmaster of the Fells
Ravager of the Fells
Image from Wizards.com
Image from Wizards.com

Top 10 Cards of 2012
#9:

Huntmaster of the Fells /
Ravager of the Fells

Dark Ascension

Reviewed December 18, 2012

Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4.75
Multiplayer: 4.0

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.  3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating

Click here to see all of our 
Card of the Day Reviews 

BMoor

Huntmaster of the Fells

When Werewolves and other transforming cards first made the scene, the biggest challenge was how to transform then, and keep them from transforming back. Huntmaster and Ravager of the Fells challenge that thinking, as each one has a triggered ability that rewards you for transforming it. It wasn't the only Werewolf in Dark Ascension that had such a triggered ability, so you might not mind much if your Werewolf Ransacker transformed back into Afflicted Deserter, but it's the only one that rewards you for transformation both ways (plus an ETB ability). In addition, both of its abilities are fairly easy to find targets for. The aforementioned Ransacker might run out of artifacts to smash, but the Huntmaster will always be able to give you a Wolf and gain you 2 life, and if the Ravager can't find a creature to deal 2 damage to, all those Wolf tokens you've been making will pick up the slack.

Huntmaster of the Fells is a Werewolf you can't "answer" by making it transform back. That's a big part of why it's so powerful, because all the Innistrad Werewolves were pretty debilitated by transforming back, so that was considered the easiest way to deal with them. The Huntmaster defeated that strategy and thrived against opponents who hadn't learned to abandon it. And even if the Huntmaster is never allowed to transform, it's still 4 power of creatures and 2 life for four mana. The fact that 2 of its power is in a token means even a well-placed Shock doesn't quite solve it either.

Constructed-  4
Casual- 4
Limited- 4.5
Multiplayer- 4
John
Shultis
Phoenix
Gaming

Huntsmaster of the Fells Card of the Day
 
      Welcome back to Pojo.com's Card of the Day section. Over the next couple weeks we will be counting down our Top 10 Cards of 2012. Today, we are looking at number 9, Huntsmaster of the Fells from Dark Ascension. Huntsmaster of the Fells is a mythic rare red and green creature human werewolf. Huntsmaster of the Fells costs two generic mana, one red mana, and one green mana and is a 2/2. Huntsmaster of the Fells says whenever this creature enters the battlefield or transforms into Huntsmaster of the Fells, put a 2/2 green wolf creature token onto the battlefield and gain two life. At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Huntsmaster of the Fells. Huntsmaster of the Fells then becomes Ravager of the Fells, a red and green werewolf that is a 4/4, trample that says when you transform into Ravager of the Fells, deal 2 damage to target opponent and 2 damage to target creature that opponent controls. At the beginnning of each upkeep, if two or more spells were played last turn, transform Ravager of the Fells. 

      No card made such an impact, and then was simply ignored quite like the Huntsmaster of the Fells. Huntsmaster made an immediate impact, but then, was gone. The main deck that people were running the Huntsmaster in were aggro based decks using the Primeval Titan. But honestly, I still don't understand why he disappeared from the scene so fast. Perhaps he is just staging another sweeping comeback once Gatecreash comes out. 

     Either way, you are gaining an advantage whether you are able to keep Huntsmaster transformed, or if he goes back. And dropping him successfully is a life boost and two creature advantage for just four mana. Transform him, and it is some spot removal and a quick damage ping. Nothing wrong with either. And if your opponent doesn't want to stare down a 4/4 trample, then they will rally to quick cast some spells, only to watch you gain another creature, plus two more life. 

    Of course, comboing the Huntsmaster with other cards just makes it so much better. In Standard play, comboing it with a Parallel Lives make two wolf tokens, and a Curse of Bloodletting doubles the two damage from transforming. 

     There really are zero drawbacks, which is why he was "the card" back then. 
 
Limited: 5/5
Constructed: 5/5
Casual: 5/5
Multiplayer: 4/5


David Fanany

Player since 1995

David had this at #3 on his Top 10 List.
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno The number nine card of the year is Huntmaster of the Fells which is a four mana Red/Green 2/2 that adds a 2/2 token and increases life by two when it enters the battlefield or transforms. For the mana cost it is quite efficient, but the transformation has to be triggered for this to stand out. As a 4/4 with Trample that deals two damage to an opponent and a creature they control it adds potential removal and some burn to the token and life gain. If all of the effects are activated, preferably multiple times, this is an excellent card for a Red/Green deck.
 
Managing that is the difficulty as both colors tend towards constantly playing cards to maintain pressure, though a deck could be built with Huntmaster in mind as it is a decent card that is both efficient and effective.
 
For Limited either form is useful as the tokens or life point swings it can produce are a big advantage. It benefits from the format's tendency to have lands topdecked preventing any other play in a turn and controlling the transformations should be easier as a result. The dual color aspect is the biggest drawback, so drafting choices after making it a first pick in Booster are critical to have a balanced deck. In Sealed either color can be splashed if both aren't strong, but at least one should be solid in and of itself before including Huntmaster.
 
Constructed: 4.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.5
Multiplayer: 4.0

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