Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When Garruk has two or fewer loyalty counters on him, transform him. 0: Garruk deals 3 damage to target creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to him. 0: Create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token. +1: Create a 1/1 black Wolf creature token with deathtouch. −1: Sacrifice a creature. If you do, search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. −3: Creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
Complete guide
Garruk Relentless is a unique double-faced planeswalker that transforms when his loyalty drops to a critical level. This card captures Garruk's descent into madness after being cursed by the Chain Veil, shifting from a green hunter to a black-green predator. Understanding the timing of his transformation and loyalty abilities is key to mastering his gameplay.
The Transformation Mechanic
Garruk Relentless features a state-triggered ability. This means that as soon as his loyalty is two or fewer, the ability to transform him is put onto the stack. This happens automatically and doesn't cost any loyalty. Crucially, transforming does not add or remove loyalty counters; he keeps whatever he had when the transformation triggered. Because you can only activate one loyalty ability per permanent per turn, if you use a Garruk Relentless ability that causes him to transform, you cannot use an ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed until your next turn.
Resolving Abilities Step-by-Step
When you activate his first 0 ability, you target a creature. Upon resolution, Garruk deals 3 damage to that creature, and the creature simultaneously deals damage equal to its power back to Garruk. If this exchange leaves Garruk with 1 or 2 loyalty, his transformation trigger goes on the stack immediately after the ability finishes resolving. For Garruk, the Veil-Cursed's -1 ability, the sacrifice happens on resolution. You choose a creature to sacrifice, and if you do, you search your library for any creature card.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking you can use both sides in one turn; remember, it is still the same object even after it transforms. Another mistake involves the ultimate ability (-3): the power bonus (X) is determined only when the ability resolves based on your graveyard at that moment. It won't increase if more creatures die later in the turn, nor will it apply to creatures that enter the battlefield after the ability has already resolved.
When to Play Garruk
Garruk Relentless is best played when you can leverage his versatility. Use the front side to pick off small utility creatures or generate a board presence with 2/2 Wolves. Once he transforms into the Veil-Cursed, he becomes a powerful toolbox engine, allowing you to sacrifice tokens to find win conditions or buffing your entire team for a lethal strike using your graveyard count.
Interaction examples
WolfYou activate the second 0 ability of Garruk Relentless. You place a 2/2 green Wolf token onto the battlefield. Since you didn't remove loyalty, Garruk remains at 3 loyalty. On your next turn, you might use his first 0 ability to fight a creature; if that creature has 1 or 2 power, Garruk will drop to 1 or 2 loyalty and transform into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed.
Once Garruk has transformed into the Veil-Cursed, you have access to his -1 ability. You activate it, and as it resolves, you sacrifice a 1/1 black Wolf token you created previously. Because you sacrificed a creature, you now search your library for any creature card (like a finisher or utility piece) and put it into your hand.
With five creature cards in your graveyard, you activate Garruk, the Veil-Cursed's -3 ability. Upon resolution, all creatures you currently control gain +5/+5 and trample. If you play another creature card from your hand later that same turn, it will not have the bonus because it wasn't on the battlefield when the ability resolved.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Garruk Relentless's first ability is a state-triggered ability. It triggers once Garruk has two or fewer loyalty counters on him and it can't retrigger while that ability is on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You don't add or remove loyalty counters from Garruk Relentless when he transforms into Garruk, the Veil-Cursed. In most cases, he'll have one or two loyalty counters on him.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can't activate a loyalty ability of Garruk Relentless and later that turn after he transforms activate a loyalty ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The second ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed doesn't target a creature. However, when that ability resolves, you must sacrifice a creature if you control one.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The number of creature cards in your graveyard is counted when the third ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed resolves. Once the ability resolves, the bonus doesn't change if that number changes later in the turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Only creatures you control when the third ability of Garruk, the Veil-Cursed resolves will receive the bonus. Creatures that enter or that you gain control of later in the turn won't be affected.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed + Spark Double
- 1Activate Spark Double's first loyalty ability by adding 0 loyalty counters, dealing 3 damage to target creature and having that creature deal 1 or 2 damage to Spark Double.
- 2Spark Double triggers but fails to transform.
- 3You must repeat the last step in a mandatory loop, resulting in a game draw.
Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed + Clever Impersonator
- 1Activate Clever Impersonator's first loyalty ability by adding 0 loyalty counters, dealing 3 damage to target creature and having that creature deal 1 or 2 damage to Clever Impersonator.
- 2Clever Impersonator triggers but fails to transform.
- 3You must repeat the last step in a mandatory loop, resulting in a game draw.
Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed + Moritte of the Frost
- 1Activate Moritte of the Frost's first loyalty ability by adding 0 loyalty counters, dealing 3 damage to target creature and having that creature deal 1 or 2 damage to Moritte of the Frost.
- 2Moritte of the Frost triggers but fails to transform.
- 3You must repeat the last step in a mandatory loop, resulting in a game draw.
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Meta decks with Garruk Relentless // Garruk, the Veil-Cursed
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