Howltooth Hollow 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
Hideaway 4 (When this land enters, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom in a random order.) This land enters tapped.: Add
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Complete guide
Howltooth Hollow is a unique land from the Lorwyn block that rewards players for emptying everyone's hands. As one of the original hideaway lands, it allows you to tuck away a powerful spell to be cast for a single black mana later in the game. It is a strategic powerhouse in decks designed to strip resources from all players.
What It Does
Howltooth Hollow has two primary functions: it provides black mana and it facilitates a 'hideaway' play. When it enters the battlefield, you look at the top four cards of your library and exile one face down, effectively setting up a hidden resource. The land itself enters the battlefield tapped, meaning you typically have to wait a turn before you can use its mana or its special ability.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, the land enters the battlefield tapped, and the Hideaway 4 ability triggers. You look at the top four cards, exile one face down, and put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. To activate the final ability, you must pay one black mana and tap the land. Upon resolution, the game checks a specific condition: does every single player in the game have zero cards in their hand? If the answer is yes, you may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost.
Common Mistakes
The most common error is forgetting that 'each player' includes yourself. You cannot cast the exiled card if you have other cards in your hand, nor can you cast it if an opponent is holding even one card. Additionally, remember that you are 'playing' the card; if it is a land, it counts as your land play for the turn, and if it is a spell, you must still follow timing restrictions unless the ability specifically says otherwise.
When to Play It
Howltooth Hollow is best utilized in 'Hellbent' or discard-heavy strategies. Since the requirement is for all hands to be empty, it excels in formats where players naturally run out of resources or in decks that force everyone to discard. It serves as a great way to resolve a high-cost finisher for just one mana once the dust has settled and resources are depleted.
Interaction examples
Command TowerIf you play Command Tower on turn one, you have immediate access to mana. On turn two, you play Howltooth Hollow. It enters tapped, but you trigger Hideaway 4. You look at the top four cards of your library, exile a powerful spell, and wait for the moment everyone's hand is empty to cast it using mana from the Command Tower.
Exotic OrchardIn a multiplayer game, you might use Exotic Orchard to produce the black mana required for Howltooth Hollow's activated ability. Once every player—including you and your opponents—has zero cards in hand, you tap Exotic Orchard for black mana and tap Howltooth Hollow to cast your hidden face-down card for free.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Howltooth Hollow
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
"Hideaway N" means "When this permanent enters the battlefield, look at the top N cards of your library. Exile one of them face down and put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. The exiled card gains 'The player who controls the permanent that exiled this card may look at this card in the exile zone.'"
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Any player who has controlled a permanent with a hideaway ability since a card was exiled with it may look at that card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Previously, permanents with hideaway entered the battlefield tapped. This ability has been removed from the definition of hideaway. Older cards have received errata to have an additional paragraph that reads "[This permanent] enters the battlefield tapped," and they now have hideaway 4.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Hideaway now causes you to put the rest of the cards on the bottom of your library in a random order instead of any order.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Howltooth Hollow
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.