Tender Wildguide 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
Offspring(You may pay an additional
: Add one mana of any color.
Complete guide
Tender Wildguide is a versatile addition to any green deck, offering both mana ramp and the potential for long-term growth. This Possum Druid features the Offspring mechanic, allowing you to double your presence on the battlefield for a small additional investment. Whether you need color fixing or a scaling threat, this little guide has you covered.
Dual Utility and Offspring
Tender Wildguide has two activated abilities: one for mana production and one for personal growth. By paying the Offspring cost of {2} when you cast it, you create a 1/1 token copy upon entry. This gives you two separate creatures that can each either tap for mana or grow themselves with +1/+1 counters.
Resolution and Timing
When you cast Tender Wildguide, you decide whether to pay the {2} Offspring cost. If you do, the Offspring ability becomes a triggered ability that goes on the stack once the creature enters the battlefield. If the original spell is countered, you don't get the token. However, if the creature enters and is subsequently destroyed in response to the trigger, you still get your 1/1 token copy.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming the token is a 2/2 or matches the power of the original if it has already been buffed. The token is always a base 1/1, regardless of how many +1/+1 counters are on the original. Additionally, remember that you cannot pay the Offspring cost multiple times to get extra tokens; it is a one-time choice during casting.
When to Play It
Play Tender Wildguide early if you need to accelerate into higher-cost spells, similar to how you would use Llanowar Elves. If you draw it later in the game, paying the Offspring cost is highly recommended, as it provides two bodies that can independently grow into significant threats if left unchecked.
Interaction examples
Tender Wildguide
Llanowar ElvesIf you have Llanowar Elves on the battlefield, you can tap it to help pay for Tender Wildguide's Offspring cost. Once Tender Wildguide and its 1/1 Offspring token are on the battlefield, you now have three creatures capable of producing mana, significantly accelerating your game plan for the following turn.
If you pay the Offspring cost for Tender Wildguide, you end up with two creatures. On your next turn, you can tap the original to add a +1/+1 counter to itself, and tap the token to add a +1/+1 counter to the token. Both creatures grow independently, forcing your opponent to deal with two growing threats instead of just one.
Birds of ParadiseWhile Birds of Paradise is a classic for fixing mana, Tender Wildguide offers similar flexibility with the added benefit of combat relevance. If you use Tender Wildguide's ability to add mana, you can produce any color required for your spells, just like the Bird, but with the option to pivot into a large attacker later in the game.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Tender Wildguide
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The token created by the offspring ability isn’t “cast”, so abilities that trigger when a creature spell is cast won’t trigger for the copy.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
In the rare case where the creature doesn’t have the offspring ability when it enters, the ability won’t trigger even if you paid the offspring cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can pay an offspring cost only once as you cast a spell with offspring. You can’t try to pay it multiple times to get more token copies.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell is countered, the offspring ability will not trigger, and no token will be created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell resolves but the creature with offspring leaves the battlefield before the offspring ability resolves, you’ll still create a token copy of it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else, except it’s a 1/1 (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn’t copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its types, color, or so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
In the rare case where the original creature is copying something else when the offspring ability resolves, the token enters as whatever that creature copied, except it’s a 1/1.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Many creatures with offspring abilities have other abilities that refer to them as “this creature” rather than referring to them by name. This difference is for clarity purposes and does not change the function of any of these abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Any “enters” abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters. Any “as [this creature] enters” or “[this creature] enters with” abilities of the copied creature will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Berta, Wise Extrapolator + Agatha's Soul Cauldron + Farmstead Gleaner + Tender Wildguide
- 1Activate Berta using Tender Wildguide's ability by tapping them, putting a +1/+1 counter on Berta.
- 2Berta's second ability triggers, adding one mana of any color.
- 3Activate Berta using Farmstead Gleaner's ability by paying and untapping them, putting a +1/+1 counter on Berta.
- 4Berta's second ability triggers, adding one mana of any color.
- 5Repeat.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Tender Wildguide
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