Wild MongrelHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Wild Mongrel features an activated ability that costs nothing but a discarded card. Each time you discard a card, the creature gains +1/+1 and you choose a color for it to become until the end of the turn. This ability can be activated multiple times in a single turn, allowing for significant power boosts and strategic color shifts.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you choose a card from your hand to discard as the activation cost. Once the cost is paid, the ability goes on the stack. When the ability resolves, you choose one color (White, Blue, Black, Red, or Green). The Wild Mongrel then becomes only that color and gains the +1/+1 bonus. If you activate the ability again, the new color choice will overwrite the previous one, but the +1/+1 bonuses will stack.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking Wild Mongrel becomes multi-colored if you activate the ability multiple times. In reality, each resolution replaces the previous color choice, though the power and toughness bonuses continue to accumulate. Also, remember that you must discard the card to put the ability on the stack; you cannot wait to see if the opponent has a response before deciding what to discard.

When to Play It

Wild Mongrel is best played when you have cards in hand that have 'Madness' or provide benefits when in the graveyard. It is also an excellent tool for dodging 'Protection from [Color]' effects or spells that target specific colors, as you can change its color at instant speed in response to your opponent's spells.

Interaction examples

Surviving Combat

Llanowar Elves

If your opponent blocks Wild Mongrel with a creature that has 2 power, you can discard a Llanowar Elves from your hand. This gives Wild Mongrel +1/+1, making it a 3/3, allowing it to survive the combat while dealing more damage to the blocker.

Dodging Color-Specific Removal

Birds of Paradise

If an opponent casts a spell that destroys a green creature, you can respond by discarding Birds of Paradise. You then choose for Wild Mongrel to become Blue. The opponent's spell will lose its valid target and fail to resolve, saving your creature.