Wirewood HivemasterHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Power of the Hive

Wirewood Hivemaster features a triggered ability that watches for other nontoken Elf creatures entering the battlefield under your control. Every time a qualifying Elf arrives, the Hivemaster gives you the option to create a 1/1 green Insect creature token. This ability is optional, meaning you can choose whether or not to create the token each time the trigger resolves.

Resolution Step by Step

First, an Elf creature spell you cast must successfully resolve and enter the battlefield. This triggers the Hivemaster's ability, which is then placed on the stack. When the trigger resolves, you decide if you want to create the Insect. Because the ability specifically looks for 'nontoken' Elves, creating an Insect token will not trigger the ability again, preventing an infinite loop with itself.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to trigger the Hivemaster with Elf tokens. Since the card explicitly states 'nontoken Elf,' effects that create Elf tokens will not result in extra Insects. Additionally, remember that Wirewood Hivemaster does not trigger when it enters the battlefield itself; it only sees other Elves that arrive while it is already in play.

Strategic Timing

You should aim to play Wirewood Hivemaster early in the game, ideally before your main wave of low-cost Elves. This maximizes the number of tokens you generate. These Insects are excellent for chump blocking or serving as fuel for other cards that require sacrificing creatures or counting the total number of creatures you control.

Interaction examples

Basic Token Generation

Llanowar Elves

With Wirewood Hivemaster already on the battlefield, you cast Llanowar Elves. When Llanowar Elves enters the battlefield, Wirewood Hivemaster's ability triggers. Upon resolution, you choose to create a 1/1 green Insect creature token.

Non-Elf Interaction

Birds of Paradise

If you have Wirewood Hivemaster in play and cast Birds of Paradise, no token is created. Even though Birds of Paradise is a creature, it does not have the Elf creature type, so it does not meet the requirements for the Hivemaster's triggered ability.

Token Synergy

Insect

When the Insect token created by Wirewood Hivemaster enters the battlefield, it does not trigger the Hivemaster's ability. The ability only cares about 'nontoken' Elves, and the Insect is both a token and not an Elf.