The 27 Best Wolves in Magic Ranked

Last updated on September 30, 2025

Sarulf, Realm Eater | Illustration by Chris Rahn

Innistrad is one of the planes that I’ve liked the most because of the terrors that inhabit it. I’m especially a fan of wolves and werewolves because their lore goes back before I even started playing the game. I’ve made some decks around werewolves in the past, but I felt a little bad that I left some wolves behind.

Which of them are the best? And did you know that there are colorless wolves? These creatures are full of curiosities, so let's find out!

What Are Wolves in MTG?

Packsong Pup | Illustration by April Prime

Wolves are a creature type called “wolf.” Their payoffs and abilities are usually shared with their fellow half-human buddies, “werewolves.” Some lords like Howlpack Alpha pump both creature types because they’re treated as part of the same, er, pack.

#27. Lupine Prototype

There’s nothing amazing to be said about Lupine Prototype. It's the only colorless wolf that exists, and isn't even all that impressive in a world where you can play 5/5 Territorial Kavus on turn 2. Points for being a wolf in robot armor.

#26. Assembled Alphas

These wolves are angry. Unlike other wolves, Assembled Alphas works better as an individual card instead of giving abilities to the whole pack. It can virtually trade for 8/8s while dealing damage to their controllers, something not to overlook.

#25. Witchstalker

I remember when Witchstalker was printed as an answer to the rise of Dimir () control decks in Standard. It may not be used anymore, but it saw decent play back in the day.

#24. Pyreheart Wolf

Pyreheart Wolf reads: “Each creature you control has menace when Pyreheart Wolf attacks.” A 1/1 for 3 mana may not seem impressive, but its undying ability makes it outstanding against any other regular wolf.

You’d have to use removal twice on it to prevent it from breaking board stalls.

#23. Rot Wolf

Rot Wolf is the only wolf with infect. It may not sound impressive, but its common rarity is critical for Pauper decks that rely on this strategy.

#22. Ulrich's Kindred

Protecting the pack is the most important thing for a wolf, and Ulrich's Kindred knows how to do it perfectly, tossing around indestructible while on offense.

#21. Anara, Wolvid Familiar

The quality of wolves in green is far and beyond better than other colors. Anara, Wolvid Familiar is among the best wolves ever printed because it works well with every other commander. It also has the upside that it can be used as a partner.

#20. Runebound Wolf

I like Runebound Wolf because it can kill opponents in one activation if they get reckless by expending their life total. This card can single-handedly change the outcome even if the board is stalled: It doesn't need to attack to start burning everyone to death.

#19. Cemetery Prowler

This is a card I recently started to hate because of how good it is in the right deck. It may not seem like it, but Cemetery Prowler can enable some powerful tools in dedicated combo decks.

If you manage to lower the cost of a card type, namely creatures, you’ll be able to start chaining them back-to-back until your opponent eventually folds.

#18. Hollowhenge Overlord

Hollowhenge Overlord gives the potential to double your pack at the beginning of your upkeep. Having flash makes it even harder to play around.

#17. Nightpack Ambusher

Speaking of creatures with flash, Nightpack Ambusher has been a staple of Simic () decks that aim for a tempo game. This lone wolf can start its pack in a matter of turns, and it's also a lord that pumps other wolves and werewolves.

#16. Packsong Pup

This is another card I liked in Limited, but also in some werewolves decks I toyed with over in Alchemy. Packsong Pup usually starts growing after turn 2. Chances are that you’ll be facing a massive threat in a few turns when left unchecked.

#15. Primal Adversary

This lone wolf can turn your “flood” into a pack with the right amount of mana. Primal Adversary also grows each time you pay for its kicker ability.

#14. Skalla Wolf

This doesn’t seem like much, but Skalla Wolf is one of the few wolves that can provide card advantage if you find ways to do it continuously. It gives you more selection than Sarulf's Packmate, but you'll usually take the cantrip creature at a lower cost.

#13. Sarulf's Packmate

Speaking of Pauper staples, Sarulf's Packmate has been well-received by the community since its introduction. Foretell just gives a card like this some much-needed flexibility.

#12. Silverfur Partisan

Silverfur Partisan works as either pseudo-protection for your other wolves or as a combo enabler for decks that can exploit its “heroic“-like ability.

#11. Ukkima, Stalking Shadow

There are a lot of animal crossovers in the Magic multiverse, but a whale wolf is a first. Ukkima, Stalking Shadow‘s ability may not be unique, but it's a commander. It's one of the few “partners with” commanders that you're probably okay running solo, since Cazur, Ruthless Stalker isn't anything special.

#10. Wolf of Devil's Breach

Wolf of Devil's Breach is a wolf that may require some strategic building. You can use its ability to deal reasonable amounts of damage to kill other small creatures on the board.

Still, I can’t help dream of the idea of discarding Emrakul, the Aeons Torn and dealing 15 damage to Brash Taunter to kill an opponent instead.

#9. Spirit of the Hunt

Spirit of the Hunt can make combat a nightmare for your opponents because barely anyone would expect your entire team to get pumped in defense.

#8. Wildsear, Scouring Maw

A Gruul enchantment commander is bizarre, but cascade does feel quite Gruul. So does a 6/6 trampler for 5, which means Wildsear, Scouring Maw is beating down while cascading enchantment spells.

#7. Sarulf, Realm Eater

Sarulf, Realm Eater is the representation of Fenrir in the game. It has an ability that acts as a pseudo-Pernicious Deed, which truly fits its Nordic identity.

#6. Immerwolf

Immerwolf is one of the wolf lords from the original Innistrad. It's pretty much of a staple in every Gruul () wolf deck, though it's a bit awkward that it won't allow your Eldritch Moon werewolves to transform.

#5. Wicked Wolf

I have bad memories of Wicked Wolf because it always caught me off guard when playing Standard. The fighting ability is already strong, but it also has a second ability that puts counters on it and makes it indestructible.

#4. Wolfir Silverheart

Wolfir Silverheart, meanwhile, brought me tons of joy in Standard Naya () Zoo decks. You don't see it much these days, but with soulbond being what it is, that's probably for the best.

#3. Ascendant Packleader

It’s been a while since Crimson Vow was released, but Ascendant Packleader has been a staple in green-based aggro decks ever since. It doesn't require any typal synergy to be a great 1-drop.

#2. Young Wolf

Young Wolf is a powerhouse. It's the cheapest creature with undying, so it’s a must-have in a lot of strategies to use it, like Yawgmoth in Modern.

#1. Voja, Jaws of the Conclave

After multiple retrains of Tolsimir Wolfblood and their trusty token friend Voja, we finally got the fabled wolf on its own card, and it's kind of incredible. Voja, Jaws of the Conclave is half wolf, half elf payoff, and becomes an immense threat while drawing a ton of cards. Ward 3 is the kicker here, making it way more difficult to interact with than necessary.

Best Wolf Payoffs

Aside from the wolves that already interact with other wolves, a few cards care about committing yourself to a wolf deck. Here are some standouts.

There are just a handful of planeswalkers that care about typal decks, and Arlinn, Voice of the Pack is the one relevant for wolves. Its passive ability is a huge upside, but it can also start creating wolves on its own.

Howling Moon can slow down your opponents unless they’re willing to give you a wolf each turn. It also helps you to go on the offensive with the wolves your opponents give you or others you may have around.

This enchantment can serve as an anthem effect and a combat trick. It pumps, and Howlpack Resurgence can also win you some games with its impressive trampling.

Master of the Wild Hunt is a fantastic creature that saw a lot of play when the Alara block was Standard legal. It can start creating tokens at the beginning of your upkeep and hopefully clear the path for your other creatures to make a big attack.

Howlpack Alpha (the transformed side of Mayor of Avabruck) serves as a clean lord for wolves and werewolves.

The two most recent version of Tolsimir create various Voja tokens that trigger their abilities, but Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves and Tolsimir, Midnight's Light are both templated so that they work with other wolf creatures.

Tovolar, Dire Overlord is the best wolf/werewolf commander by a long shot, drawing cards as your wolvid creatures deal damage. It retains that ability once it transforms into Tovolar, the Midnight Scourge.

Are Werewolves Considered Wolves?

Werewolves and wolves are two different creature types. It may feel weird because the lords usually pump both breeds, but there's a reason. Werewolves have human-like bodies, while wolves are straight canines similar to dogs.

Do Wolves Count as Dogs?

Just like in real life, wolves and dogs are different species and creature types. There aren't even any Magic cards that pump or benefit both dogs and wolves.

Wrap Up

Master of the Wild Hunt (Magic 2010) | Illustration by Kev Walker

Wolves have mostly stuck to red and green when they’ve appeared in Magic. The closest to a blue wolf is Ukkima, Stalking Shadow, but it’s also black. Wolves can often be paired with werewolves because the lords and other relevant cards happen to work for both creature types. I’d be curious to see how future wolves turn out.

Have I missed any good wolves? Which wolves do you like to see turn up in your hand? Let me know in the Draftsim Discord, on Twitter, or in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, and stay safe everyone!