Despite the fact that it gives your opponent
extra cards, this card often sees play in decks
that can exploit it-- most notably combo decks,
milling decks, or decks with Sudden Impact. It's
been in Standard forever, and despite its
incredible shortcomings as a card engine, it
always finds a deck.
Howling Mine was a fan favorite for more than a
decade before it saw high-level constructed
play, proving that there are almost no cards
whose drawback is "too" steep. Who can blame
people for liking it: drawing an extra card
every turn is so tempting, and the drawback can
be worked around (it actively hurts slower
decks, with or without Sudden Impact). The Mine
is sure to remain popular for many years to
come.
Constructed:
This little artifact gets some strong showings
at different times during different standard
seasons. I remember making a Owling Mine casual
deck before it surprise the everyone during
Kamigawa and Ravnica standard. Then there was
Turbo Fog and Turbo Grinding that uses Howling
Mines. I lost to a Red/Black deck with a Figure
of Destiny and a Kederekt Parasite and a Howling
Mine in play. This is one of those steedy little
artifacts that does not really make any big
splashes, but keeps the waves going.
Casual &
Multiplayer:
I would be bold enough to say that is one of the
top 10 cards used by casual players all over the
world. It is cheap and you get 2 extra cards a
turn. In multiplayer you become everbody's
favorite person with the Mine out unless you
have Underworld Dreams and other bad stuff for
drawing cards in you deck. First turn swamp,
Dark Ritual, Underworld Dreams and second turn
Howling Mine usually means a fast game.
Limited:
Not really tried it in draft or sealed, of
course have not seen it show up yet to use.
Could work if Traumatize and maybe Jace shows up
to play. Pick up some Tome Scours, maybe a
Twincast shows up. White with Pacifism and
Blinding Mages and some Angel's Mercy for life
gain. Or grab green's Fogs. 40 card decks are
small enough to maybe it would work, if all of
the above cards showed up.
Overall this is real oldie but a goodie.
Constructed: 4
Casual: 5
Multiplayer: 5
Limited: 4
Later
Miguel
Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno
Today's card of the day is Howling Mine one of
only eight cards to be in every core set from
Alpha to 2010. Primarily used in Turbo Fog style
decks the very nature of this card is a
double-edged sword as every advantage you gain
the opponent also receives.
In Constructed, Casual, and Multiplayer this is
purely used to fuel some sort of deck
destruction, damage from drawing cards, or speed
combo. As such it is support only and somewhat
risky to play. If you need for yourself or an
opponent to draw more cards or work through
their deck quicker this may be the card for you.
Otherwise it is not worth handing over more
options to your opponent.
For Limited the ability to pull off a combo with
this is drastically reduced and even with some
deck destruction it is extremely unlikely to win
any games for you. Giving your opponent an extra
draw each turn is a horrible strategy in this
format even when you also get an extra card they
will be the one to benefit first putting you at
the disadvantage.
Unless you are rare drafting I would pass this
in Booster and not use it in sealed. The best
thing you can really hope for from this card is
having an opponent play it against you and take
advantage of your extra cards.
Welcome back readers today’s card of the day has
seen play since its induction and is currently
fueling the Time Sieve combo deck. For two mana
Howling Mine speeds up the process of the game
allowing each player more access to his or her
resources and increases the pace of the game. In
standard Howling Mine fuels the Time Sieve combo
deck allowing it to retain a full hand and flood
the field with artifacts to power its infinite
combos and Tezzeret fueled artifact attacks. In
extended and eternal formats it has its place in
a small percentage of decks. In casual and
multiplayer everyone likes to draw more cards
and it may make some friends for you around the
kitchen table, a card such as Howling Mine
however can set off alarms in opponents head
that you may be using it for something either in
a mill oriented deck or to grab combo pieces
from your deck thus making it a possible target
for removal. In limited it can allow you to plow
through your deck to get much needed cards or
can be combined with some blue milling cards to
allow a decent deck to deck an opponent, be
aware of decking yourself though. Overall
Howling Mine is a powerful card with a history
of competitive play and serves its niche roll
perfectly.
