Which Garruk Planeswalker card comes out on top?

Few figures are as important within the lore of Magic: The Gathering as Planeswalkers. Making up the majority of key protagonists in Magic's story, Planeswalker cards were first introduced in Lorwyn block back in 2007. When the card type was first introduced, we were first shown five cards of the type — one of each mono color.

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Of the Lorwyn five, each are still among the most iconic figures in the game. As green's first Planeswalker, Garruk has seen his highs and lows throughout his tenure in Magic, returning in Throne of Eldraine after a several-year hiatus from appearances, we're going to examine every Garruk that has seen print and explore which are the most powerful!

Appearing as a lackluster Planeswalker deck Planeswalker, Garruk, Savage Herald is overcosted and underwhelming, not bringing much of value to the table. For six mana, this five-loyalty Garruk's +1 ability allows you to reveal the top card of your library, putting it in your hand if it's a creature. This means that if that card isn't a creature, you've effectively paid six mana to do nothing.

Additionally, while Garruk's -2 ability allows you to utilize one of your creatures as targted removal, six mana is a steep price to pay for this effect. While this Garruk's ultimate -7 ability can allow your creatures to assign their combat damage as though they weren't blocked, this effect requires significant setup, and only works if you can maintain an established board state.

Printed in Core Set 2021, Garruk, Unleashed is a solid green Planeswalker well-suited for creature-heavy decks. Entering the battlefield with four loyalty, Garruk's +1 offers the effect of a slightly better Giant Growth, providing target creature with +3/+3 and trample until the end of the turn. For those without established board states, Garruk's -2 can create a 3/3 beast, then recuperating one loyalty if an opponent controls more creatures than you.

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While it's unwise to judge Planeswalkers solely on their ultimate abilities, Garruk's -7 is a creature-focused deck's dream, allowing you to tutor for a creature and put it directly into play during each of your end steps. For four mana, Garruk, Unleashed is a solid means of generating additional creatures or buffing those you already control.

Garruk, Primal Hunter is an archetypal mono-green Planeswalker that, like many Garruk cards, synergizes with sizable creatures. For five mana, this three-loyalty Garruk's +1 creatures a 3/3 Beast token, allowing you to reliably generate a creature token each turn, making it a solid choice for token-based Commander decks.

Garruk's -3 notably allows you to draw a number of cards equal to the greatest power among creatures you control, meaning that the turn in which Garruk is played, it can potentially get you out of a pinch by refilling your hand with new answers. For those able to get Garruk in the range of its ultimate ability, its -6 creates a 6/6 Wurm token for each land you control, instantly creating what is often a game-winning board state.

Printed in Throne of Eldrain, Garruk, Cursed Huntsman is a solid Golgari (black/green) Planeswalker with five loyalty. Though toting a steep mana value of six, Garruk can offer a lot of value to creature-heavy decks with access to black and green mana. In addition to being able to populate your board state with wolves, Garruk's -3 ability can take out one of your opponent's creatures while simultaneously drawing you a card.

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If you're able to utilize these wolves or a proliferation effect to increase Garruk's loyalty, its -6 ability permanently improves your creatures for the rest of the game, providing an emblem that causes your creatures to gain +3/+3 and trample.

Garruk Relentless is among the most unique Garruk cards to ever see print, functioning as the first double-sided Planeswalker in the game's history. Entering the battlefield as a three-loyalty planeswalker for four mana, Garruk has two 0 abilities; one that can create a 2/2 wolf token, and one that can cause Garruk to deal three damage to any creature while that creature deals damage equal to its power to Garruk.

While dealing damage to your own Planeswalker may not seem great, as soon as Garruk's loyalty hits two or less, it transforms into the black Planeswalker, Garruk, the Veil-Cursed. Once transformed, this multifarious Planeswalker can create 1/1 wolf tokens with deathtouch, tutor for creatures at the cost of one sacrificed creature, or provide each of your creatures with a temporary buff based on the number of creatures in your graveyard, making this Garruk a solid fit for Aristocrats Commander decks.

The first Garruk to ever see print back in Lorwyn, Garruk Wildspeaker set the standard for mono-green Planeswalkers and still holds up to this day. For four mana, this three loyalty Planeswalker totes a great +1 ability, capable of providing mana ramp by untapping two lands. In addition to being able to provide ramp, Garruk's -1 can assist your board state by creating a 3/3 beast token.

Lastly, Garruk's easy-to-access -4 ultimate ability can help push damage through to your opponents, providing each of your creatures with +3/+3 and trample until the end of the turn. While Garruk Wildspeaker is among the simplest Garruks, it can provide noteworthy value to green decks through additional creatures or mana ramp when needed.

Though mana intensive at six mana, Garruk, Caller of Beasts is a great inclusion in creature-focused Commander decks that feature creatures with notably high mana costs. First and foremost, this Garruk's +1 ability allows you to reveal the top five cards of your library, putting each creature revealed this way into your hand. This means that as soon as it hits the table, this Garruk can potentially draw you up to five cards.

However, if you already have great cards in your hand, Garruk's -3 can be used to instantly put a creature from your hand onto the battlefield, subverting even the highest of mana costs. In the off chance you're able to activate this Garruk's ultimate ability, it provides a stellar emblem that allows you to tutor for a creature any time you cast a creature spell, even putting that card directly into play.

Though the most mana-intensive Garruk to ever see print, demanding a cost of seven mana, Garruk, Apex Predator totes an impressive suite of four activated abilities that allow it to flexibly provide various forms of value. With two +1 abilities, Garruk can destroy opponents' Planeswalkers with ease or create 3/3 beast tokens with deathtouch. In addition to being able to remove Planeswalkers, Garruk's -3 can be used to remove troublesome creatures, even causing you to gain life equal to the target's toughness.

If you're able to activate the Apex Predator's -8 ultimate ability, you can mark another player for a swift end, forcing an emblem upon them that causes creatures to gain a staggering +5/+5 and trample whenever they attack that player. In Golgari decks with access to a substantial amount of mana ramp, Garruk, Apex Predator is a worthwhile inclusion that can simultaneously serve as removal, a token generator, and a finisher.

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Staff Writer, Paul DiSalvo is a writer, comic creator, animation lover, and game design enthusiast currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts. He has studied creative writing at The New Hampshire Institute of Art and Otis College of Art and Design, and currently writes for TheGamer. In addition to writing, he directs and produces the podcast, "How Ya Dyin'?" He enjoys collecting comics, records, and wins in Magic: The Gathering.