Magic: The Gathering

Essence of the Wild

Innistrad 178 • mythic

Set: Innistrad
Collector number: 178
Rarity: Mythic
Mana cost: 3 generic mana green mana green mana green mana
Type: Creature
Colors: Green
Artist: Terese Nielsen
Market price: $0.48

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Market

What it's worth

$0.48market price via TCGplayer · Aug 20, 2026$0.41 – $0.48 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Essence of the Wild; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

As a mythic creature, this card represents a rare and powerful discovery for any player’s collection. Its ability to reshape the battlefield by turning other creatures into copies of itself makes it a unique centerpiece for those who value transformative mechanics.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Card face

What it does

Creatures you control enter as a copy of this creature.

Wander too far into the wild and it may take you for its own.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Essence of the Wild was released in 2011 as part of the Innistrad expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed during a period where Wizards of the Coast leaned heavily into top-down gothic horror themes, the card was designed to embody the shifting, predatory nature of the set's werewolf and nature-based horror lore. Its mechanical identity centers on transforming other creatures entering the battlefield into copies of itself, a unique ability that requires careful board state management.

The artwork was provided by renowned illustrator Terese Nielsen, who utilized her signature style to capture the fluid, ethereal, and slightly unsettling transformation of the forest’s inhabitants. The illustration was well-received by the player base for its evocative depiction of a creature that is simultaneously singular and plural. It remains a notable example of the artistic consistency found within the Innistrad block, reflecting the designers' goal to balance abstract magical concepts with tangible, dark fantasy aesthetics.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Essence of the Wild

Essence of the Wild is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Innistrad 178 • mythic. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

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Can I track my own copy of Essence of the Wild?

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Where does the Essence of the Wild catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Essence of the Wild is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.