Ascendant Packleader
Creature — Wolf
This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it if you control a permanent with mana value 4 or greater.
Whenever you cast a spell with mana value 4 or greater, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Innistrad: Crimson Vow Promos
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #8631
Ascendant Packleader enters as a 2/3 for one mana in any deck casting enough high-power spells — Ghalta, Primal Hunger alone triggers it twice — and it grows every time you cast a creature with power 4 or greater. The cost is nearly zero; the upside in the right shell is a 6/7 or larger by turn four.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Tovolar, Dire Overlord
Tovolar, Dire Overlord runs a Wolf and Werewolf tribal engine where flipping creatures naturally pushes power well above four, so Ascendant Packleader picks up counters consistently while also benefiting from Tovolar's card draw whenever it attacks.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Ascendant Packleader earns a slot in any green stompy or big-creature build — one mana for a body that scales with the threats you're already casting is an easy inclusion. Competitive 60-card formats like Modern and Pioneer have access to it, but a vanilla 2/3 that needs a critical mass of high-power creatures to pop off competes poorly against purpose-built aggro curves; it sees essentially no play there. Legacy and Vintage have the same problem compounded — the bar for one-drops is too high for a conditional grower. Commander is where this card actually lives.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Ghalta, Primal HungerGwenna, Eyes of GaeaAscendant PackleaderAshnod's Altar
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite colorless mana; Infinite commander casts; Infinite death triggers; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Ghalta, Primal HungerGwenna, Eyes of GaeaAscendant PackleaderAltar of Dementia
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite commander casts; Infinite death triggers; Infinite mill; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite self-mill; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Ghalta, Primal HungerGwenna, Eyes of GaeaAscendant PackleaderBlasting Station
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite commander casts; Infinite damage; Infinite death triggers; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Ghalta, Primal HungerGwenna, Eyes of GaeaAscendant PackleaderPhyrexian Altar
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature; Infinite ETB; Infinite LTB; Infinite colored mana; Infinite commander casts; Infinite death triggers; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite storm count
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data isn't currently available for Ascendant Packleader, so check Scryfall or your preferred vendor for the current market rate. Given that it's a single-printing rare with a narrow but real home in Commander, it tends to sit in the bulk-to-mid range — worth picking up cheap if you're building the deck.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.