Burly Breaker // Dire-Strain Demolisher
Creature — Human Werewolf // Creature — Werewolf
Ward 
(Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays .)
Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.)
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
- Price
- $0.16
- EDHREC rank
- #14764
Burly Breaker // Dire-Strain Demolisher lands as a 3/3 trampler that replaces itself on the way down, then flips into a 6/6 trampler with a relevant triggered ability the moment your wolves outnumber your opponents' creatures. The front face is a reasonable rate for tribal decks that want every wolf body they can find; Tovolar, Dire Overlord specifically wants this card because it both triggers his draw condition and advances the day-to-night count.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Tovolar, Dire Overlord
Tovolar, Dire Overlord draws cards when your wolves and werewolves deal combat damage, and Burly Breaker // Dire-Strain Demolisher gives the deck a self-replacing threat that flips into a punishing 6/6 — exactly the kind of card Tovolar wants to put into attack-heavy lines.
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 |
Burly Breaker // Dire-Strain Demolisher is a Commander card through and through — the tribal payoff and slow transformation axis have almost no competitive traction in Modern, Pioneer, or Legacy, where six mana for a 6/6 with a conditional trigger doesn't clear the bar. In Commander, werewolf tribal is niche but functional, and the card earns its slot there because it replaces itself immediately and presents a serious clock once flipped. Outside of focused wolf/werewolf builds, there's no compelling reason to run it in any 60-card format.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.16 bulk tier
At $0.16, Burly Breaker // Dire-Strain Demolisher is deep bulk — a zero-risk pickup for any werewolf build. Bulk tribal cards at this price point almost never appreciate unless the tribe breaks into competitive formats, which wolves have not, so treat it as a cheap functional piece rather than a hold.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Tovolar, Dire Overlord
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.