Wraith

Wraith
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics	6 cards 83.3% 16.7% as of Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks
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type:"Wraith"

Wraith is a black creature type used for cards that depict spirit-like apparitions that are supposed to portend the death of their beholder. These spectral undead are often shown wearing a hooded cloak that partially obscures their face (or lack thereof).

Description

The first card to bear the type was Bog Wraith in Alpha. Only five wraiths have been printed in total, until they were featured in two Universes Beyond sets. All classic black wraiths had Swampwalk. With the landwalk ability being obsoleted, the last Wraith with the ability was printed in Zendikar in 2008.

Dominaria

Bog Wraiths are found on Dominaria. As the card was first printed in Alpha and then only reprinted in core sets, they most likely come from Terisiare or The Domains.

In the Serra Angel comic, a Bog Wraith was summoned along with a vampire and a frozen shade by Aldon who used the dark amulet. The wraith needed to feed on flesh or would dissipate, so joined with Aldon to attack Dreygar to reclaim his castle. When Dreygar was killed, the bog wraith remained an advisor to Aldon.

Wyndmoor Street

Street Wraith from Future Sight is described as living in Wyndmoor Street: as it is a Futureshifted card, both the creature and the street come from a possible future, one that hadn't been explored yet during its first printing. But because the card got reprinted since then in Dominaria Remastered, it can be assumed that the street location is on Dominaria.

Jamuraa

On Jamuura, Dirtwater Wraith and Odylic Wraith were known dangers of the land. Dirtwater Wraith came to threaten the kingdom of Zhalfir, while Odylic Wraith were feared for their ability to eat their victims' memories.

Kamigawa

Bog Wraiths haunt the swamps of Takenuma on the plane of Kamigawa. (While not printed in the Kamigawa block, the flavor text of the Tenth Edition reprint informs us of this)

Zendikar

Bog Tatters haunt the swamps of Zendikar. They are said to be born of a brutal slaying.

Universes Beyond

Warhammer 40K

In 2022, Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks would see a new wraith in Canoptek Wraith, which had unblockable instead of swampwalk.

Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth features the nine ring-wraiths, or Nazgûl.

Trivia

• Woodwraith Strangler is modeled after a malevolent botanical being used in other fantasy media, rather than the spectral definition here.
• Odylic Wraith used to be subtype Undead, but this was changed to Wraith in the Grand Creature Type Update.