Wayward Swordtooth MTG Card


Enables playing additional lands, ramping up mana bases for more significant plays earlier in the game. Can lead to card advantage but also requires careful play to avoid overextending into board wipes. Though powerful, its specific mana cost and lack of instant speed limit some deck-building versatility.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dinosaur
Abilities Ascend
Power 5
Toughness 5

Text of card

Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.) You may play an additional land on each of your turns. Wayward Swordtooth can't attack or block unless you have the city's blessing.


Cards like Wayward Swordtooth

Wayward Swordtooth has carved its niche within Magic: The Gathering as an accelerator in land-based strategies. Other cards like Azusa, Lost but Seeking also permit multiple land plays, offering a similar boost in potential mana availability. However, Wayward Swordtooth offers a 5/5 body, standing out by providing a significant creature presence on the board.

Exploration is another card that parallels Wayward Swordtooth’s land prowess by allowing an additional land play every turn, although it’s an enchantment without the benefit of a creature. Oracle of Mul Daya further extends this comparison, allowing not only additional land plays but also the top card visibility of your library and the ability to play lands from the top, which Wayward Swordtooth lacks.

Evaluating these cards, Wayward Swordtooth shines with its dominant power and toughness, advantageous for both ramping up lands and offering a considerable threat. Even as it restricts attacks or blocking without the city’s blessing, its other attributes make it a compelling choice for players focusing on a land-centric strategy in the game.

Azusa, Lost but Seeking - MTG Card versions
Exploration - MTG Card versions
Oracle of Mul Daya - MTG Card versions
Azusa, Lost but Seeking - MTG Card versions
Exploration - MTG Card versions
Oracle of Mul Daya - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Wayward Swordtooth. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Five-color LandsFive-color Lands GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024
Five-color RampFive-color Ramp GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back
Abzan LandsAbzan Lands GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wayward Swordtooth allows players to play an additional land on each of their turns, which can lead to significant card advantage by rapidly depleting their hand of land cards and thus increasing the chances of drawing into non-land spells.

Resource Acceleration: This aspect is particularly powerful, as it enables increased mana availability much more quickly. It’s a solid way to ramp up one’s mana base, allowing for more impactful plays or earlier casting of high-cost creatures and spells.

Instant Speed: While Wayward Swordtooth doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to put multiple lands into play without using the stack allows seamless development of your board state. This bypasses the need for instant speed interaction and can be especially beneficial after an opponent’s board wipe or end-step actions, preparing you for a strong follow-up play.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: The Wayward Swordtooth requires a specific mana combination to play, demanding one green and two generic mana. This can be restraining for decks that run on a tight color curve or those that rely on multiple colors, making it less versatile outside of mono-green or two-colored decks which focus on green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Wayward Swordtooth is costlier compared to other creatures that enable lands to be played additionally. In some cases, players may find that for the same cost or less, there are creatures which not only allow the extra land drop but also bring additional abilities to the table, potentially offering a greater return on investment.

Discard Requirement: Although Wayward Swordtooth doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, its ascend ability, which grants you the benefits once you control ten or more permanents, can pressure players to prematurely play extra lands or overextend their board presence, potentially making them vulnerable to mass removal spells. This can inadvertently lead to a situation where players might have to discard due to hand size limits before achieving the city’s blessing.


Reasons to Include Wayward Swordtooth in Your Collection

Versatility: Wayward Swordtooth offers a dynamic option for a variety of deck types with its ability to allow you to play an additional land on each of your turns. This flexibility can be a boon for landfall strategies or ramp decks aiming to play high-cost spells ahead of schedule.

Combo Potential: This dinosaur’s synergy with cards that benefit from land drops or high land counts can lead to explosive turns. It’s a staple in decks looking to maximize the value of landfall triggers or quickly reach the city’s blessing with its ascend keyword.

Meta-Relevance: As games often hinge on resource development, Wayward Swordtooth can be a key piece in ensuring land drops are consistent. In formats where fast mana acceleration is crucial, having an early Wayward Swordtooth can provide the edge you need against opponents, making it a relevant inclusion in your arsenal.


How to beat

Overcoming the challenge of Wayward Swordtooth in your MTG matches requires strategic moves. This potent dinosaur allows players to play an additional land on each of their turns, rapidly accelerating their mana base. To tackle this creature, removal spells are key. Cards like Path to Exile or Assassin’s Trophy provide an immediate answer by removing Wayward Swordtooth from the game or forcing its controller to sacrifice it.

Board control is another effective strategy. Since Wayward Swordtooth can’t attack or block unless its controller has the city’s blessing, it’s relatively harmless in the early game. Utilize this time to develop a strong presence and pressure your opponent before they can take full advantage of the additional lands.

Finally, make use of land disruption cards. Blood Moon can turn nonbasic lands into basic Mountains, which simplifies the management of Wayward Swordtooth’s advantage. Field of Ruin and Ghost Quarter can target and destroy key lands, undercutting the benefit that Wayward Swordtooth provides. By adopting these tactics, you’ll bolster your chances of coming out on top against this formidable dinosaur.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering means being prepared for every scenario. With Wayward Swordtooth, you unlock potent mana acceleration, making it a formidable asset in ramp or landfall decks. While its value in specific builds is irrefutable, balancing your deck to mitigate its limitations is crucial. To counteract removal spells and maximize your land plays, diversify your strategies. Delve deeper into the world of MTG with us, where you can learn to optimize your deck’s performance, explore combos, and adapt to any challenge that arises. Elevate your tactics and fortify your collection with our insights.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wayward Swordtooth MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and Secret Lair Drop, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Wayward Swordtooth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wayward Swordtooth Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1502015NormalBlackChris Rahn
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 13922015NormalBorderlessDan Mumford & Thomas Roach
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5762015NormalBlackChris Rahn
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3312015NormalBlackChris Rahn
52023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2632015NormalBlackChris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wayward Swordtooth has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wayward Swordtooth card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-01-19 A permanent is any object on the battlefield, including tokens and lands. Spells and emblems aren't permanents.
2018-01-19 Ascend on a permanent isn't a triggered ability and doesn't use the stack. Players can respond to a spell that will give you your tenth permanent, but they can't respond to getting the city's blessing once you control that tenth permanent. This means that if your tenth permanent is a land you play, players can't respond before you get the city's blessing.
2018-01-19 If you cast a spell with ascend, you don't get the city's blessing until it resolves. Players may respond to that spell by trying to change whether you get the city's blessing.
2018-01-19 If you control ten permanents but don't control a permanent or resolving spell with ascend, you don't get the city's blessing. For example, if you control ten permanents, lose control of one, then cast Golden Demise, you won't have the city's blessing and the spell will affect creatures you control.
2018-01-19 If your tenth permanent enters the battlefield and then a permanent leaves the battlefield immediately afterwards (most likely due to the "Legend Rule" or due to being a creature with 0 toughness), you get the city's blessing before it leaves the battlefield.
2018-01-19 Once you have the city's blessing, you have it for the rest of the game, even if you lose control of some or all of your permanents. The city's blessing isn't a permanent itself and can't be removed by any effect.
2018-01-19 Wayward Swordtooth's middle ability is cumulative if you control more than one. It's also cumulative with other effects that let you play additional lands, such as the one from Enter the Unknown.