Wild Slash MTG Card


Wild Slash efficiently maintains board presence, removing blockers and threats at a low cost. Ferocious mechanic enhances Wild Slash, bypassing damage prevention when conditions are met. Countering Wild Slash involves playing creatures with more than 2 toughness or using hexproof.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Ferocious

Text of card

Ferocious — If you control a creature with power 4 or greater, damage can't be prevented this turn. Wild Slash deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

Never mistake deception for cleverness.


Cards like Wild Slash

Wild Slash is a dynamic force in the realm of direct damage spells in MTG. It sits alongside the iconic Shock, both sharing the ability to dish out 2 damage to any target. But Wild Slash has an edge with its ferocious condition, potentially preventing damage prevention to that target. Unlike Shock, the addition of this clause can turn the tide in games, allowing for unstoppable effects against creatures or planeswalkers.

Another comparable card is Lightning Strike, which delivers a more potent punch with 3 damage, but at the cost of an extra mana. Wild Slash, on the other hand, is leaner for early game strategies due to its single red mana requirement. Magma Spray offers a different advantage; it deals 2 damage like Wild Slash but exiles the creature if it would die, shutting down graveyard strategies.

Wild Slash carves out its own niche in the burn category within MTG. It manages to remain a popular choice for players who value efficiency and the potential to bypass damage prevention, making it a tool for swift, definitive plays in the heat of battle.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Magma Spray - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Strike - MTG Card versions
Magma Spray - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Wild Slash by color, type and mana cost

False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions
Electrostatic Bolt - MTG Card versions
Unnatural Speed - MTG Card versions
False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
Burst Lightning - MTG Card versions
Fever Charm - MTG Card versions
Electrostatic Bolt - MTG Card versions
Unnatural Speed - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Temur ProwessTemur Prowess ModernTemur ProwessModern Preliminary 2024-04-30
Gruul ProwessGruul Prowess ModernGruul ProwessModern Preliminary 2024-04-28
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro ModernGruul AggroModern Challenge 64 2024-05-05
Boros BurnBoros Burn PioneerBoros BurnPioneer Preliminary 2024-05-01 (1)
Jeskai ProwessJeskai Prowess ModernJeskai ProwessModern Qualifier 2024-05-01

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wild Slash doesn’t directly provide card draw, but it offers an efficient way to deal with creatures or planeswalkers, maintaining board presence without losing card resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not a traditional acceleration tool, Wild Slash can remove early game blockers or threats, allowing your creatures to connect and effectively speed up your game plan.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Wild Slash at instant speed gives you the flexibility to disrupt your opponent’s plays on their turn or unexpectedly clear a path for your attack.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wild Slash doesn’t have an inherent discard requirement, it could be seen as less efficient in decks focusing on card advantages. Decks that utilize a lot of card draw might find this card less useful, as it doesn’t contribute directly to hand replenishment.

Specific Mana Cost: Wild Slash requires red mana to cast. This can make it a less versatile choice for decks that aren’t heavily red or for those that run on a tight mana base. If your deck struggles to generate the right color mana, Wild Slash could remain stuck in your hand when you need it most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its relatively low cost, in the realm of burn spells, Wild Slash can be considered to have a higher mana cost for its damage output. In a competitive environment where efficiency is key, other one-mana spells that deal two damage or have additional effects might be preferred.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wild Slash is a flexible inclusion in numerous deck types, particularly those that require a quick and efficient removal spell. Its ability to deal 2 damage to any target makes it an excellent tool for removing early-game threats or finishing off weakened opponents.

Combo Potential: With its ferocious mechanic, if you control a creature with power 4 or greater, Wild Slash can deal damage that can’t be prevented. This enables it to synergize with decks that buff creatures’ power, allowing for strategic plays that bypass damage prevention effects in the game.

Meta-Relevance: As formats often feature aggressive creature-based strategies, having an instant-speed removal like Wild Slash can be crucial. It maintains significance in the meta by being able to disrupt your opponent’s tempo while keeping your mana expenditure low.


How to beat Wild Slash

Wild Slash stands out in the realm of early game removal in Magic: The Gathering, particularly efficient against quick threats due to its Ferocious-enabled potential to cause unpreventable damage. While this card can be a thorn in the side due to its effectiveness in disrupting early creature-based strategies, there are approaches to outmaneuver its impact.

Shielding your important creatures is key. Utilizing spells that grant hexproof or indestructibility for the turn can render Wild Slash ineffective, ensuring your crucial creatures survive the initial onslaught. For those playing blue, cards like Dive Down not only give your creature hexproof but also a little bonus to toughness, often enough to surpass Wild Slash’s damage range.

Alternatively, focusing on creature cards with a toughness greater than two can be a solid strategy. Once you’re beyond the reach of this fiery instant, the threat diminishes significantly. Investing in creatures with built-in resilience to such removal, like those with persistent or undying, means even if Wild Slash does connect, your board presence is not entirely wiped away.

Considering these strategies, players can effectively navigate around Wild Slash’s destructive capability, allowing their crucial creatures to stay on the battlefield and continue to press the advantage.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wild Slash MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Pioneer Challenger Decks 2021, 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 Wild Slash and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wild Slash Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2021-10-15. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-01-23Fate ReforgedFRF 1182015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland
22021-10-15Pioneer Challenger Decks 2021Q06 82015NormalBlackRaymond Swanland

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wild Slash has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-11-24 Ferocious abilities of instants and sorceries that don’t use the word “instead” provide an additional effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve.
2014-11-24 If you control a creature with power 4 or greater as Wild Slash resolves, the ferocious ability will apply. Damage dealt that turn can’t be prevented, even if you no longer control a creature with power 4 or greater as that damage would be dealt.
2014-11-24 Wild Slash’s ferocious ability applies to all damage that would be dealt that turn, including the damage Wild Slash deals.