Wirewood Guardian MTG Card
2003-05-26 - Number 132
2010-11-08 - Number A90
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Mutant |
| Abilities | Cycling,Forestcycling |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 6 |
Text of card
Forestcycling (, Discard this card from your hand: Search your library for a forest card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)
Tall as a tree and probably related.
Cards like Wirewood Guardian
In the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering, Wirewood Guardian finds its niche. A formidable creature with a stark similarity to cards like Norwood Riders and Skyshroud Troll, it brings a sizeable body to the battlefield. However, Wirewood Guardian stands out with its affinity for Forests, which not only provides a mana-fixing ability but also synergizes with Elf and Forest-based decks.
Comparatively, Norwood Riders may be easier to cast, but it lacks the versatility and raw power of Wirewood Guardian. Meanwhile, Skyshroud Troll grants regeneration, a useful trick for maintaining board presence. Despite this, it doesn’t match the potential mana acceleration and deck thinning Wirewood Guardian offers. We also see Llanowar Elite, an Elf that can become massive in the late game; however, its initial smaller presence makes Wirewood Guardian a preferred choice for immediate board impact.
As a result, when examining creatures that can shape the game’s momentum and influence mana availability, Wirewood Guardian secures a respectable position. With its substantial toughness and utility, it not only fortifies the field but also enhances the strategic depth for players leveraging Green’s splendor in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Wirewood Guardian by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: In the realm of MTG, possessing a card like Wirewood Guardian can be pivotal for gaining card advantage. Its ability to fetch a Forest card from your deck when discarded means you’re effectively replacing the card in your hand while setting up future plays.
Resource Acceleration: Wirewood Guardian assists in ramping up your resources. It can be an enabler in elf-themed decks, quickly escalating your mana production capabilities with its substantial 6/6 body ready to tap for mana with various elf synergies.
Instant Speed: While this creature does not operate at instant speed, its synergy with cards that allow you to play creatures as though they had flash means Wirewood Guardian can surprise opponents by swinging in unexpectedly during their turn or right before yours, potentially altering the course of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wirewood Guardian necessitates discarding a card for its cycling ability, which could deplete your hand and be counterproductive if you’re already facing hand-size pressure.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a substantial investment of green mana, limiting its seamless integration into multi-color decks that might not consistently produce enough green mana symbols.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a seven-mana cost for a creature that provides no immediate board impact can be quite inefficient, especially when other creatures or spells at a lower cost can provide competitive stats or valuable abilities.
Reasons to Include Wirewood Guardian in Your Collection
Versatility: Wirewood Guardian is not just a creature; it’s a Swiss Army knife in green decks. With its ability to be fetched by elf-related search effects, it adds a layer of adaptability to elf synergistic strategies or decks that prioritize high mana curve creatures.
Combo Potential: This forest cycling card fits snugly into combos that revolve around creature or land-based synergies. It can also contribute to graveyard strategies, enhancing the power of cards that interact with creatures in the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with green ramp or elf tribal themes, Wirewood Guardian proves its worth. Its 6/6 body for 7 mana holds its own on the battlefield, and the cycling ability ensures it’s never a dead draw.
How to beat
Encountering Wirewood Guardian in an MTG match can be daunting, especially when it leaps into play, potentially towering over many common creatures with its significant power and toughness. The key to overcoming this formidable foe lies in the multiple strategies and card choices available within the game. Understanding that Wirewood Guardian is a creature based on Forest synergy, it’s essential to sidestep its potential as a land fetcher.
Removal spells are your primary weapon against this green-eyed giant. Since it doesn’t carry any natural defense abilities like hexproof or indestructible, a single well-timed Doom Blade or Path to Exile can send it packing before it can make an impactful presence on the battlefield. Additionally, countering it upon casting can be very effective; spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak ensure it never touches the field.
Board wipes also serve as a clean sweep against a horde that Wirewood Guardian could represent. Be it a Wrath of God or a Damnation, a clear board means that any power gained from companions like itself is immediately negated. Thus, while Wirewood Guardian might seem overwhelming at first glance, a strategic approach and appropriate card choice are your ace in the hole for defeating this verdant behemoth.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wirewood Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Magic Online Theme Decks, 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 Wirewood Guardian and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Wirewood Guardian Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2010-11-08. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-05-26 | Scourge | SCG | 132 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 2010-11-08 | Magic Online Theme Decks | TD0 | A90 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wirewood Guardian has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wirewood Guardian card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-02-01 | Forestcycling is a form of cycling. Any ability that triggers on a card being cycled also triggers on Forestcycling this card. Any ability that stops a cycling ability from being activated also stops Forestcycling from being activated. |
| 2009-02-01 | Forestcycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with Forestcycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not. |
| 2009-02-01 | Unlike the normal cycling ability, Forestcycling doesn’t allow you to draw a card. Instead, it lets you search your library for a Forest card. After you find a Forest card in your library, you reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. |
| 2009-02-01 | You can choose to find any card with the Forest land type, including nonbasic lands. You can also choose not to find a card, even if there is a Forest card in your library. |