Academy Wall MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 2022-09-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria United |
| Set code | DMU |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 41 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Adam Paquette |
Text of card
Defender Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Once the Society of Mishra took control, the Tolarian Academy at Lat-Nam became a haven for dark research.
Cards like Academy Wall
Academy Wall, a unique piece in the world of Magic: The Gathering defenders, shares similarities with other wall-type creatures. Notably, it’s similar to Wall of Omens, a card that also provides a barrier but with an added bonus of card draw upon entering the battlefield. However, Academy Wall stands out with its ability to enable graveyard strategies, potentially recovering powerful spells or creatures.
Considering Wall of Blossoms, which, like Wall of Omens, offers card draw, Academy Wall doesn’t facilitate immediate card advantage. But, if the game plan revolves around setting up the graveyard for future plays, Academy Wall could be a more strategic choice. Guard Gomazoa presents another comparable card with its ability to prevent combat damage, suggesting a different defense focus compared to the spell-retrieving feature of Academy Wall.
Each option holds a distinct role in a deck’s strategy; while Academy Wall doesn’t immediately impact the board with card draw or combat tricks, its specific ability to interact with the graveyard can unlock potent synergies and set up game-winning plays in longer, more drawn-out games.
Cards similar to Academy Wall by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Academy Wall. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Esper Control | Free form | Standard Pauper Tournament Feb 2024 | |
| UBRG | Pauper | Pauper Challenge 32 2024-01-07 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Academy Wall is engineered to steadily strengthen your hand by allowing card draw each time you cast a spell from the graveyard. This ability is a powerhouse for decks that frequently harness graveyard resources, ensuring that your grip on the game strengthens with each recursive play.
Resource Acceleration: This towering defender aids in resource acceleration by unlocking your graveyard as an extension of your hand. With capability to cast arcane scripts directly from the boneyard, the Academy Wall indeed transforms your graveyard into a treasure trove of spells, effectively multiplying the assets at your disposal.
Instant Speed: The very essence of the Academy Wall lies in its synergetic relationship with spells that can be cast at instant speed. By promoting a strategy that revolves around quick, reactionary play, the presence of the Academy Wall on the battlefield encourages a dynamic and resilient demeanor, turning each fleeting opportunity into a potential turning point in the duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When playing Academy Wall, you may run into scenarios where the card you need to discard could have been more advantageous if played, leading to potential loss of momentum.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana required to cast this card encompasses a specific color alignment, which can be challenging for decks that do not consistently generate that type of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana cost, the Wall might not be the most mana-efficient option for a defensive creature, possibly diverting valuable resources from other pivotal plays during the game.
Reasons to Include Academy Wall Mtg Card in Your Collection
Versatility: Academy Wall can serve as a formidable defender in many varieties of blue-based control decks or arcane-themed builds. Given its status as a wall with defender, it integrates seamlessly into strategies seeking to prolong the game and capitalize on powerful late-game plays.
Combo Potential: This card boasts immense synergy with spells and abilities that benefit from instants or sorceries being cast from a graveyard. Coupled with mechanics like Prowess or Magecraft, Academy Wall can become a cornerstone for intricate and potent combinations.
Meta-Relevance: In metagames where graveyard interaction and spell-slinging are prevalent, Academy Wall proves to be particularly influential. As a reliable defensive option, it can help navigate through aggressive opponents while setting up for game-changing turns in longer, more drawn-out matches.
How to Beat Academy Wall
Academy Wall is a unique defender card with prowess in stalling games in MTG. It stands out due to its ability to block almost any threat, making it an integral part of defensive strategies. Unlike other defenders, Academy Wall doesn’t merely prevent damage—it also has the potential to grow stronger whenever you cast a noncreature spell, thanks to its prowess ability.
To effectively navigate around Academy Wall, a versatile approach is necessary. Removal spells that bypass its high toughness, such as Path to Exile or Murderous Rider, can be particularly effective. Enchantment-based removal options, like Pacifism, can also render the Wall moot without having to destroy it. Moreover, flying creatures are a reliable strategy as well, since Academy Wall, despite its sturdiness, cannot block creatures with flying. Utilizing spells that shuffle the defender back into the library or transform it into a less impactful creature can also disrupt your opponent’s game plan. Therefore, while Academy Wall can be a formidable obstacle, there are various tactics within MTG’s vast card pool to overcome this particular challenge.
In essence, dealing with Academy Wall requires a tactical approach that leverages removal, evasion, or transformational effects, ensuring that your path to victory remains clear even against the bulwark of Academy Wall’s defense.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Academy Wall MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United, 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 Academy Wall 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Academy Wall has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Academy Wall card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-09-09 | An ability that triggers when a player casts a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability resolves even if that spell is countered. |
| 2022-09-09 | You draw a card and discard a card while Academy Wall's last ability is resolving. No player may take actions between those events, and nothing can happen. |