Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Wall
Abilities Defender
Power 0
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. The card can shift momentum by chipping away at opponents’ life without card investment.
  2. Supports desert synergy, triggering allied card abilities without the need for instant speed.
  3. May be less efficient in fast-paced games due to its somewhat high ability cost.

Text of card

Defender : Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs deals 1 damage to target player. Activate this ability only if you control a Desert or there is a Desert card in your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, but its ability to tap for damage can chip away at your opponent’s resources. This can slowly shift the game’s momentum in your favor as you deal damage while developing your board without investing additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact creature can be an asset in a deck focusing on deserts. Even though it doesn’t ramp you like traditional resource acceleration, it supports the desert synergy, potentially activating abilities of other desert-related cards more quickly to further your game plan.

Instant Speed: While not operating at instant speed, Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs offers a different kind of flexibility. You can use its tap ability any time you could cast an instant, allowing for strategic plays during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn to safely apply pressure without overcommitting to the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t require a discard, which is not a downside in itself. However, for players looking for synergy with graveyard mechanics or madness, this card may not fit the strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs has a colorless mana cost which allows it to fit into any deck, but to activate its ability, you need specifically to tap a desert. This requirement can be restrictive as it necessitates having a desert on the battlefield, potentially limiting its effectiveness across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card itself is low cost, it has an activated ability that can become mana-intense. In the long run, consistently tapping a mana-producing desert to deal one damage may not be the most mana-efficient strategy, particularly in faster-paced games or those centered around significant creature combat.


Reasons to Include Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs can be a solid defensive option in any deck. Its ability to block early aggressive threats plus its potential to deal damage to the opponent makes it a two-fold asset. This makes it suitable for a variety of decks focused on defense or incremental damage.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in a deck that capitalizes on artifact synergies. With its ability to ping opponents thanks to its activated ability, it can complement strategies that aim to win through direct damage or by controlling the board state.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that sees a fair share of creature-based aggressive decks, Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs provides resilience. As games go longer and the battlefield gets crowded, having a defender that can also impact life totals can be the key to victory.


How to beat

Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs is known for its defensive capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. As an artifact creature with the unique ability to deal direct damage to opponents under certain conditions, it can be both a fortification against early game onslaughts and a persistent source of damage over time. To effectively counter this card, players should consider utilizing artifact removal spells, such as Abrade or Disenchant, to dispose of it efficiently. Keeping the ability to remove problematic permanents can swing the momentum in your favor, rendering the opponent’s defenses less effective.

Another strategy is to manage your opponent’s desert count, which fuels Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs’ ability. Effects that allow you to exert control over land cards directly can impede their ability to harness the wall’s power. Finally, evasion tactics such as flying or unblockable creatures can bypass the wall entirely, allowing you to mitigate its defensive purpose and concentrate on pressuring your opponent’s life total directly. By combining removal, land control, and evasion, you can effectively neutralize Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs and maintain the upper hand.


Cards like Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs

The Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs stands as a notable card in MTG, offering a unique blend of defense and potential damage to opponents. A resemblance can be drawn to the card Wall of Omens. While Wall of Omens can’t deal damage, it offers a subtle card advantage by drawing a card upon entering the battlefield, making it an excellent defensive option that also cycles through your deck.

Another card that echoes the characteristics of our Egyptian-themed wall is the Guardian Idol. It transforms from an inert wall into an attacking creature, although it doesn’t provide direct damage like the Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs. Guardian Idol compensates with the ability to become a mana source, which could be crucial in tight moments.

Analyzing these alternatives, Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs maintains a distinct position, especially in decks that exploit deserts. Its ability to deal damage without the need to attack can be invaluable in certain strategies, making it a card with a strong niche appeal among defensive artifacts in Magic: The Gathering.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Guardian Idol - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Guardian Idol - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Cards similar to Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
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Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Steel Overseer - MTG Card versions
Wurm's Tooth - MTG Card versions
Liquimetal Coating - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Winter Orb - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Amulet of Kroog - Rinascimento (RIN)
Nacre Talisman - Ice Age (ICE)
Howling Mine - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Essence Bottle - Tempest (TMP)
Emerald Medallion - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Scrying Glass - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Cursed Totem - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Tsabo's Web - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Millikin - Odyssey (ODY)
Ark of Blight - Scourge (SCG)
Surestrike Trident - Darksteel (DST)
Energy Chamber - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Water Gun Balloon Game - Unhinged (UNH)
Angel's Feather - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Demon's Horn - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Steel Overseer - Magic 2011 (M11)
Wurm's Tooth - Magic 2011 (M11)
Liquimetal Coating - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Igor Kieryluk.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 1682015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
22020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 2822015normalblackIgor Kieryluk

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-07-14 If an ability checks whether you control a Desert or there is a Desert card in your graveyard, having more than one doesn’t matter. Controlling one is the same as controlling five. There is also no extra bonus for both controlling one and having one in your graveyard.

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