Barbtooth Wurm MTG Card

Barbtooth Wurm can yield card advantage by outmatching creatures in combat, potentially netting a two-for-one gain. Though lacking direct resource acceleration, its formidable board presence can indirectly bolster your mana strategies. The wurm’s ability impacts the Declare Blockers step, influencing opponents’ play similar to instant-speed spells.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Wurm
Power 6
Toughness 4

Cards like Barbtooth Wurm

The Barbtooth Wurm is a formidable presence on the battlefield, sharing the stage with other heavy hitters of the creature world in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a passing resemblance to Rumbling Baloth, a creature of similar mana cost which also has a strong attack and defense, making it a staple in green decks that emphasize brute force. What sets Barbtooth Wurm apart is its formidable presence that can dictate the pace of the match.

Exploring the creature spectrum further, we find Craw Wurm, another classic green creature that shares Barbtooth Wurm’s lack of additional abilities but boasts an equally intimidating power and toughness. The comparison highlights how often green aligns with strong, unadorned creature cards designed to pose a straightforward threat to opponents. The strength of these cards lies in their simplicity and the pressure they exert just by being cast.

On evaluation, Barbtooth Wurm fits snugly into the echelon of straightforward, powerful green creatures capable of turning the tides of battle in Magic: The Gathering, especially for players who favor a direct and forceful approach in their deck construction.

Rumbling Baloth - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rumbling Baloth - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Activation of Barbtooth Wurm’s ability can create opportunities for card advantage, as defeating creatures in combat may equate to a two-for-one scenario, removing an opponent’s card while keeping yours on the field.

Resource Acceleration: Although Barbtooth Wurm doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its formidable presence can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by dominating the battlefield and protecting mana-generating creatures or strategies.

Instant Speed: While the Barbtooth Wurm itself is not an instant, the threat of activating its powerful combat abilities during the ‘Declare Blockers’ step can serve a similar role, forcing opponents to play around it as if it were an instant-speed interaction.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barbtooth Wurm asks players to discard another creature card to utilize its full potential, which can be a setback when your hand is already depleted or the creature cards are vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With its cost demanding a combination of green mana and generic mana, it may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that struggle with mana fixing, thereby limiting the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that offers no immediate board impact or protection like hexproof or haste, its mana value can be seen as steep when compared to other creatures in its mana range, potentially slowing down your game tempo.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbtooth Wurm offers an adaptable presence on the battlefield, easily sliding into green-based ramp or midrange decks. Its robust power makes it a decent choice for those aiming to apply significant pressure on the opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: With the right synergies, such as cards that care about creature power or ways to unlock trample, this card’s substantial stats can transform into a game-winning strategy by working in tandem with your deck’s overarching game plan.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, particularly one that favors combat-centric interactions, Barbtooth Wurm can play a major role. Its ability to stand up against many common threats makes it a noteworthy contender within creature-focused metas.

How to beat

Barbtooth Wurm is a creature that commands attention on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering due to its formidable power and toughness. Facing such a creature requires a strategy that can neutralize it effectively. One effective way to overcome a Barbtooth Wurm is through control spells that can either exile it or counter it before it even hits the field. These kinds of spells bypass the wurm’s sheer size, dealing with the threat before it can become a problem for your life total.

Removal spells are your next line of defense, with options like Murderous Rider or Doom Blade allowing for instant removal. For those preferring to avoid one-for-one trades, board clear spells like Wrath of God can reset the playing field. It also pays to remember the role of combat tricks in these scenarios; a well-timed Giant Growth on a smaller blocking creature can turn the tides without using up your key removal spells. When it comes down to it, handling a Barbtooth Wurm is about utilizing your arsenal effectively and maintaining board control to ensure these massive creatures don’t overrun your defenses.

Ultimately, beating a Barbtooth Wurm is a matter of having the right cards at the right time and playing them wisely. Planning your deck with a mix of control, removal, and combat tricks will provide a well-rounded response to the threat of this, and similar, formidable MTG creatures.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbtooth Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Starter 1999, 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 Barbtooth Wurm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Barbtooth Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 1999-07-01. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 1221997NormalBlackRebecca Guay
21999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1251997NormalWhiteRebecca Guay

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Barbtooth Wurm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal