Predatory Wurm MTG Card


Predatory Wurm - Core Set 2021
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wurm
Abilities Vigilance
Released2020-07-03
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2021
Set codeM21
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number338
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJason A. Engle

Key Takeaways

  1. Predatory Wurm can turn card trades to your favor by necessitating multiple opponent resources.
  2. Its synergy with ramp spells allows for early deployment, tipping the game’s pace.
  3. Non-instant yet impactful, the wurm influences instant spell strategies with its presence.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance (Attacking doesn't cause this creature to tap.) Predatory Wurm gets +2/+2 as long as you control a Garruk planeswalker.

"The strong eat. The weak are eaten. That's the way of things." —Garruk Wildspeaker


Card Pros

Card Advantage: In the context of the Predatory Wurm, the card advantage comes from its sheer presence on the board. While it doesn’t allow direct drawing of cards, its formidable size can often demand multiple cards from an opponent to be dealt with, effectively leading to a card advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Predatory Wurm doesn’t offer direct resource acceleration in terms of adding extra mana, its potential synergy with green’s manifold ramp spells means it can be played much earlier than expected, putting you ahead on the resource curve and pressuring your opponent sooner.

Instant Speed: While the Predatory Wurm is not an instant itself, its presence can influence how you utilize your instants. Knowing that you have a looming threat on the board enables you to keep your mana open for other instant speed interactions, having already established a significant threat that must be addressed by your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To play Predatory Wurm, a player often needs to adhere to certain conditions or effects that mandate discarding another card. This can be particularly taxing when hand size is precious, diminishing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: Predatory Wurm requires a dedicated amount of green mana which may not always be conveniently available, especially in multi-colored decks that are less focused on green. This could delay its deployment to the battlefield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the creature comes with a robust stat line, casting a substantial creature like Predatory Wurm can be costly in terms of mana. For its mana value, players might find that alternative creatures or spells could provide more versatility or immediate board impact.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Predatory Wurm packs a punch in green-centric decks, especially ones that capitalize on power-based synergies. Its impactful presence on the battlefield can adapt to various playstyles, thriving in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: With its variable power linked to the number of forests you control, Predatory Wurm seamlessly slots into land-matter decks, opening up opportunities for explosive turns especially when combined with cards that can manipulate land count.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Predatory Wurm stands out as a solid contender. Its ability to scale in power makes it a formidable threat that can evolve and respond to the shifting dynamics of your game environment.


How to beat

Predatory Wurm presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield, boasting significant power that can swiftly diminish an opponent’s life total. If you find yourself facing this imposing creature in Magic: The Gathering, it’s essential to approach the situation with a strategy in mind. Cards capable of removing creatures from play, such as “Path to Exile” or “Doom Blade,” are effective tools for dealing with the Wurm before it can cause too much havoc.

Controlling the tempo of the game is crucial when navigating around such threats. Permission spells like “Counterspell” or “Mana Leak” can prevent the Wurm from ever entering the battlefield, while utility spells like “Unsummon” can return it to the owner’s hand, buying you precious time. In addition to these, employing a robust defense with creatures that have deathtouch or sufficient toughness to withstand the Wurm’s assault can also turn the tides in your favor. It’s all about the right timing and resource management to ensure you’re well-prepared for any colossal creatures that may land on the playing field.

Ultimately, keeping the pressure on and maintaining board presence will help safeguard against threats like Predatory Wurm. With tactical play and a well-constructed deck, overcoming such powerful cards becomes a manageable feat, ensuring your position as a formidable player in the realm of Magic: The Gathering.


Cards like Predatory Wurm

Predatory Wurm is a powerful creature card that reinforces the ranks of beasts in Magic: The Gathering. In creature comparisons, it often goes head-to-head with cards like Leatherback Baloth, a formidable green creature known for its sheer size relative to its casting cost. However, Predatory Wurm distinguishes itself with the potential to become even stronger if its controller owns a creature with power 4 or greater, unlike Leatherback Baloth which has a fixed power and toughness.

Another similar contender is Scaled Behemoth, a creature that not only matches the Wurm’s power level but also boasts hexproof, making it a less vulnerable target for removal. While Predatory Wurm lacks hexproof, its variable power range, tied to the board state, could surpass the Behemoth with the proper setup, offering a more dynamic play pattern. Then we have Blastoderm, which comes with the fading keyword, limiting its lifespan on the battlefield. Conversely, Predatory Wurm’s lasting board presence can be a decisive factor in long-drawn-out matches.

Assessing these comparisons, Predatory Wurm holds its ground among its peers, with a versatile power mechanic that could provide a tactical advantage in the evolving battlefield scenarios of Magic: The Gathering.

Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Scaled Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Blastoderm - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - Wizards Play Network 2010 (PWP10)
Scaled Behemoth - Amonkhet (AKH)
Blastoderm - Nemesis (NEM)

Cards similar to Predatory Wurm by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
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War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Predatory Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 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 Predatory Wurm and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Predatory Wurm has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Predatory Wurm may become lethal if you controlled a Garruk planeswalker and he leaves the battlefield during that turn.

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