Gravetiller Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wurm
Abilities	Morbid,Trample
Released	2012-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Dark Ascension
Set code	DKA
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	116
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Slawomir Maniak

Key Takeaways

Gravetiller Wurm replaces lost creatures, growing stronger with each downfall.
Scavenge ability turns fallen creatures into boosts for your battlefield presence.
Flexible instant-speed scavenge catches opponents off-guard during combat.

Text of card

Trample Morbid — Gravetiller Wurm enters the battlefield with four +1/+1 counters on it if a creature died this turn.

As the creatures of the night closed in on humanity, Innistrad's primeval forces stirred, as though waking to watch the slaughter.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Gravetiller Wurm is a powerhouse when it comes to pulling ahead of your opponent. When a creature on your side falls in battle, Gravetiller Wurm harnesses that momentum, entering the battlefield with additional +1/+1 counters. Not only does this effectively replace your lost asset, but it also potentially gives you a larger and more formidable creature as part of the exchange.

Resource Acceleration: This massive creature doesn’t just intimidate with its size; it also serves as a form of resource acceleration. Should you sacrifice a creature with four or more power—a feasible task in green-centered decks—Gravetiller Wurm’s scavenge ability allows you to convert the resources you’ve invested into an immediate boost for another creature. This makes every creature that hits the graveyard a potential catalyst for growth.

Instant Speed: While Gravetiller Wurm itself may not operate at instant speed, its scavenge ability does. This gives players the flexibility to wait until the opportune moment before bolstering a creature, perhaps even mid-combat, to swing the battle in their favor. Investing your mana in creatures with the potential for surprising, instant growth can turn the tides of a match and keep your opponents guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gravetiller Wurm necessitates discarding another creature card, which means you are losing a potential blocker or attacker. This can set you back if you’re already in a tight spot and have a limited hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Gravetiller Wurm requires both green and black mana to be cast, making it less flexible for decks that don’t run both of these colors, thus potentially limiting its inclusion especially in mono-color builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher end, Gravetiller Wurm could be considered a bit slow, especially when there are other creatures in the same mana range that might bring immediate board presence or impact without any prerequisite actions.

Reasons to Include Gravetiller Wurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Gravetiller Wurm offers a unique flexibility to your gameplay. With its trample ability, it can be a formidable force in your creature-based deck, able to push through defenses and make use of excess land cards in your graveyard.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in decks that focus on self-mill or land recycling, where it can grow in power very quickly. Plus, its synergy with graveyard manipulation strategies adds a layer of depth to your tactical plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where graveyard strategies are prevalent, having Gravetiller Wurm can give you an edge. It scales effectively as the game progresses, becoming a threat that opponents must address, thus fitting well within the dynamics of ever-evolving MTG play environments.

How to beat

Gravetiller Wurm is a creature card that can pose a significant challenge on the battlefield due to its trample ability and its power that can increase with each creature card that you put in your graveyard. To successfully counter this behemoth, strategic removal spells are key. Consider utilizing instant-speed removal like Path of Exile or Murderous Rider to take out the Wurm before it becomes a colossal problem.

Another effective strategy is graveyard management. Since Gravetiller Wurm benefits from cards entering your graveyard, employing tools like Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt can neuter its power-boosting effect by purging the graveyard. Additionally, countering this creature spell outright with options like Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent it from ever hitting the field.

Lastly, leveraging creature-based strategies that provide unfavorable exchanges for your opponent, such as deathtouch creatures or enchantments like Pacifism, can also mitigate Gravetiller Wurm’s impact. By combining these measures and anticipating the late-game scenario when it is most likely to appear, you can maintain control over the game and nullify the threat Gravetiller Wurm presents.

Cards like Gravetiller Wurm

Gravetiller Wurm is an intriguing creature card that finds its place in Magic: The Gathering’s pantheon of powerful green beasts. It bears resemblance to other formidable cards like Sifter Wurm, which also presents a significant power and toughness alongside a beneficial ability upon entering the battlefield. Gravetiller Wurm, however, distinguishes itself with the mechanic that allows it to grow in power whenever a land hits the graveyard from anywhere, not just your own battlefield.

Another card echoing this graveyard-land synergy is Groundshaker Sliver, providing a massive creature that can impact the game very quickly. Though Groundshaker Sliver lacks Gravetiller Wurm’s scaling power, it compensates with trample, a keyword ability that often proves game-ending. Then, Terravore enters the discussion with its power and toughness directly tied to the number of land cards in all graveyards. While Terravore’s size fluctuates more directly with graveyard content, Gravetiller Wurm offers the player a steadier climb in power.

Assessing the strength of Gravetiller Wurm within MTG’s creature lineup, it stands out for those who strategize around land manipulation and graveyard dynamics, offering both an offensive threat and a growing presence that scales with the game’s progress.

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

Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions

Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions

Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gravetiller Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension, 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 Gravetiller Wurm and other MTG cards: