Wake Thrasher MTG Card
2008-07-25 - Number 31
2017-10-24 - Number 24
2022-12-02 - Number 369
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Soldier |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Wake Thrasher’s power grows with untapped lands, challenging opponents to deal with this rising menace.
- Instant-speed untap effects boost Wake Thrasher unexpectedly, disrupting enemy strategies.
- However, its specificity in mana requirements may limit deck-building options.
Text of card
Whenever a permanent you control becomes untapped, Wake Thrasher gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Anyone who thinks merrows have more brains than brawn has never been run over by one.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wake Thrasher may not draw cards directly, yet it represents a powerful board presence that puts the onus on your opponent to find an answer, potentially costing them card resources while you maintain board dominance.
Resource Acceleration: This creature benefits immensely from untap mechanics, effectively turning any untapped permanents into additional power without tapping extra resources. In decks designed around this, Wake Thrasher accelerates your potential for massive damage output.
Instant Speed: While Wake Thrasher itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with cards that untap your permanents at instant speed. This allows for potential surprise increases in power during the combat step or after your opponent’s actions, keeping them guessing and you at an advantage.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Wake Thrasher requires a devotion to blue mana, demanding a predominantly blue deck to optimize its use, which could restrict deck building flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at three blue mana for a 1/1 creature, Wake Thrasher’s initial investment might be steep compared to other creatures that present immediate board impact.
Discard Requirement: Although Wake Thrasher itself doesn’t require a discard, it heavily relies on being coupled with permanents or spells that can untap mana to trigger its effect, potentially leading to a card disadvantage if those synergies aren’t met.
Reasons to Include Wake Thrasher in Your Collection
Versatility: Wake Thrasher offers flexibility in deck construction due to its ability to rapidly grow in power. It slots seamlessly into various blue-centric strategies, especially in decks that can frequently untap permanents.
Combo Potential: Paired with cards that untap all your permanents during each player’s turn, such as with “Seedborn Muse” or “Patron Wizard,” Wake Thrasher can become an immensely powerful creature that can threaten to end the game quickly.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta with lots of creature-based combat, Wake Thrasher’s size can become a deterrent against attackers, and its capacity to scale allows it to stay consistently threatening regardless of the board state.
How to beat Wake Thrasher
Wake Thrasher proves to be a dynamic force in the arena of MTG, wielding its unique ability to grow stronger with every untapped land you control. Its power level increases significantly with every turn, making it a formidable adversary on the battlefield. However, even the strongest creatures have their vulnerabilities, and knowing how to counteract Wake Thrasher’s strengths can turn the tide of the game.
To effectively neutralize Wake Thrasher, consider using removal spells that bypass its ever-increasing power. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be the key to dispatching it before it spirals out of control. You might also employ board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation, which can clear the board regardless of how powerful Wake Thrasher has become. Another strategy is to limit the number of untapped lands with cards like Root Maze, which can significantly hinder its potential growth. Lastly, you can avoid playing on your opponent’s terms by utilizing cards that tap lands or by strategically timing your plays to minimize the number of lands you untap during your turn.
Ultimately, staying ahead of the Wake Thrasher demands strategic planning and a willingness to adapt your usual play style to mitigate the advantages it provides to your opponent.
Cards like Wake Thrasher
Wake Thrasher proves to be a unique powerhouse in the realm of creatures that scale with game actions in Magic: The Gathering. Echoing the ever-growing might of this creature, we can draw parallels to Managorger Hydra, which also thrives on the ever-changing tides of a match. Every cast spell goads this beast into a more formidable state. Yet, unlike Wake Thrasher’s dependence on untapped lands to bolster its strength, Managorger Hydra doesn’t share that limitation.
Considering another comparable card, Lorescale Coatl accumulates strength through the draw of cards rather than land untapping or spell casting. The Coatl’s growth is steady and consistent, benefiting from the natural progression of a player’s draw phase or any additional card-draw activities. Still, it lacks the explosive potential of Wake Thrasher, which can skyrocket in power during a single untap step.
Tiding over to Chasm Skulker, this creature has a synergy with card drawing, swelling in size as a player fills their hand. Upon its demise, it releases a swarm of Squid tokens, a parting gift that can continue to pressure opponents. In contrast, Wake Thrasher offers no such consolation, making its board presence a singular, albeit potentially overwhelming, threat.
While each creature offers a nuanced approach to escalating one’s board state, Wake Thrasher stands out with the potential to mount an enormous threat from just one untap step, putting it in a class of its own amongst MTG’s creatures that grow in power through various game mechanics.
Cards similar to Wake Thrasher by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wake Thrasher MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins, 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 Wake Thrasher and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Wake Thrasher Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-07-25 | Eventide | EVE | 31 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 2 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 24 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 369 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wake Thrasher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wake Thrasher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | If permanents you control become untapped during your untap step, Wake Thresher’s ability will trigger that many times. However, since no player gets priority during the untap step, those abilities wait to be put on the stack until your upkeep starts. At that time, all your “beginning of upkeep” triggers will also trigger. You can put them and Wake Thresher’s abilities on the stack in any order. |
