Wall of Nets MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Wall
Abilities	Defender
Released	1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set name	Exodus
Set code	EXO
Power	0
Toughness	7
Number	24
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Terese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

Wall of Nets provides defense while giving card advantage by exiling creatures.
Flexible with instant-speed spells, it’s most effective during your opponent’s turn.
Requires a strategic balance due to its specific mana cost and discard potential.

Text of card

(Walls cannot attack.) At end of combat, remove from the game all creatures blocked by Wall of Nets. If Wall of Nets leaves play, return to play under their owners' control all creatures removed from the game with Wall of Nets.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to Wall of Nets, defending your turf while adding value to your play is the name of the game. Once this card successfully blocks, it exiles creatures at the end of combat, potentially stripping your opponent of critical assets without losing card advantage yourself.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana pool, Wall of Nets can quickly shift the battlefield’s pace in your favor. Every creature it exiles is one less threat you’ll need to allocate resources towards in future turns, thereby indirectly accelerating your resource allocation to more pressing matters or pivotal plays.

Instant Speed: While the Wall of Nets itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it pairs well with spells that do. Its powerful defensive presence gives you the flexibility to hold back mana for instant-speed interactions, knowing you have a sturdy barrier that can neutralize an aggressive onslaught during your adversary’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wall of Nets can provide a sturdy defense, one downside is the requirement to discard it at the end of combat when it blocks creatures with a total power of 8 or more. This could unexpectedly strip you of your defensive line and leave you vulnerable to subsequent attacks.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a specific mana alignment to play—two colorless and one white mana. The necessity for white mana could limit the inclusion of Wall of Nets in multicolored decks that may not prioritize white mana or have the means to consistently provide it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Wall of Nets has a relatively high cost for its defensive capabilities. While its defensive strength is notable, there may be alternative cards with lower mana costs that offer comparable protection or additional versatility.

Reasons to Include Wall of Nets in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Nets offers solid defensive capabilities across multiple formats, making it ideal for decks that prioritize board control and protection. Its ability to fend off multiple attackers can be a game-saver in tight situations.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its unique exile effect when blocking, Wall of Nets pairs well with cards that benefit from removing opponent creatures from the game, setting up intriguing defensive combos while disrupting enemy lines.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where aggressive creature strategies dominate, Wall of Nets becomes a valuable tool, providing a resilient barrier that not only wards off attacks but also threatens to permanently clear threatening creatures from the field.

How to beat

The Wall of Nets is a formidable defensive card, ready to halt many aggressive strategies on the battlefield. When facing this card, remember that it excels in combat against creatures due to its exile ability. One effective tactic is to bypass the traditional combat phase altogether. Cards that feature direct damage spells or abilities that target creatures or players can weaken the Wall’s relevance. Additionally, using enchantment removal spells can easily dispatch the Wall of Nets, allowing your forces to press on unhindered.

Another approach is to deploy creatures with abilities that negate the combat phase, such as those with flying or unblockable characteristics. These types of creatures slip past the Wall’s defenses, enabling you to deal damage without engaging it directly. Finally, consider capitalizing on the Wall of Nets’ lack of offensive capabilities; since it cannot attack, you can focus on overpowering your opponent with a robust offensive strategy while their defenses remain static.

Strategic deck building and understanding the various ways to circumvent or remove troublesome cards like the Wall of Nets can be instrumental in your success in the game. Facing such obstacles requires a mixture of creativity and knowledge of the cards at your disposal.

Cards like Wall of Nets

Wall of Nets is a distinctive defensive card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a robust barrier against attacks. In essence, it shares the defensive characteristics of cards like Wall of Blossoms. The latter provides immediate card advantage upon entering the battlefield, yet lacks the exiling capability inherent to Wall of Nets when blocking. However, it’s the exiling feature of Wall of Nets after a successful block that strategically eliminates threats from the game permanently, which Wall of Blossoms cannot do.

Another comparison can be drawn with Fog Bank, which also excels in defense with its prevention of all damage that would be dealt to and by it. While Fog Bank provides consistent protection round after round, it does not boast the same creature-removing feature that makes Wall of Nets a game-changer on the battlefield. Maze of Ith is a land card reminiscent of these defensive spells, exerting control by removing creatures from combat without dealing damage, akin to Wall of Nets’ blocking capabilities but without requiring a creature card to operate.

Ultimately, Wall of Nets stands out amongst its defensive peers in MTG. Its unique exile ability upon blocking elevates its protective role, often providing a one-to-many advantage against incoming assaults and shaping the defensive strategies of players who utilize this card.

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

Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Nets MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Nets and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Nets has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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