Fallow Wurm MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Wurm |
| Released | 1997-06-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Weatherlight |
| Set code | WTH |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 126 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Stephen L. Walsh |
Text of card
When Fallow Wurm comes into play, choose and discard a land card or bury Fallow Wurm.
The wurm's wake —Elvish expression meaning "ruined crops"
Understanding the Potential of Fallow Wurm
Casting creatures that offer more than just a body on the battlefield is a staple strategy in Magic: The Gathering. The Fallow Wurm is one such example, featuring a particular interaction with lands to gain entry onto the field. In a game where mana resources are key, cards like Fallow Wurm which allow a player to put a land card from their hand onto the battlefield when it enters play, offer subtle advantages.
Cards like Fallow Wurm
Fallow Wurm may remind seasoned players of cards like Sakura-Tribe Elder and Farhaven Elf. These creatures also have a knack for putting lands onto the battlefield, thereby accelerating a player’s mana growth. However, Fallow Wurm requires the discarding of a land card as part of its cast, setting a distinct precondition for its deployment. Sakura-Tribe Elder and Farhaven Elf, conversely, don’t prompt a discard, but they also don’t provide as substantial a creature presence.
Likewise, Tireless Provisioner has emerged as a recent comparable card but introduces a different dynamic. While it doesn’t mandatorily require a land discard, it rewards players with a flexible Treasure token whenever a land enters under their control. This leans into a resource versatility that Fallow Wurm does not directly offer. However, what Fallow Wurm lacks in flexibility, it makes up for with sheer presence, being a sizeable creature by itself.
Ultimately, each of these cards can fit into various mana-ramping strategies, but the Fallow Wurm appeals to those looking to make an immediate impact on the board with its considerable size for the mana cost, assuming a land card is conveniently disposable.
Cards similar to Fallow Wurm by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Fallow Wurm can be a considerable addition to any green deck where card draw isn’t always prevalent. This creature makes use of extra lands in hand, not only by putting them onto the battlefield but also effectively thinning your deck which can lead to drawing more impactful cards as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: By allowing you to put additional lands into play when it enters the battlefield, Fallow Wurm acts as a solid resource acceleration tool. This can enable you to cast high-cost creatures and spells earlier than your opponent expects, providing a significant advantage in the race to deploy threatening board states.
Instant Speed: Although Fallow Wurm doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, it can benefit from other cards that allow you to put creatures onto the battlefield as though they had flash. This would enable you to surprise your opponent by ramping up at the end of their turn, setting up for a powerful play on your own turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Fallow Wurm necessitates the player to discard a land card to cast it, which can lead to card disadvantage or hamper your land drops if managed poorly.
Specific Mana Cost: Fallow Wurm comes with a mana cost that includes two green mana symbols, potentially restricting it to decks that can reliably produce green mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including three generic and one green, Fallow Wurm can be considered costly for its base stats, notably in environments where lower-cost creatures offer similar or better functionality.
Reasons to Include Fallow Wurm in Your Collection
Versatility: Fallow Wurm offers a unique trait among green creatures, allowing you to return a land to your hand when it enters the battlefield. This can be beneficial in landfall decks or strategies that hinge on replaying lands for additional value.
Combo Potential: This wurm has synergy with decks that capitalize on creatures entering or leaving the battlefield. Pairing it with cards that untap lands or with bounce spells can set up powerful plays, making it a useful engine in various combos.
Meta-Relevance: In matchups where games tend to go longer, Fallow Wurm can maintain its relevance by providing a recurring source of value. This makes it a solid choice in metas that favor resilience and sustainability, especially within green-based midrange decks.
How to beat
Fallow Wurm is known in the MTG universe as a creature that pushes the boundaries of resource management with its unique ability to enter the battlefield by allowing a player to place a land card from their hand onto the battlefield. This green wurm provides a significant advantage by potentially accelerating a player’s mana availability and enhancing their ability to cast more demanding spells ahead of schedule.
Notwithstanding its advantages, players can strategize effectively against Fallow Wurm. A suitably timed removal spell could easily counteract the wurm before it can affect the game significantly. Spells like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile serve as excellent choices for quickly dispatching the wurm and preventing an opponent from benefiting from its land-based ability. Additionally, countering the creature as it’s being cast with instant-speed spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak could entirely negate the wurm’s threat, maintaining the balance of resources between the players.
In summary, while Fallow Wurm can pose a challenge with its land-accelerating ability, its impact can be minimized or negated through the use of removal or counter spells, maintaining strategic equilibrium in a game of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Fallow Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Fallow Wurm and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Fallow Wurm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Fallow Wurm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-04-01 | If the creature is no longer on the battlefield when the ability resolves, you may still perform the action if you want. |
| 2008-04-01 | When the ability resolves, you choose whether to sacrifice the creature or perform the other action. If you can’t perform the other action, then you must sacrifice the creature. |