Tunneler Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wurm
Released	2002-05-27
Set symbol
Set name	Judgment
Set code	JUD
Power	6
Toughness	6
Number	135
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Easley

Key Takeaways

This card excels in card cycling and mana ramp, boosting in-game resource management.
Its instant-speed ability adds a layer of tactical agility, making it a formidable asset.
High mana cost and color specificity may limit this card’s deck compatibility.

Text of card

Discard a card from your hand: Regenerate Tunneler Wurm.

If an anurid's lucky, it'll find a warm tunnel for bedtime. If a wurm's lucky, it'll find a warm anurid for breakfast.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tunneler Wurm offers effective card cycling, allowing players to potentially replace it with a more immediately useful card from their deck, or to put a card from their hand into the graveyard where it can be leveraged by other mechanics.

Resource Acceleration: By using Tunneler Wurm’s ability to discard a land card, you effectively turn it into a resource accelerator, helping to ‘ramp up’ your mana sources and enabling the play of high-cost cards earlier in the game than normally possible.

Instant Speed: The key feature of Tunneler Wurm is that its discard ability can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows players to wait until the most opportune time to use it, either defensively in response to an opponent’s move or strategically at the end of an opponent’s turn for maximum efficiency.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging a Tunneler Wurm demands you to pitch another card from your hand, which can backfire when your card reserves are dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting this creature requires a precise mix of green mana, which could restrict its inclusion to decks heavily skewed towards green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a hefty mana demand, there are alternative creatures or spells that might be more mana-efficient, offering similar or better board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tunneler Wurm is a robust addition to green decks that thrive on high power creatures. Its adaptable nature allows it to work well in ramp-style decks and those that seek to push through for lethal damage swiftly.

Combo Potential: With Tunneler Wurm’s trample ability, it’s a perfect fit for pairings with cards that boost creature size or provide counters, further enhancing its capability to deal massive damage to your opponent.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the current meta that rewards direct aggression and big creatures, Tunneler Wurm holds its ground effectively. Its inherent resilience against removal due to high toughness also makes it a card worth collecting as the meta evolves.

How to beat

Tunneler Wurm is a card that offers a potent offensive force, emphasizing the surprise element in Magic the Gathering matches. Its ability to become unblockable after a card is discarded is a solid mechanic for bypassing defensive lines. Nevertheless, overcoming this Goliath is not insurmountable. The key lies in preventing the discard trigger, hence disabling its sneak attack capability. Utilize spells that restrict card discarding or remove the wurm before the combat phase initiates.

Another strategic approach includes favoring instant-speed removal, such as Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization, which can swiftly take the wurm out of action, irrespective of its unblockable status. Cards that force opponents to sacrifice attacking creatures can also nullify the wurm’s ability, effectively countering its strength. By focusing on these methods, you can maintain control of the board and mitigate the impact Tunneler Wurm has on the game’s outcome.

In essence, while Tunneler Wurm presents a challenging obstacle, a player well-versed in MTG’s defensive tactics can effectively shield their life total and maintain dominance on the battlefield against such surprise assaults.

Cards like Tunneler Wurm

Tunneler Wurm claims its own niche within Green’s creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering. Like Tunneler Wurm, Craw Wurm is another classic example of Green’s philosophy of big creatures. Both share a simplistic approach—no complex abilities, just straightforward power and toughness. However, Tunneler Wurm has an upper hand with its innate ability to avoid being blocked by smaller creatures, making it a more formidable force on the battlefield.

Duskdale Wurm also draws parallels, boasting impressive power and the trample ability, which ensures excess damage rolls over to the player. While Duskdale Wurm can overpower multiple smaller blockers, Tunneler Wurm can sidestep them altogether, offering a strategic alternative based on the current game state. Furthermore, Bellowing Tanglewurm nudges its way into the conversation with its ability to grant intimidate to other Green creatures, possibly clearing a path for a broader assault, a feature Tunneler Wurm does not impact directly.

All things considered, while various creatures in Green’s roster feature raw power, Tunneler Wurm adds tactical depth with its evasion, carving out its space within the strategy of players who favor unobstructed attacks.

Bellowing Tanglewurm - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

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