Wetland Sambar MTG Card


Wetland Sambar - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elk
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number62
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJames Zapata

Key Takeaways

  1. Wetland Sambar’s subtle card advantage can be pivotal in maintaining board presence during a match.
  2. Its ability to consistently help make land drops enhances late-game strategies with higher-cost spells.
  3. The card’s flexibility allows for resource management, catering to a reactive gameplay style.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Wetland Sambar may not draw cards directly, its presence on the battlefield can be a deterrent for opponents to attack, thereby potentially preserving the cards (i.e., creatures) you have in play. This subtle form of card advantage helps to maintain your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Although Wetland Sambar doesn’t accelerate your mana, it allows for consistent land drops by surviving through early removal spells due to its decent toughness, ensuring you have the resources necessary for casting higher-cost spells in the later stages of the game.

Instant Speed: While Wetland Sambar is a creature card without flash, its low casting cost means you can keep mana available for instant speed interactions in the early game and deploy it as a blocker if no immediate threats require your attention. This flexibility can help you manage your resources efficiently while being reactive to your opponent’s plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Some MTG cards require a player to discard as part of the cost, which can set you back if your hand is already running thin. While Wetland Sambar doesn’t have this directly, it does not offset or augment your hand when played, unlike other creatures at similar cost points that provide additional value.

Specific Mana Cost: Wetland Sambar requires a specific combination of mana to cast (one green and one generic mana), which might restrict its integration into more colorful decks that might not have the flexibility or resources to consistently cast it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 2/1 creature, Wetland Sambar’s stats-to-cost ratio is not the most efficient, especially when compared to other two-mana creatures that often come with beneficial abilities or higher power and toughness.


Reasons to Include Wetland Sambar in Your Collection

Versatility: Wetland Sambar is a simple yet adaptable creature card that can be integrated into a plethora of decks. With its low mana cost, it serves as an early blocker or can apply early pressure on your opponent, making it a useful addition to virtually any limited format lineup.

Combo Potential: Boasting the elk creature type, Wetland Sambar could potentially synergize with decks that capitalize on creature-type-focused mechanics. Its presence could activate various abilities or support tribal themes, enhancing deck strategy and execution.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, so does the importance of efficient creatures. In environments where tempo plays a critical role, the cost-effective nature of Wetland Sambar allows players to maintain pace against more aggressive decks while providing a solid body on the battlefield to combat early threats.


How to beat Wetland Sambar

Wetland Sambar, an unassuming creature card in Magic: The Gathering, won’t typically pose a significant threat on its own. It’s a vanilla creature, meaning it has no abilities, just a simple 2/1 body for two mana. Given its modest stats, overcoming this card doesn’t require complex strategies. Generally, any removal spell that can deal at least one damage will suffice to clear it from the battlefield. Direct damage spells like Shock or more flexible removal options like Murder are more than capable of handling the creature.

In games where conserving your removal spells is crucial, blocking Wetland Sambar with a creature that has at least two toughness will be an effective and resource-efficient method. However, remember that sometimes your opponent could be using Wetland Sambar for synergistic reasons within their deck, such as increasing the creature count or for a specific tribal theme. In such cases, pay attention to the overall board and always consider if removing Wetland Sambar contributes significantly to disrupting your opponent’s game plan or if your resources would be better used elsewhere.

Ultimately, with its limited impact, Wetland Sambar often won’t be the linchpin of your opponent’s strategy, making it a low-priority target in most scenarios. Its straightforward nature allows for simple and effective counterplays, ensuring that this card rarely becomes a substantial obstacle.


Cards like Wetland Sambar

Wetland Sambar, a creature staple in MTG, draws a parallel with several other creatures notable for their efficiency in mana cost and their role as early blockers or attackers in a game. Cards like Grizzly Bears and Runeclaw Bear are quintessential creature cards, each coming with a simple yet effective 2/2 creature stats for two mana. Though devoid of additional abilities that these bears boast, Wetland Sambar stands its ground with the same casting cost and provides a dependable presence on the battlefield.

Another similar card is Savannah Lions, which presents an aggressive stance with its 2/1 for one mana investment. Despite being more geared towards offense with its higher power to mana ratio, Wetland Sambar offers a balanced power and toughness making it a versatile choice in its own right.

Assessing the different nuances and roles each of these creatures can play in a deck, Wetland Sambar maintains a solid position for players looking for an early game creature with a stable power and toughness balance, ready to take on multiple roles from defending to chipping away at an opponent’s life.

Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
Runeclaw Bear - MTG Card versions
Savannah Lions - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Runeclaw Bear - Magic 2010 (M10)
Savannah Lions - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Wetland Sambar by color, type and mana cost

Vodalian Soldiers - MTG Card versions
Zephyr Falcon - MTG Card versions
Giant Albatross - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Sphere - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Condor - MTG Card versions
School of Piranha - MTG Card versions
Coral Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Wu Light Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Sea Eagle - MTG Card versions
Overtaker - MTG Card versions
Hazy Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Darting Merfolk - MTG Card versions
Thought Eater - MTG Card versions
Spellstutter Sprite - MTG Card versions
Sneaky Homunculus - MTG Card versions
Coral Eel - MTG Card versions
Storm Crow - MTG Card versions
Aquamoeba - MTG Card versions
Soratami Cloudskater - MTG Card versions
Minamo Sightbender - MTG Card versions
Vodalian Soldiers - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Zephyr Falcon - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Giant Albatross - Homelands (HML)
Phantasmal Sphere - Alliances (ALL)
Skyshroud Condor - Tempest (TMP)
School of Piranha - Exodus (EXO)
Coral Merfolk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Wu Light Cavalry - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sea Eagle - Starter 1999 (S99)
Overtaker - Mercadian Masques Promos (PMMQ)
Hazy Homunculus - Prophecy (PCY)
Darting Merfolk - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Thought Eater - Odyssey (ODY)
Spellstutter Sprite - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Sneaky Homunculus - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Coral Eel - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Storm Crow - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Aquamoeba - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Soratami Cloudskater - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Minamo Sightbender - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wetland Sambar MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Wetland Sambar and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wetland Sambar has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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