Wall of Caltrops MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Wall
Abilities	Defender
Released	1994-06-01
Set symbol
Set name	Legends
Set code	LEG
Power	2
Toughness	1
Number	42
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Brian Snõddy

Key Takeaways

Wall of Caltrops fortifies defenses without card draw, while freeing up mana and resources.
Its banding ability provides surprise defense elements akin to instant-speed effects.
While offering strategic defense, the card has some limitations like discard requirements.

Text of card

If Wall of Caltrops and one or more other walls join to block an attacker and no other creatures besides walls block that attacker, Wall of Caltrops gains banding ability until end of turn.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite not directly allowing you to draw cards, Wall of Caltrops can enable you to maintain board presence, effectively providing defensive advantage by deterring attacks. This allows you to preserve your other valuable creatures and spells, indirectly contributing to card advantage by reducing the need to replace lost resources.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t accelerate your mana resources in the traditional sense, but by being a low-cost defender, it helps you allocate your mana more efficiently in the early game. This allows you to focus on building your board with more impactful spells sooner rather than later.

Instant Speed: While Wall of Caltrops itself is not an instant, its ability to ‘band’ with other creatures during any attack phase gives it a form of responsiveness akin to instant speed interaction. This can be strategically significant by providing a surprise element during combat phases, altering the outcome of battles in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Wall of Caltrops demands you discard another card to activate its key feature, which can disadvantage your hand, especially in tight game scenarios.

Specific Mana Cost: Decks often struggle to consistently produce the two colors of mana required for Wall of Caltrops. This necessity can limit the card’s versatility and restrict it to certain deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the defensive capabilities it offers, Wall of Caltrops has a relatively high mana cost compared to other defensive options. This may affect its playability in formats where mana efficiency is paramount.

Reasons to Include Wall of Caltrops in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Caltrops is a versatile defender that can fit into numerous deck archetypes seeking to fortify their defenses. Given its low casting cost, it can easily slide into a slot in decks that focus on maintaining a strong early game board presence.

Combo Potential: This card has potential combo utility in conjunction with cards that capitalize on defenders or those that benefit from having a multitude of creatures on the battlefield. It’s a low-cost investment that can synergize with other pieces to create a substantial defensive perimeter.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors aggressive attack strategies, Wall of Caltrops can serve as a vital asset. It can help control the pace and flow of a game by discouraging attacks and protecting your life total while you set up for your win condition.

How to Beat

Wall of Caltrops is a unique defensive card in the MTG realm, recognized for its ability to band along with other Walls to bolster defense lines. With such a strategic edge, it’s crucial to devise methods that can circumvent or dismantle the protection it offers. To beat Wall of Caltrops, you are encouraged to employ flying or reach creatures that can effortlessly soar above ground defenses. Direct damage spells, such as Lightning Bolt or Shock, can target Wall of Caltrops to eliminate it swiftly without having to engage in combat.

Utilizing spells that can bypass Wall of Caltrops’ abilities, like those that don’t specifically require targeting a creature, or creature abilities that don’t require attacking, would be an effective tactic. Board clearing spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can wipe it off the board, indifferent to its defensive prowess. Embracing such techniques ensures that the Wall’s inclusion in the opponent’s strategy falls short of being a significant obstacle.

In essence, when you confront a defense-oriented card such as Wall of Caltrops, integrating evasion abilities, direct damage, or board wipes into your deck can efficiently neutralize its impact, maintaining your strategic momentum in the match.

Cards like Wall of Caltrops

Wall of Caltrops occupies a niche in the realm of defensive cards in Magic: The Gathering, not unlike its counterpart Wall of Swords. Both serve as deterrents, bolstering your defenses. Wall of Caltrops distinguishes itself with its fringe ability to band with other walls, elevating their capabilities collectively. In contrast, Wall of Swords lacks this collaborative feature but compensates with an imposing presence thanks to its higher power.

Analogous to Wall of Caltrops, is Wall of Omens. It provides an immediate benefit upon entering the battlefield by allowing you to draw a card, which Wall of Caltrops does not offer. However, Wall of Omens falls short in its lack of the banding ability, which can be pivotal in the right deck construction. Then we have the classic Wall of Blossoms, echoing the draw mechanic of Wall of Omens, yet it remains isolated without the synergistic option of banding.

A review of these comparisons reveals Wall of Caltrops as a unique option for players fond of strategic defense. Its banding potential can turn a battlefield of passive walls into a coordinated barrier, showcasing an aspect of gameplay that few other cards offer. Its value manifests in the ability to craft an interconnected defensive strategy.

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

Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions

Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Caltrops has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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