Wall of Tombstones MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 1994-06-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Legends |
| Set code | LEG |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 129 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Dan Frazier |
Key Takeaways
- Graveyard retrieval and instant speed make Wall of Tombstones a strategic defensive asset.
- A steep mana investment and mandatory discard can hinder its playability under certain conditions.
- It shines in decks that exploit graveyard mechanics, offering a formidable defensive option.
Text of card
At the end of your upkeep, the * below is set to the number of creatures in your graveyard.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Wall of Tombstones enhances your gameplay by providing an ability that can return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, bolstering your hand with resources to play.
Resource Acceleration: Not only does it defend your life points, but deploying the Wall of Tombstones can also streamline your mana resources, potentially accelerating your overall strategy.
Instant Speed: At instant speed, this card can be a game-changer, enabling you to react to threats swiftly or optimize your defense, even during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Wall of Tombstones demands a card from your hand as an extra cost for each activation. On the battlefield, this can be a strategic setback if your hand is already depleted or the game’s pace doesn’t allow for such a loss of card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Tombstones is not just any run-of-the-mill card – it requires a precise mana configuration to cast. If your deck doesn’t consistently provide the necessary black mana, this card could be a solid brick wall in your hand instead of an asset on the field.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an investment that might seem steep for what it offers, Wall of Tombstones can be a less tempting option when scouring the landscape for suitable cards. For players judicious about their mana economy, there are alternatives out there that may provide similar or greater utility without the heavy expenditure.
Reasons to Include Wall of Tombstones in Your Collection
Versatility: Wall of Tombstones is a nimble card that can serve multiple roles within various deck types. Its primary function as a defender makes it a perfect fit for control decks that seek to stabilize early game aggression.
Combo Potential: With the right synergies, this card can facilitate some powerful combos. Players can benefit from its graveyard interaction mechanics, making it a key piece in decks that capitalize on creature death triggers or graveyard strategies.
Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to thwart aggressive creature-focused strategies, Wall of Tombstones gains importance in metagames where battlefield presence is crucial. Its ability to act as a deterrent against attackers can be a game-changer in the right circumstances.
How to beat
Wall of Tombstones presents a notable challenge within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. This sturdy defender not only has the potential to lock down parts of the battlefield but its synergy with graveyard mechanics can often leave opponents struggling to find a breakthrough.
When facing such an obstacle, removal spells become a key strategy. Because of its ability to avoid damage from creatures with a lower power, it’s essential to utilize spells or abilities that can eliminate Wall of Tombstones without relying on combat. Spells like Path to Exile or a well-timed Wrath of God can efficiently deal with this resilient wall. Additionally, cards with abilities that exile or force a sacrifice circumvent the traditional combat scenario providing a clear path.
Alternatively, shifting your focus to strategies that don’t emphasize combat can also be effective. Embracing methods such as mill, direct life point reduction, or winning through alternative conditions can render the Wall of Tombstones powerless. In considering these tactics, MTG players can effectively adapt their game plan to overcome opponents who depend on this defensive bulwark.
Cards like Wall of Tombstones
Wall of Tombstones emerges as an intriguing defensive option among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels other defender creatures, such as Wall of Omens, which offers a card draw upon entering the battlefield. Although Wall of Tombstones lacks the direct card advantage, its unique graveyard-centric ability allows for strategic plays in death-trigger decks or reanimator strategies.
Siding with creatures that manipulate the graveyard, we observe Drudge Skeletons, which similarly thrives off creatures stationed in the graveyard. The key distinction lies in Drudge Skeletons’ recurring ability to regenerate, providing a persistent board presence. However, it lacks the static defense power that Wall of Tombstones can guarantee. Necromancer’s Assistant also dives into the graveyard synergy but mills cards, contributing to the graveyard resource pool instead of depending on it for activation like Wall of Tombstones.
Ultimately, Wall of Tombstones stands out in the right deck, synergizing with graveyard strategies and offering a robust defensive barrier. Its effectiveness becomes more pronounced in decks designed to leverage the full potential of the graveyard, marking its place as a niche yet capable component in Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of defensive creatures.
Cards similar to Wall of Tombstones by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wall of Tombstones 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 Tombstones and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Tombstones has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wall of Tombstones card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | The effect from the ability overwrites other effects that set power and/or toughness if and only if those effects existed before the ability resolved. It will not overwrite effects that modify power or toughness (whether from a static ability, counters, or a resolved spell or ability), nor will it overwrite effects that set power and toughness which come into existence after the ability resolves. Effects that switch the creature’s power and toughness are always applied after any other power or toughness changing effects, including this one, regardless of the order in which they are created. |
