Carnage Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wurm
Abilities	Bloodthirst,Trample
Released	2011-07-15
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2012
Set code	M12
Power	6
Toughness	6
Number	168
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Kendall

Key Takeaways

Carnage Wurm offers board dominance and card advantage, proving lethal if unchecked by opponents.
The high mana cost and green color specificity may limit deck building versatility.
Despite cons, Carnage Wurm’s raw power makes it a formidable addition to green-centered decks.

Text of card

Bloodthirst 3 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters on it.) Trample (If this creature would assign enough damage to its blockers to destroy them, you may have it assign the rest of its damage to defending player or planeswalker.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: This hearty creature can generate significant card advantage when it hits the battlefield. With its formidable size and trample, Carnage Wurm forces opponents to either block with multiple creatures or suffer considerable damage, often resulting in a favorable card exchange for the Carnage Wurm controller.

Resource Acceleration: In decks that aim to ramp up quickly, Carnage Wurm can be a key player. Many times, green decks utilize mana acceleration to cast high-cost creatures ahead of curve. While the Wurm itself doesn’t accelerate resources directly, it is an optimal target for such strategies, offering a rapid and substantial pay-off for your resource investment.

Instant Speed: Although Carnage Wurm operates at sorcery speed, being aware of instant-speed responses in your deck helps. This understanding lets you protect the Wurm or capitalize on the moment it hits the battlefield. Timing removal spells or combat tricks when Carnage Wurm engages in battle can give you a dominating presence on the board and secure its position as a top-tier threat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Within your strategy, Carnage Wurm demands a hefty trade-off. Playing this creature often means you need to let go of another card in your hand. This transaction can leave you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already running thin and losing one card could mean sacrificing crucial plays for later turns.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Carnage Wurm requires a precise blend of mana, specifically a heavy reliance on green. This requirement can be restrictive as it demands that your deck be heavily skewed towards green mana sources, thereby limiting the card’s versatility and potentially making it a clumsy fit in multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To call forth the might of the Carnage Wurm, a large investment of mana is essential. With a cost that is on the higher side, there are other creatures or spells that may provide you with greater value or impact on the game at a lower mana investment, potentially making the Carnage Wurm a less attractive choice in a tightly contested match where every mana point counts.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Carnage Wurm can act as a potent finisher in green-based decks. It has the sheer strength to pressure the opponent and can be a game changer in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its substantial power, Carnage Wurm is an excellent candidate for synergy with cards that capitalize on creature size, such as those enabling the powerful mechanic of trample or various combat tricks that multiply its damage output.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where the board is often cluttered with smaller creatures, the Carnage Wurm can dominate. It is a formidable creature that can tip the scales in your favor during mid to late game, proving its value against decks that struggle with removing large threats.

How to beat

Carnage Wurm is a massive creature card that can be a game-ender in Magic: The Gathering due to its significant power and trample ability. Overcoming this behemoth requires a solid strategy, placing emphasis on removal spells or utilizing creatures with the deathtouch ability which can destroy any creature they deal damage to, regardless of the creature’s toughness. This can make even a small deathtouch creature a guaranteed solution to deal with the Wurm.

Additionally, control decks have various options such as countermagic, which allows players to prevent the Wurm from hitting the battlefield in the first place. If the creature is already on the board, enchantment-based removal like Pacifism can neutralize it without triggering any death-related abilities it may have. It’s essential to have a response ready, as allowing Carnage Wurm to establish dominance on the board can quickly lead to your defeat.

Therefore, in your deck construction, consider including direct removal, flexible counterspells or enchantments that can neutralize or bypass Carnage Wurm’s formidable presence, ensuring you’re prepared to address this towering threat in any game.

Cards like Carnage Wurm

Carnage Wurm is a creature card that brings raw power to MTG battles with its substantial body and trample ability. Comparable to its might is the Territorial Allosaurus. Though the Allosaurus comes with a kicker ability that can eliminate a threat upon entering the battlefield, it lacks the sizeable 6/6 statline that Carnage Wurm offers straight off the bat. The Allosaurus starts with a smaller 5/5 but has the versatility of interaction which the Wurm doesn’t possess.

Looking at Primeval Protector, it’s a giant among creatures, towering over the battlefield with its 10/10 stats. Although it might edge out Carnage Wurm in terms of sheer size, its cost varies depending on how many opponents you’re facing, making it more situational. On the flip side, Carnage Wurm has a consistent mana cost, making it reliably playable in a single-player competitive setting.

Lastly, Pelakka Wurm exemplifies a similarly costed alternative, granting life gain and a card upon death, which Carnage Wurm does not. Despite being slightly less robust with a 7/7 body, the added utility it provides might be more beneficial in games where life total and card advantage are critical.

Territorial Allosaurus - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Carnage Wurm by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions

Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions

Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions

Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions

Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Carnage Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012, 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 Carnage Wurm and other MTG cards: