Wall of Torches MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Wall
Abilities	Defender
Released	2011-07-15
Set symbol
Set name	Magic 2012
Set code	M12
Power	4
Toughness	1
Number	159
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mike Bierek

Key Takeaways

Provides early-game defense, saving your resources for later, more impactful spells and strategies.
Works well in a deck built to leverage defensive synergies, enhancing overall board control.
Despite its mana restrictions and cost, it can be a key player in controlling aggressive metas.

Text of card

Defender (This creature can't attack.)

The foolish try to leap through the unlit spaces. The arrogant believe the fires harmless. The wise find a different door.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Wall of Torches might not allow direct card draw, it acts as a deterrent for opponents, potentially preserving your life total and the creatures you have in play. In longer games, this can translate into maintaining card advantage as your opponent may have to commit more resources to get through this defensive barrier.

Resource Acceleration: This card doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, but it does offer an economical use of mana for its defensive capabilities. At just a single red mana, Wall of Torches is a low-cost way to potentially stymie early opposing threats, allowing you to save mana for more impactful plays later on.

Instant Speed: Though Wall of Torches is not an instant itself, it synergizes well in a deck with instant-speed spells. It provides a reliable defense during your turn, enabling you to keep mana open for instant-speed interaction on your opponent’s turn without leaving yourself completely vulnerable.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Wall of Torches involves a sacrifice of other cards from your hand, which could compromise your strategic position, especially when your options are already limited.

Specific Mana Cost: The necessity for red mana to cast Wall of Torches can restrict its playability, primarily if your deck is not optimized for red mana generation, potentially hindering the fluidity of your mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the realm of creature spells, the Wall of Torches has a mana cost that might be considered steep for its offered capabilities, when analyzing its defensive value against other options available within the same cost bracket.

Reasons to Include Wall of Torches in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Torches is a flexible card that can be a great inclusion in any deck needing solid defensive options. With its ability to block multiple creatures, it works well in decks that aim to stall the board while setting up for the late game.

Combo Potential: Though primarily a defensive card, Wall of Torches can be used in conjunction with cards that exploit defenders, such as those that allow you to tap creatures for additional effects or those that gain bonuses from having a high count of defenders on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are prevalent, having an early blocker like Wall of Torches can be crucial. It helps in controlling the pace by thwarting early threats and can be a useful deterrent against swarm strategies that rely on multiple creatures to overcome defenses.

How to beat

Wall of Torches presents a unique challenge with its defensive capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. Not particularly formidable in terms of attack power, it shines as a steadfast defender with its ability to block multiple creatures. Unlike other walls, Wall of Torches threatens with its first strike, thwarting creatures with lesser toughness before they can even retaliate.

However, overcoming this card involves strategies that circumvent its defensive posture. One effective tactic is using removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage, such as Murder or Path to Exile, which can directly dispatch the wall without engaging it in combat. Other methods include cards with the “can’t be blocked” ability, allowing your creatures to slip past the wall unimpeded. Alternatively, flying creatures can soar over it, ignoring its blocking capabilities altogether.

When considering a game plan against Wall of Torches, take into account the broader strategy it supports. Often, it’s not the wall itself but the protection it offers to more critical threats behind it that is the real problem. So, by focusing on resourceful creature removal or evasion tactics, you can effectively dismantle the protective barrier Wall of Torches offers and press on to victory.

Cards like Wall of Torches

When we look at Wall of Torches, we see a solid defensive addition to any MTG deck that prioritizes delay tactics. Like the well-known Wall of Wood, it serves as an affordable creature tasked primarily with fortification. What distinguishes Wall of Torches is its higher attack compared to Wall of Wood, making it not just a static defender but a potential threat to any adversary.

Shadow Rider, while also a two-mana creature, brings different advantages to the table. Unlike Wall of Torches, it can attack in addition to defending, giving it a more dynamic role in gameplay. Shield Sphere is another card for comparison, boasting no mana cost at all but it weakens after every block – a trade-off not seen with Wall of Torches that maintains its defense capability.

Analyzing these cards side by side in MTG decks that capitalize on defense, Wall of Torches offers a balanced blend of attack power and durability, making it a competitive choice for players who desire a steadfast guardian with the bonus of offensive capability.

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

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Torches 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 Wall of Torches and other MTG cards: