Greater Sandwurm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Wurm
Abilities Cycling
Power 7
Toughness 7

Key Takeaways

  1. Unblockable by small creatures, the Sandwurm applies steadfast pressure and secures card advantage.
  2. Cycling offers instant flexibility, adapting to in-game necessities for superior deck flow.
  3. High mana cost demands strategy, yet serves as a powerful late-game play in green decks.

Text of card

Greater Sandwurm can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

A sandwurm can lie in wait beneath the sands for years until the slightest tremor alerts it to the presence of prey.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Greater Sandwurm’s ability to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or less can lead to repeated damage to an opponent, maintaining pressure and potential card advantage as opponents may need to use multiple cards to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: With a converted mana cost of seven, this creature may seem costly at first glance. However, the Greater Sandwurm could prove beneficial in resource acceleration strategies as it can be discarded to effects that allow you to draw new cards or to fuel graveyard synergies, anticipating its later return to the battlefield from the graveyard thanks to its cycling ability.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of the Greater Sandwurm can be activated at instant speed, ensuring you’re not committed to casting it prematurely during your turn. This grants you flexibility to adapt to the developing game state, cycling it away for a new card if other plays are more suitable at that moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leveraging its cycling ability means you must discard it from your hand, which could be a setback if you’re already behind on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that demands seven green mana, Greater Sandwurm can prove challenging to cast, especially in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its summoning cost is quite steep when considering alternative creatures that may provide immediate board presence or have lower casting requirements for a similar effect.


Reasons to Include Greater Sandwurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Greater Sandwurm offers a powerful late-game presence in green decks, capable of bypassing creature-based defenses with its “can’t be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less” feature. This can be key in clinching the win in match-ups that grind into the later turns.

Combo Potential: This behemoth synergizes well in ramp decks or with cards that care about high-mana value creatures. It can also be a game-changer when you reanimate or cheat it onto the battlefield early, leveraging its 7-power to close games swiftly.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors creature-heavy boards and ground stalls, Greater Sandwurm stands out as a viable threat. It can shift the balance by offering a resilient and evasive option that can help punch through stalled board states and end games.


How to beat

The Greater Sandwurm is a formidable creature in Magic: The Gathering with its sheer size and the ability to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or less. Facing this colossal wurm requires a strategic approach. One key tactic is using removal spells that can bypass its built-in protection. Look to spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade, which can exile or destroy without needing to engage in combat. Another strategy is countering the Sandwurm before it hits the battlefield. Counterspells like Cancel or Mana Leak can prevent it from ever becoming a threat.

Board wipes are another effective means to clear the Greater Sandwurm from the field. Wraths like Day of Judgment or Supreme Verdict can reset the board, leaving the Sandwurm in the graveyard. Additionally, creatures with flying or reach provide a line of defense since they are not hindered by the Sandwurm’s ground-based evasion. Lastly, having a robust life total or ways to gain life can give you the buffer needed to withstand the Sandwurm’s attacks or the time to find an answer to this desert behemoth.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you consider adding Greater Sandwurm to your MTG arsenal, remember it’s about creating a dynamic deck with hard-hitting creatures that can bypass common defenses. In considering its pros and cons as well as its position in the current meta, this card could serve as a powerful asset, especially with its cycling ability offering great flexibility. For those looking to maneuver through creature-heavy matches or seeking that game-ending creature, the Greater Sandwurm has potential to be a cornerstone in your collection. Dive deeper into deck-building strategies and discover how Greater Sandwurm could be the titan that leads your deck to victory.


Cards like Greater Sandwurm

The Greater Sandwurm is an intriguing creature in Magic: The Gathering that finds its niche among the ranks of high-cost, impactful creatures. Just like Bellowing Tanglewurm, this card provides a significant presence on the battlefield. Both creatures offer a form of evasion; Greater Sandwurm cannot be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less, while Bellowing Tanglewurm grants Intimidate to your green creatures. Despite the difference in evasion mechanics, they both excel in pushing through defenses.

Examining cards like Pelakka Wurm, we notice a trend of substantial life gain associated with massive green wurms. Although Pelakka Wurm also provides card draw and life gain, Greater Sandwurm stands out with its cycling ability, allowing for deck filtering and increased flexibility. The classic Sifter Wurm offers yet another point of comparison, introducing a unique scry and life gain mechanic upon entry, but it doesn’t offer the same level of board impact or versatile evasion that Greater Sandwurm does with its unblockable trait against smaller creatures.

Cycling through the options, Greater Sandwurm indeed holds its ground as a versatile option for decks in need of a creature that’s not only hard-hitting but also adept at avoiding smaller chump blockers and providing strategic deck cycling.

Bellowing Tanglewurm - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Sifter Wurm - MTG Card versions
Bellowing Tanglewurm - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Pelakka Wurm - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Sifter Wurm - Hour of Devastation (HOU)

Cards similar to Greater Sandwurm by color, type and mana cost

Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Penumbra Wurm - MTG Card versions
Stone-Tongue Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Thriss, Nantuko Primus - MTG Card versions
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - MTG Card versions
Somberwald Beastmaster - MTG Card versions
Cultivator Colossus - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Horde - MTG Card versions
Krosan Tusker - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Hundroog - MTG Card versions
Enormous Baloth - MTG Card versions
Ancient Ooze - MTG Card versions
Cytospawn Shambler - MTG Card versions
Panglacial Wurm - MTG Card versions
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Duskdale Wurm - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Thorn Elemental - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Penumbra Wurm - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Stone-Tongue Basilisk - Odyssey Promos (PODY)
Thriss, Nantuko Primus - Judgment (JUD)
Beanstalk Giant // Fertile Footsteps - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Somberwald Beastmaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cultivator Colossus - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Garruk's Horde - Welcome Deck 2017 (W17)
Krosan Tusker - The List (PLST)
Avenger of Zendikar - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Hundroog - Legions (LGN)
Enormous Baloth - Tenth Edition (10E)
Ancient Ooze - Scourge (SCG)
Cytospawn Shambler - Dissension (DIS)
Panglacial Wurm - The List (PLST)
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer - Tenth Edition (10E)
Duskdale Wurm - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Pelakka Wurm - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Engulfing Slagwurm - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Kalonian Behemoth - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Greater Sandwurm MTG card by a specific set like Amonkhet and Mystery Booster, 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 Greater Sandwurm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Greater Sandwurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2017-04-28 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-04-28AmonkhetAKH 1682015normalblackSteven Belledin
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 12272015normalblackSteven Belledin
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1572015normalblackGrzegorz Rutkowski
42020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 1922015normalblackSteven Belledin
52020-09-26The ListPLST AKH-1682015normalblackSteven Belledin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Greater Sandwurm has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 Once a creature with power 3 or greater has blocked Greater Sandwurm, changing the power of the blocking creature won’t cause Greater Sandwurm to become unblocked.

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