Wild Mammoth MTG Card


Wild Mammoth - Nemesis
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elephant
Released2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set nameNemesis
Set codeNEM
Power 3
Toughness 4
Number124
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBradley Williams

Key Takeaways

  1. Wild Mammoth ramps up mana by placing lands each attack, thinning your deck for better draws.
  2. Its abilities lend a major edge with early access to high-cost spells for game control.
  3. Instant-speed synergy bestows a strategic advantage when paired with flexible mana availability.

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, if a player controls more creatures than any other, that player gains control of Wild Mammoth.

"Sit. Heel! Down! HELP!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wild Mammoth provides a ramp effect by potentially putting a land onto the battlefield each time it attacks. This ability not only beefs up your board presence but also thins your deck, increasing the likelihood of drawing non-land cards for greater impact as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: The very nature of Wild Mammoth’s land fetch ability aids in resource acceleration. By ensuring that you hit your land drops consistently, you can deploy more expensive spells much earlier than your opponents can, giving you a sizable lead in resources.

Instant Speed: Even though Wild Mammoth itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it fits snugly into decks that capitalize on instant speed interaction. Given its function, it complements strategies that hold mana open for countermagic or instant speed removal, then utilize the untapped mana to ramp if no immediate threats present themselves during an opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One significant drawback of the Wild Mammoth card is the necessity to discard another card from your hand to utilize its abilities. This can be particularly detrimental during the late game or in situations where hand size is already compromised, leaving players at a potential strategic deficit.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Wild Mammoth is quite specific, demanding a precise combination of green mana. This requirement can make it challenging to include in multi-color decks or those that operate on a tight mana curve, potentially restricting the card to mono-green or heavily green-focused builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the power level of the Wild Mammoth card might be alluring, its mana cost is on the higher end when compared to other creatures with similar power and abilities. Players might find it cumbersome to allocate such a substantial amount of mana, which might otherwise be used for casting multiple spells or establishing a more diverse board presence.


Reasons to Include Wild Mammoth in Your Collection

Versatility: Wild Mammoth can adapt to a variety of deck styles, functioning well in aggressive green decks that capitalize on its solid power to mana cost ratio, as well as in decks looking to rapidly populate the board with creatures.

Combo Potential: This mammoth encourages synergy with cards that benefit from or react to creature casts or the presence of hefty beasts on the battlefield, making it a strong consideration for combos that exploit creature size or type.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving metagame, Wild Mammoth may shine in environments that value resilient and cost-effective creatures, potentially tipping the scales in matchups where fast, impactful board presence is key.


How to beat the Wild Mammoth

The Wild Mammoth, reminiscent of the colossal creatures from MTG’s earliest sets, presents a challenge with its significant power and toughness. Overcoming such beasts requires a strategic plan. To tackle this massive mammoth, control decks employing removal spells are highly effective. Spells like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can remove the mammoth from the battlefield before it tramples over your defenses. For those preferring a counter strategy, countermagic cards like Cancel or Mana Leak prevent the creature from ever touching the field.

Blocking isn’t always ideal due to the mammoth’s trample ability; however, chump blocking with tokens can prove advantageous if you’re playing a deck that generates numerous creature tokens. Decks with access to white also have access to enchantments like Pacifism, which can neutralize the creature without removing it. The key to beating the Wild Mammoth lies in anticipating its arrival and having the right answer at the crucial moment, whether through direct removal, countering its cast, or employing creative battlefield control.


Cards like Wild Mammoth

Exploring the lush landscapes of Magic: The Gathering, the Wild Mammoth card stands tall among creatures that tap for an impressive mana boost. Its parallels can be seen in cards like Llanowar Elves, both grounding their value in the conversion of creatures to mana. The Elves, though less powerful in strength, offer the same green mana at a much lower cost and with the advantage of not being summoning sick, but Wild Mammoth offers a greater punch when it comes to combat.

Another kindred spirit in the MTG realm is the Krosan Restorer, which boasts a similar mana ramp capability through its Threshold ability. While the Restorer doesn’t quite measure up in terms of strength, it does afford flexibility in tapping for either one green or untapping up to three lands if Threshold is achieved. However, Wild Mammoth’s lack of additional cost or condition for its mana generation makes it a straightforward powerhouse.

Upon comparison, Wild Mammoth solidly occupies its niche as a robust mana generator with formidable power. Players looking for a straightforward boost to their land resources without the intricacies of additional abilities or conditions may find Wild Mammoth to be a valuable inclusion in their green decks.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Krosan Restorer - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Krosan Restorer - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wild Mammoth MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, 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 Wild Mammoth and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wild Mammoth has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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