Words of Waste MTG Card


Words of Waste - Onslaught
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set nameOnslaught
Set codeONS
Number182
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJerry Tiritilli

Key Takeaways

  1. Words of Waste manipulates card advantage, turning draws into opponent discards, which can disrupt their strategy.
  2. Its ability to fill your own graveyard makes it a boon for reanimation-oriented decks, exploiting multiple draws.
  3. Instant speed activation gives players tactical control, enabling reactive plays to the opponents’ strategies.

Text of card

o1: The next time you would draw a card this turn, each opponent discards a card from his or her hand instead.

"Terror corrupts order and paralyzes instinct." —*Volume III, The Book of Decay*


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Words of Waste offers a unique twist on traditional card advantage. By replacing your next draw with its ability, you can strategically deny opponents their draw while stacking up on valuable resources yourself. This can potentially disrupt your opponent’s plans and give you the upper hand.

Resource Acceleration: In decks focused on the reanimation or utilization of cards from the graveyard, Words of Waste accelerates your strategy by filling up your graveyard quickly. This can be especially potent when used in combination with cards that allow multiple draws per turn, turning each draw into a potential resource for other graveyard interactions.

Instant Speed: Words of Waste can be activated at instant speed, making it a versatile tool in your arsenal. You can wait to see if you draw a card more critical to your immediate situation before deciding to use Words of Waste, keeping your opponents on their toes and allowing you to react to their strategies with precision.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Words of Waste necessitates discarding your own card, which might deplete your hand, reducing your strategic options.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires black mana, potentially making it less versatile and more difficult to cast in multicolored decks not focused on black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost set at three mana, there are alternative discard effects or strategies available that could be executed with lower mana investments.


Reasons to Include Words of Waste in Your Collection

Versatility: Words of Waste offers a unique twist on card advantage mechanics. It can seamlessly integrate into strategies that focus on discard or resource denial, serving as a crucial ploy against opponents’ hands while keeping your own board unaffected.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that generate copious draw effects, this card can turn a simple draw into a targeted discard, stripping opponents of their arsenal and paving the way for a dominant board state. Its synergy with Geth’s Grimoire or Waste Not can yield particularly devastating results.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where hand size matters, Words of Waste gains increased import. Control and tempo decks, in particular, can leverage its ability to disrupt opponent strategies while circumventing the need for traditional spot removal.


How to beat

Facing off against Words of Waste can present a unique challenge in the world of Magic: The Gathering. This card forces your hand, requiring a strategic approach to maintain your resources while disrupting your opponent’s plans. Its power lies in its ability to turn any card draw into a mind game, stripping cards from each opponent’s hand for every one you should draw.

To outmaneuver Words of Waste, adjust your game plan to prioritize actions over drawn cards. Consider utilizing abilities that put cards directly onto the battlefield or into play, circumventing the need to draw and lose additional hand resources. Efficiently manage your hand, and if possible, include cards that benefit from discarding or offer alternatives to traditional card draws. Direct damage and creature-based strategies can also be effective, as they apply pressure and may force the Words of Waste wielder to alter their strategy.

Remember, Words of Waste can turn the tide of a game by emptying hands quickly, so having an early board presence or alternative forms of card advantage can be key to countering its disruptive power. Stay focused and adapt, ensuring that every draw or discard moves you closer to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Stepping into the MTG arena with Words of Waste in your deck opens a realm of strategic depth. This versatile card transforms your draw phase into a weapon against your opponents, introducing a unique dynamic to the match. Optimizing your deck with synergistic cards that benefit from discard mechanics can enhance its disruptive capabilities. If you’re willing to delve deeper into deck-building strategies and discover new playstyles that elevate your MTG experience, Words of Waste might prove to be a formidable addition to your collection. Embark on this journey with us to harness the full potential of Words of Waste and refine your gameplay to its utmost effectiveness.


Cards like Words of Waste

Words of Waste is an intriguing entry into the library disruption tactics within Magic: The Gathering. This card mirrors the capabilities of others like Bottomless Pit or Oppression but stands out with its unique ‘goading’ ability. While Bottomless Pit forces all players to discard at random during their upkeep, Words of Waste grants the controller the flexibility to convert any card draw into a discard effect, targeting opponents specifically. This precision disruption can be a game-changer in the right deck.

In comparison, we also have Cunning Lethemancer, which brings a consistent discard mechanic into play at the upkeep of the controller’s turn, affecting all players again. Words of Waste is advantageous in that it requires no timing – it activates whenever you could draw a card, giving a player potent control over the flow of the game. Megrim and Liliana’s Caress also synergize with discard effects, but they focus on applying damage rather than controlling opponents’ hands like Words of Waste does.

Words of Waste stands as a valuable tool for players seeking to sculpt the game by limiting their opponents’ options, rather than purely punishing them through damage or random discard, thus solidifying its place within the strategic arsenal of MTG.

Bottomless Pit - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Cunning Lethemancer - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Caress - MTG Card versions
Bottomless Pit - Stronghold (STH)
Oppression - Urza's Saga (USG)
Cunning Lethemancer - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Megrim - Stronghold (STH)
Liliana's Caress - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Words of Waste by color, type and mana cost

Gloom - MTG Card versions
Season of the Witch - MTG Card versions
Tourach's Gate - MTG Card versions
Withering Wisps - MTG Card versions
Funeral March - MTG Card versions
Casting of Bones - MTG Card versions
Blanket of Night - MTG Card versions
Necropotence - MTG Card versions
Hecatomb - MTG Card versions
Megrim - MTG Card versions
Recurring Nightmare - MTG Card versions
Contamination - MTG Card versions
Oppression - MTG Card versions
Maggot Therapy - MTG Card versions
Murderous Betrayal - MTG Card versions
Noxious Field - MTG Card versions
Tainted Well - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Arena - MTG Card versions
Gravestorm - MTG Card versions
Mortiphobia - MTG Card versions
Gloom - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Season of the Witch - The Dark (DRK)
Tourach's Gate - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Withering Wisps - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Funeral March - Homelands (HML)
Casting of Bones - Alliances (ALL)
Blanket of Night - Visions (VIS)
Necropotence - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Hecatomb - Masters Edition (ME1)
Megrim - Stronghold (STH)
Recurring Nightmare - Exodus (EXO)
Contamination - Urza's Saga (USG)
Oppression - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Maggot Therapy - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Murderous Betrayal - Nemesis (NEM)
Noxious Field - Prophecy (PCY)
Tainted Well - Invasion (INV)
Phyrexian Arena - Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Gravestorm - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Mortiphobia - Torment (TOR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Words of Waste MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Words of Waste and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Words of Waste has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 If multiple Words have been used prior to drawing a card, then you can choose which one to apply (and use up) each time you draw a card.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks