Skeletal Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Skeleton Wurm
Released	2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Rise of the Eldrazi
Set code	ROE
Power	7
Toughness	6
Number	127
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

Skeletal Wurm enhances card advantage by recurring from the graveyard, thus bypassing common creature limitations.
Its synergy with graveyard strategies presents a consistent battlefield threat without depleting hand resources.
While mana-intensive and requiring card discard, its resilience in prolonged battles makes it a noteworthy addition.

Text of card

: Regenerate Skeletal Wurm.

Necromancers are judged by the most powerful undead they've ever created. There are those who have animated just a single being, yet are considered the pinnacle of their dark craft.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Skeletal Wurm is an impressive creature that can help maintain card advantage as it can return from the graveyard to the battlefield, effectively bypassing the one-time use limitation of many other creatures.

Resource Acceleration: By facilitating graveyard mechanics, it can complement strategies that capitalize on the use of graveyard resources, offering a recurring threat without requiring additional cards from your hand.

Instant Speed: While Skeletal Wurm itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its reanimation ability can be set up on a prior turn, thereby freeing your mana on subsequent turns to cast spells at instant speed and maintain a responsive posture in the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The necessity to discard another card as a cost to leverage Skeletal Wurm’s Unearth ability means that players must give up valuable hand resources. This can be particularly taxing in the late game where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands both generic and black mana, Skeletal Wurm might not seamlessly fit into decks that aren’t tailored to accommodate such specific mana needs, potentially hampering its compatibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying this creature from your hand requires seven mana, which is significant. In the context of the game’s current state, there are alternatives that can be cast for less while still offering formidable board presence or additional utility, making Skeletal Wurm a potentially less efficient choice in many scenarios.

Reasons to Include Skeletal Wurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Skeletal Wurm offers a resilient late-game threat that can be a game-changer in decks focusing on graveyard mechanics. Given its ability to return from the graveyard, it seamlessly augments strategies centered around creature recursion.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in environments that take advantage of sacrificing creatures. Its regeneration makes it a reliable component for combos that require a durable creature on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where board wipes and removal are prevalent, Skeletal Wurm’s potential to come back from the graveyard gives it an edge, maintaining a presence on the field against decks that rely heavily on control tactics.

How to beat

Skeletal Wurm is a card that brings a substantial challenge to MTG players with its ability to regenerate. This makes it a tough adversary to dispatch using conventional damage or destruction-based spells. The Wurm’s resilience requires a strategy that either outpaces the card in terms of sheer force or one that circumvents its regenerative capability altogether.

Tactically speaking, exile effects or spells that bypass its regeneration are the key. Cards such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can remove Skeletal Wurm from the battlefield without triggering its regeneration. Additionally, imposing board control with cards that restrict creature abilities could neutralize the Wurm’s advantage, for instance by using Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Another method is manipulating combat scenarios to slant them in your favor, like using cards that reduce the Wurm’s power or provide your creatures with greater power to overcome it in battle.

Ultimately, defeating Skeletal Wurm demands thoughtful play, making use of MTG’s extensive card collection tailored to handle resilient creatures. Through strategic deck building and sharp in-game decisions, you can ensure the Wurm doesn’t become an insurmountable obstacle on your path to victory.

Cards like Skeletal Wurm

Skeletal Wurm offers MTG players a formidable option for large creature play. It shares space with cards like Craw Wurm and Duskdale Wurm, both of which provide a substantial presence on the battlefield. Craw Wurm comes at a lower cost and boasts a respectable 6/4 body, making it a solid choice for green deck players short on mana. Duskdale Wurm, with its intimidate ability, can be harder for opponents to block and is similarly strong in the late game.

A look at Boneyard Wurm reveals another comparison. This creature’s power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard, which can potentially surpass that of Skeletal Wurm. However, Skeletal Wurm’s regeneration ability ensures resilience and provides an edge in long, attrition-driven matches. Plated Wurm also deserves a mention for its towering 7/6 stats, yet without the ability to regenerate, it may not weather removal spells as effectively.

Players weighing the choices will find Skeletal Wurm stands out for its endurance in combat, offering longevity that can turn the tide in prolonged encounters. This powerful blend of strength and durability can be a lethal combination in the right deck configuration.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Skeletal Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Skeletal Wurm and other MTG cards: