Sifter Wurm MTG Card


Its scry 3 ability offers strategic deck manipulation and ensures a high-value card draw. Demands a substantial green mana base but provides a significant late-game board presence. Flourishes in metas favoring long games by thwarting aggressive strategies with lifegain.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wurm
Abilities Scry,Trample
Power 7
Toughness 7

Text of card

Trample When Sifter Wurm enters the battlefield, scry 3, then reveal the top card of your library. You gain life equal to that card's converted mana cost.

"Rhonas's monument belongs to the wurms now. Look elsewhere for refuge." —Arnun, vizier of the menagerie


Cards like Sifter Wurm

Sifter Wurm stands out in the world of Magic: The Gathering with its unique blend of high impact board presence and life gain ability. Its closest relatives in terms of functionality include Pelakka Wurm, which not only provides a sizeable body but also grants life upon entry to the battlefield. While both creatures beef up your life total, Sifter Wurm pushes this envelope further by introducing scry 3 into the mix, allowing for a draw manipulation that Pelakka Wurm cannot offer.

Examining other creatures that provide life gain, Thragtusk is another example that draws a comparison. Thragtusk brings life gain and the advantage of leaving a token behind when it leaves the battlefield. However, it falls short in power and toughness when juxtaposed with Sifter Wurm. The Wurm’s scry ability also gives it a strategic edge in setting up future draws, something Thragtusk cannot contest with.

When we look at these comparisons, it’s evident that Sifter Wurm is a formidable card within its niche. Few creatures can rival the combination of its substantial lifegain, scry ability, and the potential to swing games in your favor upon its arrival on the battlefield.

Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Sifter Wurm 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
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
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions
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
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
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Pelakka Wurm - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Kalonian Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sifter Wurm’s scry 3 ability lets you dig deep into your library. Coupled with its life gain feature upon entering the battlefield, it sets you up to draw a high-value card that can be a game-changer while effectively extending your life total against aggressive opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Although Sifter Wurm comes with a higher mana value, the scry and subsequent life gain can effectively bridge you into late game where its substantial presence can dominate the board. This paves the way for playing other consequential spells or unleashing powerful abilities that can lead to a winning position.

Instant Speed: While Sifter Wurm doesn’t operate at instant speed, its powerful enter-the-battlefield effect creates an immediate impact on the game, providing you with invaluable information and resources that can influence your plays in the upcoming turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sifter Wurm’s scry ability upon entering the battlefield may require dedicated card support to ensure that you benefit from the life gain, influencing deck construction and potentially leading to card disadvantage if not well-managed.

Specific Mana Cost: With a specific and demanding color identity, green-heavy mana cost, integrating Sifter Wurm into your deck requires a substantial green mana base, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The seven total mana needed to cast Sifter Wurm can be a significant hurdle, especially in fast-paced games where lower-cost creatures and spells could provide more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Sifter Wurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Sifter Wurm provides an exceptional fusion of life gain and card advantage that can be a game-changer in a variety of deck builds. As a hefty creature, it can also serve as a formidable blocker or a decisive finisher in green-based ramp or midrange decks.

Combo Potential: Paired with cards that manipulate the top of the library, Sifter Wurm can ensure a substantial life boost while also guaranteeing a high-impact card draw. Its potential to set off a domino effect with the right deck synergy is a valuable asset.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where longer games dominate and stabilization against aggressive strategies is key, the triple-thread of size, life gain, and card advantage makes Sifter Wurm a relevant choice. It thrives in environments where gaining life can thwart aggro opponents and where big creatures rule the battlefield.


How to beat Sifter Wurm

Sifter Wurm is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, well-known for its trample ability and potential life gain during its casting. Players often find its sizeable body coupled with the life-gain aspect a challenging obstacle to overcome. Strategizing against Sifter Wurm involves preemptive control or timely removal.

Effective countermeasures include holding up removal spells that can target and destroy the Wurm before its impact on life totals is felt. Board control cards that manage large creatures, such as ‘Doom Blade’ or ‘Go for the Throat’, are key in these situations. Furthermore, utilizing counterspells like ‘Cancel’ or ‘Dissolve’ can negate the casting of Sifter Wurm altogether, preventing its abilities from triggering.

It is also advisable to maintain pressure on the opponent, relying on an aggressive stance. Swift attackers or flying creatures might bypass the ground-dwelling Wurm, reducing the relevancy of its trample and lifegain. By focusing on multiple angles of attack, you can circumvent the challenges posed by Sifter Wurm, ensuring your strategy remains uninterrupted.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic complexity of MTG with the Sifter Wurm, a formidable card known for its potential to sway the tides of battle. With its scry 3 and life gain synergies, this green behemoth not only stabilizes your position but sets the stage for future maneuvers. Enhance your game by integrating Sifter Wurm into green-centric decks, and discover the art of crafting a winning strategy. Its game-changing properties are especially advantageous in prolonged matches, turning what seems like a simple play into a major advantage. Join us for a comprehensive exploration and elevate your MTG expertise.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sifter Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation and Amonkhet Remastered, 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 Sifter Wurm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Sifter Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-07-14 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Filip Burburan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-07-14Hour of DevastationHOU 1352015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
22020-08-13Amonkhet RemasteredAKR 2192015NormalBlackFilip Burburan
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2542015NormalBlackFilip Burburan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Sifter Wurm has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-11-10 For cards in your library with in their mana costs, X is considered to be 0.
2020-11-10 Once Sifter Wurm's triggered ability begins to resolve, no player may take other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to change your library after you scry but before you reveal the top card of your library.