Waker of the Wilds MTG Card
2017-09-29 - Number 215s
2017-09-29 - Number 215
2020-09-25 - Number 86
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk Shaman |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
: Put X +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
"Our foes are many and mighty, but not as many as the trees or as mighty as the sea."
Cards like Waker of the Wilds
Waker of the Wilds is a dynamic force in the realm of green creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to cards like Nissa, Worldwaker, which also possess the ability to turn lands into formidable creatures. However, Waker of the Wilds offers a flexible mana sink, allowing players to create increasingly large threats at instant speed. Where Nissa, Worldwaker is limited to her loyalty abilities, Waker of the Wilds’ potential grows alongside your mana availability.
Akin to the Waker’s abilities is Rude Awakening, which also animates lands, albeit temporarily—and without the option to continuously grow them. This one-time effect, while potentially game-ending, doesn’t provide the lasting board presence that Waker of the Wilds can assure over time. Another comparable card is Sylvan Awakening, which gives all your lands indestructible and reach until the end of the turn, offering a unique defensive strategy compared to the offensive power of the Waker.
In summary, while there are numerous cards in Magic: The Gathering with the flair of animating lands, Waker of the Wilds holds its ground as a versatile and persistently growing threat that can change the dynamic of the game with each activation.
Cards similar to Waker of the Wilds by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Waker of the Wilds turns lands into creatures, which not only brings more bodies onto the battlefield but also maintains the number of cards in hand. Essentially, you’re expanding your board presence without losing hand resources, bolstering your offensive and defensive capabilities without the typical trade-off.
Resource Acceleration: By animating your lands, this card can significantly increase the speed with which you can overwhelm your opponent—especially in land-focused decks. Each land turned creature remains a potent mana source, transforming your mana base into a versatile threat that accelerates your game plan.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Waker of the Wilds at instant speed grants incredible flexibility during play. You can adapt to the fluid dynamics of a match, transforming lands on your opponent’s end step or in response to spells or actions that threaten your strategy, making it a powerful tool in the hands of a strategic player.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Waker of the Wilds doesn’t require a discard to activate its ability, which is advantageous for maintaining card advantage. However, it’s important to still consider the necessary resource management as you’ll be converting land cards into creatures, which could potentially thin out your mana sources if not used wisely.
Specific Mana Cost: Waker of the Wilds demands a mix of generic and green mana to cast. While the cost is flexible within a green deck, it could be a harder fit in multicolored decks that require a more diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two green, Waker of the Wilds may come out later in the game, potentially delaying your strategy. Moreover, to fully utilize its ability, you’ll need additional mana resources, which can put a strain on your turn, especially in the early to mid-game phases where resource allocation is crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Waker of the Wilds offers flexibility in gameplay, adaptable to different strategies as it can turn any land into a formidable creature. This capability allows it to fit seamlessly into land-centric decks or those aiming to capitalize on creature synergies.
Combo Potential: In decks focusing on land animation or elemental synergies, this card can become a key combo piece, paving the way for massive animated lands that can sweep opponents off their feet. It works well with cards that benefit from creature or land counts.
Meta-Relevance: Given that land-based strategies remain a staple across various formats, Waker of the Wilds maintains a level of meta-relevance. Its ability to create threats out of otherwise non-threatening lands means it can be a linchpin in decks designed to outmaneuver creature removal or mass board wipes.
How to Beat Waker of the Wilds
Waker of the Wilds is a unique card that turns lands into formidable creatures in MTG, offering a creative way to utilize mana resources offensively. The key to countering this tactic lies in controlling the number of lands your opponent can transform. Removal spells that target enchantments or abilities can mitigate the effects of Waker of the Wilds. A card like Naturalize, for instance, is a simple solution, allowing you to destroy target artifacts or enchantments that could be supporting your opponent’s land-creature strategy.
Board wipes are another effective strategy to consider. Since lands converted into creatures by Waker of the Wilds are susceptible to spells that clear the board of creatures, consider using Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the battlefield. This approach can quickly turn the tide, especially if your opponent has invested heavily in turning multiple lands into creatures.
Lastly, cards that limit the ability to activate creatures’ abilities, such as Cursed Totem or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, can also hamstring Waker of the Wilds. By restricting your opponent’s ability to use the transforming ability, you ensure that their lands remain just that—lands. While Waker of the Wilds presents an unusual challenge, with the right strategy, it can be effectively managed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Waker of the Wilds MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan Promos and Ixalan, 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 Waker of the Wilds and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Waker of the Wilds Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2017-09-29 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by Shreya Shetty.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan Promos | PXLN | 215s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Shreya Shetty | |
| 2 | 2017-09-29 | Ixalan | XLN | 215 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Shreya Shetty | |
| 3 | 2020-09-25 | Zendikar Rising Commander | ZNC | 86 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Shreya Shetty |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Waker of the Wilds has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Waker of the Wilds card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2017-09-29 | If the ability targets a land that’s already a creature, that land creature’s base power and toughness will become 0/0, overwriting its previous base power and toughness. Other effects that modify its power and/or toughness (including any +1/+1 counters that were on it) will continue to apply. |
| 2017-09-29 | The land-animation effect lasts indefinitely. It doesn’t wear off during the cleanup step or when you lose control of Waker of the Wilds. |