Wall of Lava MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 1995-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ice Age |
| Set code | ICE |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 223 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Pete Venters |
Text of card
oo R +1/+1 until end of turn
"Now *there's* something you don't see every day." —Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Cards like Wall of Lava
Wall of Lava represents a unique interactive defensive strategy among creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Comparable cards such as Wall of Fire also provide a sturdy defensive option and allow the player to boost its power. The primary distinction lies in Wall of Lava’s ability to receive an unlimited number of power boosts in a single turn, compared to Wall of Fire’s limitation to a finite number of power increases per turn.
Delving into other likenesses, we come across Wall of Stone. It is another enduring defender with a considerable toughness but lacks the dynamic power enhancement feature of Wall of Lava. Another interesting parallel can be drawn with Magma Wall, which can also increase its power but requires the player to return a land to their hand as a cost. It stands as a less efficient alternative since bouncing land affects mana availability, whereas Wall of Lava only requires a mana investment.
When analyzing durability and flexibility in creature cards serving as blockers, Wall of Lava secures a robust position. Its capability to threaten attackers and adapt its power fluidly throughout the game gives it a notable place in Magic: The Gathering’s myriad of defensive cards.
Cards similar to Wall of Lava by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wall of Lava provides a robust defense strategy, enabling you to potentially draw out the game for longer periods. This can lead to more draw phases and greater card advantage as you’ll have more opportunities to pull the resources you need from your deck.
Resource Acceleration: As an elemental wall with a possible high toughness, Wall of Lava can be an excellent card for strategies that capitalize on creatures’ power or toughness. In decks that utilize this attribute for resource acceleration, Wall of Lava can be a key piece, particularly in powering up spells or abilities that scale with the strength of your creatures.
Instant Speed: Being able to activate Wall of Lava’s ability at instant speed provides a flexible line of defense. It can deter attackers mid-combat, allowing you to surprise an opponent when they least expect it. The capacity to increase Wall of Lava’s toughness when it’s crucial can disrupt your opponent’s strategies, especially when they’re executing combat tricks or relying on damage-based removals.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wall of Lava’s ability to boost its toughness comes at the cost of discarding cards. This requirement could deplete your hand, leaving you with less flexibility for future plays and making it challenging to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Lava demands red mana to both cast and activate its defensive ability. This potentially restricts its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce red mana, which might affect its versatility across different types of deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is already significant, the additional mana investment needed to utilize its ability means that Wall of Lava could compete with other impactful four-mana plays in your deck. Players might find other creatures or spells that provide a greater advantage or board presence for the same or lesser mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Wall of Lava offers a unique flexibility by acting as both an effective defensive barrier and a potential offensive threat. Its ability to increase its power makes it a versatile choice for many red-based control or defense strategies.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that pump up defense or leverage damage-dealing creatures. Its incremental power-boosting capability allows it to become a formidable force when combined with effects that untap creatures, providing opportunities for both offensive and defensive combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that heavily features aggressive strategies, Wall of Lava becomes an essential tool to thwart early creature assaults. Its presence on the battlefield can deter attacks and its power-scaling ability keeps it relevant even as the game progresses to later stages.
How to beat
The Wall of Lava poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. It’s a formidable defender with its ability to pump up its toughness, making it a daunting obstacle for any attacker. However, overcoming this wall isn’t insurmountable. Tactic is key; removal spells that do not depend on damage, such as “Path to Exile” or “Terminate,” can dispatch the Wall with ease, bypassing its toughness altogether. Flying creatures are also an excellent strategy, as they can soar over the Wall without engaging in combat.
Changing combat math is another avenue. Spells that force creatures to block, when combined with effects that deal damage to multiple creatures like “Pyroclasm” or “Blasphemous Act,” can see the Wall crumble without ever having to attack it directly. Enchantment-based removals, such as “Oblivion Ring,” also provide an answer by exiling the Wall without triggering its defensive mechanism. Players may employ strategic combat or direct removal spells, ensuring diversification in their decks to prepare for such robust defenders.
Thus, while the Wall of Lava stands as a stout guard, it is far from impenetrable. With thoughtful deck building and situational awareness, players can find the cracks in its defense and continue to press their advantage in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wall of Lava MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Wall of Lava 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Lava has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |