Wall of Limbs MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Released | 2014-07-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Magic 2015 |
| Set code | M15 |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 121 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Yeong-Hao Han |
Text of card
Defender (This creature can't attack.) Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on Wall of Limbs. , Sacrifice Wall of Limbs: Target player loses X life, where X is Wall of Limbs's power.
Cards like Wall of Limbs
Wall of Limbs is a unique creature in the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering defender cards. Its closest kin would be Wall of Shards, another powerful defender, but with an intriguing payoff. While Wall of Limbs can help you gain a significant life total with its built-in ability per Zombie cast, giving you a clear advantage, it requires more setup to execute its lethal ability to sap your opponent’s life force.
Another relative in the defender family is Tree of Perdition, which stands out with a slight twist on the life exchange concept. It’s capable of swapping its toughness with an opponent’s life total, a one-time dramatic swing that could quickly turn the tides of a game. This stands in contrast to Wall of Limbs, which requires a gradual buildup but ends in a potentially explosive finisher.
Assessing the strength of Wall of Limbs within the defender arsenal of creatures, its niche lies in its synergistic role in a Zombie-themed deck and the potential for a game-ending move. Its capability to scale defenses while offering a pathway to deplete the opponent’s life totals makes it a considerable threat on any battlefield.
Cards similar to Wall of Limbs by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Wall of Limbs, the potential to scale up its power through life gain can create a formidable blocker that not only thwarts your opponent’s attacks but also can become a game-ending threat if its ability is activated.
Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana acceleration, the revolving aspect of life gain that feeds into Wall of Limbs’ strength indirectly correlates to a resource acceleration within certain deck archetypes, especially those that thrive on life gain synergies.
Instant Speed: The removal ability Wall of Limbs possesses can be activated at instant speed, providing strategic flexibility whether it’s removing an imminent threat during combat or in response to an opponent’s spell, thereby disrupting their game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Wall of Limbs offers a growing threat as you gain life, it comes with a catch: to activate its ability and cash in on its power, you must sacrifice it along with a hefty payment of 3 black mana. This can be a steep price, especially when your hand is already stretched thin managing other threats and strategies on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: With its specific need for black mana in both its casting cost and ability activation, Wall of Limbs can be restrictive for decks that aren’t heavily aligned with black. Players running multi-colored decks may find it challenging to ensure the mana is available when needed, potentially stranding the card in hand or on the field without the opportunity to leverage it fully.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three black mana for a 0/3 creature, Wall of Limbs may not immediately affect the board in a meaningful way compared to other creatures or spells at a similar cost. It requires a substantial investment over time, and even when the conditions are right, the activation cost to utilize its ability is quite high, which might deter players from including it in faster-paced or more mana-efficient decks.
Reasons to Include Wall of Limbs in Your Collection
Versatility: Wall of Limbs provides a durable defensive option for any black deck focusing on life gain strategies. It pairs well with creatures or spells that repeatedly add to your life total, thereby growing this creature’s power over time.
Combo Potential: With the built-in ability to sacrifice Wall of Limbs and deal damage to an opponent equal to its power, it can be a game-ender when combined with effects that multiply life gain or power-increasing modifiers.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive strategies are prevalent, Wall of Limbs acts as a formidable obstacle, potentially deterring early attacks and buying time for your longer-term plans to unfold. It can shine in a meta where stalling tactics and life total manipulation are key components of successful deck building.
How to beat
Wall of Limbs is a unique creature card that can be quite the roadblock in Magic: The Gathering, standing out with its defensive capabilities coupled with its potential for a game-ending ability. The card’s strength lies in its synergy with life gain strategies, gradually growing in power as you gain life. It’s a slow burner, menacingly threatening to become a behemoth on the battlefield while also offering an alternative win condition by sacrificing it to inflict damage equivalent to its power to a player.
To outmaneuver this obstacle, it is crucial to employ strategies that don’t rely on frontal attacks or to remove it before it becomes too strong. Focusing on spells or abilities that bypass a creature’s toughness, like exile effects, burn spells that deal damage directly to the player, or forcing the opponent to sacrifice creatures, can efficiently handle Wall of Limbs. Board wipes can also clear the path, preventing the buildup of counters on it. Quick action is essential, as the longer Wall of Limbs stays in play, the more daunting it can become, especially in a game where life gain is prevalent.
Ultimately, disruptive and swift tactics are key in dealing with Wall of Limbs, preventing its user from leveraging its growth and lethal potential, hence preserving the balance on the battlefield in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wall of Limbs MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015, 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 Limbs and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Limbs has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Wall of Limbs card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | If you gain life at the same time Wall of Limbs is dealt lethal damage (probably because you control a blocking creature with lifelink), Wall of Limbs’s triggered ability will trigger, but Wall of Limbs will be destroyed before the ability resolves. |
| 2014-07-18 | The ability triggers just once for each life-gaining event, whether it’s 1 life from Soulmender or 8 life from Meditation Puzzle. |
| 2014-07-18 | Use Wall of Limbs’s power as it last existed on the battlefield, including any +1/+1 counters it had, to determine the value of X. |