Wall of Swords MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 42
1993-10-04 - Number 43
1993-12-01 - Number 43
1993-12-10 - Number 43
1993-12-10 - Number 43
1994-04-01 - Number 43
1994-04-01 - Number 43
1994-06-21 - Number 43
1995-04-01 - Number 55
1995-04-01 - Number 55
1997-03-24 - Number 67
1997-05-01 - Number 37
1999-04-21 - Number 51
2001-04-11 - Number 55
2001-04-11 - Number 55★
2003-07-28 - Number 56★
2003-07-28 - Number 56
2007-07-13 - Number 57
2007-07-13 - Number 57★
2013-07-19 - Number 41
2022-11-28 - Number 42
2022-11-28 - Number 339
| Card sets | Released in 22 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender,Flying |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Flying
Just as the evil ones approached to slay Justina, she cast a great spell, imbuing her weapons with her own life force. Thus she fulfilled the prophecy: "In the death of your savior will you find salvation."
Cards like Wall of Swords
Wall of Swords stands out in Magic: The Gathering with its defining feature as a sturdy defender with a solid stat line of 3/5. Among comparable walls in the game, Wall of Omens catches attention for providing card advantage upon entry, though it’s less formidable with a 0/4 defense. Sentry of the Underworld also shares the skies with Wall of Swords and brings versatility, offering lifelink and flying, albeit at the cost of more resources and a white/black color requirement.
Another card to consider is Guardian of the Ages, a more costly alternative but one that transforms from a passive defender into a powerful attacker once triggered. Where Wall of Swords offers consistent aerial defense, Guardian of the Ages promises a dramatic shift in battlefield control under the right circumstances. Gleaming Barrier falls on the budget-friendly side, able to deter early aggression and leave behind a valuable Treasure token after its destruction, though it pales in comparison with Wall of Swords’ sheer defensive presence.
Each of these defenders carries its unique advantages and roles within different strategies, yet it’s the Wall of Swords’ straightforward and resilient defense that anchors it as a reliable choice for players who value a solid defensive line to protect against aerial threats.
Cards similar to Wall of Swords by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Though not directly impacting card draw, Wall of Swords can stabilize your board, deterring multiple attackers over time. This solid defense can indirectly lead to card advantage, as opponents might need to use multiple resources to overcome it.
Resource Acceleration: While Wall of Swords doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens, its four toughness represents a form of resource acceleration. By efficiently blocking early threats, it can preserve your life total and other creatures, effectively saving the mana you’d otherwise spend on stabilizing the board later.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, the value Wall of Swords provides comes from its deterrent effect, similar to instant speed interaction. It can change the dynamics of combat immediately as it’s played, forcing opponents to consider new lines of attack or commit further resources hastily.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t directly necessitate discarding cards, however, due to its specific mana cost and leaning towards defensive play, it could indirectly force players to discard if holding onto too many non-creature cards that do not align with the defensive strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires two white mana, Wall of Swords may not easily fit into multi-colored decks or those with a more flexible mana base. This can limit its playability primarily to mono-white or decks with heavy white mana accessibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment of four mana, especially with the two being white-specific, might seem steep for a card that primarily serves as a defensive measure. There are other creature cards or defensive options available that could provide more board presence or versatility at a lower mana cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Wall of Swords offers solid defensive capabilities across a broad range of deck types. Whether you’re running a control strategy or a combo deck, the card provides a reliable shield against early assaults.
Combo Potential: With its high toughness, Wall of Swords stands as a formidable defender, and when used in conjunction with cards that utilize toughness for special abilities or damage calculations, it becomes an even more valuable piece in various defensive combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by aggressive creature decks, Wall of Swords can quickly become an essential barrier. It can halt many attackers in their tracks, buying you the precious time needed to set up your winning board state or deliver crucial spells.
How to beat
The Wall of Swords card stands out within Magic: The Gathering as a formidable defender with both a high toughness and flying. Its presence can deter many combat strategies, potentially stalling opponents who rely on airborne attacks. Navigating around this card requires a strategic approach that can align with several methods.
One effective strategy is to bypass the Wall of Swords entirely. Cards that grant unblockable status to your creatures or spells that reduce the opponent’s life total without engaging in combat, such as direct damage spells or effects, can effectively circumvent this wall’s defensive stance. Additionally, board wipes that clear all creatures from the board, including robust defenders like Wall of Swords, can reset the field of play to your advantage, allowing for a fresh attack on your opponent’s life points.
Another tactic is to target the Wall of Swords directly. Removal spells that can target any creature, irrespective of abilities like flying, are particularly useful. Moreover, engaging in combat with creatures that have deathtouch, which allows any damage they deal to be lethal to a creature, can also prove to be a practical method to dismantle this aerial barrier. Therefore, including versatile removal or evasion tactics in your deck can provide the necessary tools to overcome obstacles like the Wall of Swords.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wall of Swords MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Swords 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
Printings
The Wall of Swords Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 8 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 42 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 43 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 43 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 43 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 43 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 43 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 43 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 43 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 55 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 55 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 11 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 67 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 12 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 37 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 13 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 51 | 1997 | Normal | White | Brian Snõddy | |
| 14 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 55 | 1997 | Normal | White | Hannibal King | |
| 15 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 55★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Hannibal King | |
| 16 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 56★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Hannibal King | |
| 17 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 56 | 2003 | Normal | White | Hannibal King | |
| 18 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 57 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 19 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 57★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 20 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 41 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai | |
| 21 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 42 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 22 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 339 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Swords has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |