Wall of Wood MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 225
1993-10-04 - Number 226
1993-12-01 - Number 226
1993-12-10 - Number 226
1993-12-10 - Number 226
1994-04-01 - Number 226
1994-04-01 - Number 226
1994-06-21 - Number 226
1995-04-01 - Number 284
1995-04-01 - Number 284
2007-07-13 - Number 309★
2007-07-13 - Number 309
2010-06-04 - Number 89
2022-11-28 - Number 221
2022-11-28 - Number 518
| Card sets | Released in 15 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Wall |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Defender (This creature can't attack.)
Everybody knows that to ward off trouble, you knock on wood. But usually it's better to make a wall out of the wood and let trouble do the knocking.
Cards like Wall of Wood
Wall of Wood brings its unique blend of low-cost defense to the world of Magic: The Gathering. Sitting in the same category as other defensive early-game drops, like Shield Sphere, Wall of Wood doesn’t require any mana to cast, yet provides less toughness to the board. However, its simplicity of being a one-mana green creature can seamlessly integrate into any green-based defensive strategy.
Comparisons can be drawn to Wall of Vines, another one-mana green creature that serves a similar purpose. Both walls serve as excellent blockers, but Wall of Vines steps up with reach, allowing it to also block flying creatures. Then we find Fog Bank in this bracket – a two-mana blue defender with flying and the ability to prevent all damage that would be dealt to it, showcasing a higher defensive versatility in comparison to Wall of Wood.
Distinguishing each card’s merits is key, and while Wall of Wood may not offer the reach of Wall of Vines or the damage prevention of Fog Bank, it offers a straightforward, early game defense in any green deck, making it a reliable, if simpler, choice for a deck’s defensive lineup.
Cards similar to Wall of Wood by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Due to its low cost and defensive nature, Wall of Wood can be an efficient way to maintain card advantage. It acts as a deterrent against early game attacks, preserving your life total and other creatures.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, Wall of Wood’s low mana value enables you to set up defenses while still progressing your board state, effectively accelerating your plan without slowing down resource deployment.
Instant Speed: Wall of Wood offers immediate board presence as a creature, even though it does not have flash. Despite that, it synergizes with effects that grant your creatures flash, allowing you to surprise an attacker with an unexpected defender at instant speed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Unlike other cards that offer utility or a gain when played, Wall of Wood simply enters the battlefield with no additional effects. This can make it feel like a less efficient use of a turn, particularly if you’re in a situation where you’re looking to optimize every card play.
Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Wood requires green mana, which might not be readily available in multicolored or off-theme decks. If a player’s mana base isn’t heavily skewed towards green, the card might not be a reliable defensive option, especially in the early game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While one green mana for a 0/3 defender might seem economical, in the landscape of MTG where mana efficiency is key, Wall of Wood could be considered a high investment for a card that doesn’t impact the board beyond its defensive stance. Other creatures or spells at a similar cost could offer more versatility or proactive board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Wall of Wood adds resilience to your defense, fitting into green decks that prioritize early board presence and protection for more valuable creatures or planeswalkers.
Combo Potential: While simple, this card can combo with effects that benefit from having a high creature count or with those that exploit defenders, such as Assault Formation and Rolling Stones.
Meta-Relevance: In metas with aggressive starts, having a low-cost defender like Wall of Wood can be critical for stalling opponents and securing your life total while setting up your strategy.
How to beat
Wall of Wood is a basic defensive card in Magic: The Gathering, pivotal in early-game defense strategies. While it boasts a notable 0/3 body for just one green mana, it remains susceptible to spells that bypass these defenses. To effectively overcome Wall of Wood, consider spells that inflict direct damage, such as Lightning Bolt or Shock. These can easily target and destroy the Wall without needing to engage in combat.
Moreover, enchantment-based removals such as Pacifism neutralize Wall of Wood by preventing it from blocking, effectively rendering its defensive purpose moot. Utilizing cards that force sacrifice, like Diabolic Edict, can also cleverly remove Wall of Wood without the need for combat, especially in a single creature scenario.
Therefore, while it’s a sturdy and cost-efficient defender, Wall of Wood’s impact dwindles significantly against decks that pair direct damage spells or clever removal techniques. Understanding this, one can navigate and dismantle early defensive lines with pinpoint precision, ensuring your path to victory remains clear and unobstructed.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wall of Wood 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 Wood and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Wood Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 225 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 226 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 226 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 226 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 226 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 226 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 226 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 226 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 284 | 1993 | Normal | White | Mark Tedin | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 284 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 11 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 309★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 12 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 309 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 13 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 89 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Rebecca Guay | |
| 14 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 221 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin | |
| 15 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 518 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Tedin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Wood has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |