Wormhole Serpent MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Serpent |
| Released | 2021-04-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Strixhaven: School of Mages |
| Set code | STX |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 62 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Text of card
: Target creature can't be blocked this turn.
After drownings, devourings, and one highly unpleasant algae infestation, unsupervised portal use on campus was banned.
Cards like Wormhole Serpent
Wormhole Serpent is a unique creature in MTG, joining the ranks of elusive sea monsters. While it shares the aquatic theme with Serpent of the Endless Sea, Wormhole Serpent stands out with its ability to make a creature unblockable for a turn. This adds a tactical edge similar to Thassa, God of the Sea’s power, though without Thassa’s indestructibility and devotion mechanic.
Analogous abilities can be found in River Sneak which, like Wormhole Serpent, benefits from the presence of other sea creatures. However, River Sneak’s unblockability is conditional on playing another merfolk, unlike the straightforward mana activation of Wormhole Serpent. Aethersquall Ancient also evokes a sense of kinship, as another sea-themed behemoth—though in this case, it impacts the board on a grander scale by returning all other creatures to their owners’ hands, a dramatic difference from Wormhole Serpent’s focused unblockability ability.
Navigating through MTG’s deep waters reveals that Wormhole Serpent offers specific tactical versatility, rendering it a valuable card for players keen on slipping past defenses to claim victory.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wormhole Serpent offers tactical flexibility by allowing your unblockable creatures to slip past enemy defenses. This can lead to card advantage as you connect with your opponent more consistently, enabling triggered abilities or drawing cards if your creatures wield such effects.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Wormhole Serpent helps maintain resource acceleration by ensuring that your board presence translates directly into damage. Each unblocked creature could be considered a resource swiftly hastened towards your win condition.
Instant Speed: The Serpent’s ability can be activated at instant speed, providing strategic depth to your gameplay. You can decide the best moment during the combat phase to render your key creature unblockable, optimizing your resources after your opponent has committed to blocks.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Wormhole Serpent comes with a condition that allows your creatures to be unblockable for a turn, but at the expense of discarding a card. This could potentially put you at a card disadvantage, especially if you’re running low on hand size and need to maintain options for your gameplay.
Specific Mana Cost: Costing a total of five mana with two blue specific mana requirements, the Wormhole Serpent comes with a restrictive casting cost. This could limit its integration into multi-color decks that may not have the resource elasticity to accommodate a card with a double color mana commitment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, the Wormhole Serpent’s ability might come into play later than desired. The mana investment is significant, and there are alternative lower cost cards that could trigger similar effects or contribute to board presence more efficiently.
Reasons to Include Wormhole Serpent in Your Collection
Versatility: The Wormhole Serpent is a highly adaptable card, suitable for blue-based control or midrange decks. Its ability to render a creature unblockable ensures it can adapt to various game states, creating opportunities for strategic attacks or sneaking in critical damage.
Combo Potential: This sneaky sea creature offers significant combo potential in decks that leverage unblockable creatures. Pair it with cards that have on-hit effects or use it to safely ramp up the damage with prowess-style mechanics to turn the tide in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given the importance of card interactions and board presence, Wormhole Serpent has a place in the meta where evasive creatures can make a substantial impact. Its presence can challenge opponents to find an answer, potentially straining their resources and giving you the upper hand.
How to beat
Wormhole Serpent is a unique creature in MTG that offers tactical flexibility with its ability to make creatures unblockable. This serpent can become a real headache, especially in limited formats where unimpeded attacks can swiftly tilt the scales. To effectively counter this card, consider using instant-speed removal spells to deal with the Serpent before the unblockability ability is activated. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade are perfect examples that can seamlessly eliminate the threat at a low mana cost.
Another strategy is to use counter spells when your opponent attempts to cast Wormhole Serpent. Cards like Counterspell or Essence Scatter can prevent your opponent from getting their slippery creature on the board in the first place. Alternatively, having creatures with reach or flyers can provide a defense against other creatures that the Serpent may try to sneak past your defenses. By prioritizing removal or disruption spells in your deck-building and keeping a vigilant board presence, you can ensure that the Serpent’s twisty tactics don’t lead to your demise.
In essence, staying one step ahead with removal and disruption is key when confronting creatures like Wormhole Serpent, ensuring they don’t disrupt the flow of the game in your opponent’s favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wormhole Serpent MTG card by a specific set like Strixhaven: School of Mages, 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 Wormhole Serpent 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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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wormhole Serpent has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |