Wrecking Ball MTG Card
2006-05-05 - Number 139
2011-06-17 - Number 238
2015-05-22 - Number 189
2017-06-09 - Number 198
2019-02-15 - Number 74
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Destroy target creature or land.
Rakdos festivals almost leave enough rubble in their wake to hide the bodies.
Cards like Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball is an intriguing choice for players looking to disrupt their opponent’s game plan in Magic: The Gathering. This versatile instant card shares similarities with cards like Terminate and Putrefy. Terminate allows players to destroy target creature without the option to regenerate it, which is a clear parallel in functionality when compared with Wrecking Ball’s ability to destroy creatures. However, Wrecking Ball offers an added layer of versatility by also targeting lands, which Terminate can’t address.
Moving beyond creature removal, Dreadbore is another card that is worth comparing. It gives players the capacity to take out planeswalkers in addition to creatures, though unlike Wrecking Ball, it’s restricted to sorcery speed, limiting its reactive potential. Rain of Tears stands out for its similarity as well, with its specific focus on land destruction at sorcery speed but lacking the creature removal aspect that Wrecking Ball provides.
Given these comparisons, Wrecking Ball carves its niche as a dual-purpose removal tool. Its strength lies not just in taking down creatures but also in disrupting land bases, a combination that can be pivotal in certain situations and decks within Magic: The Gathering, making it a card worth considering for its flexible and immediate impact on the game.
Cards similar to Wrecking Ball by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Wrecking Ball provides a two-for-one deal, as it allows you to destroy either a creature or a land, which can be strategically significant in gaining the upper hand. This dual option can shift the momentum of the game by removing a key piece of your opponent’s strategy.
Resource Acceleration: While Wrecking Ball itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, disrupting your opponent’s mana base by destroying their land can effectively set them back, securing a tempo advantage for yourself. In multi-color decks, getting rid of a specific land can also hinder their ability to cast spells with demanding color requirements.
Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Wrecking Ball elevates its strategic value, giving you the flexibility to wait for the most opportune moment to strike, such as during your opponent’s end step or in response to other plays they make. This keeps your opponents guessing and can force them to play around the potential threat of Wrecking Ball.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Wrecking Ball does not have a discard requirement, it’s essential to recognize that its absence means you need to carefully consider your hand before trading it off for the effect of card removal.
Specific Mana Cost: Wrecking Ball’s mana cost is uniquely split between black and red, which may not align with the mana base of multicolored decks that do not include these specific colors. This can limit deck diversity and complicate mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including both black and red, Wrecking Ball may be considered costly compared to other removal options. This can potentially slow down your game plan, especially in fast-paced matches where efficient mana expenditure is key.
Reasons to Include Wrecking Ball in Your Collection
Versatility: Wrecking Ball is a flexible addition to any deck, capable of handling tricky situations by destroying either a creature or land. This adaptability makes it an invaluable tool for handling diverse threats on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: With its dual functionality, this card opens up opportunities to disrupt your opponent’s strategy while setting up your own. It slips seamlessly into decks that thrive on the disruption of opponent resources and can catalyze combos that capitalize on creatures being sent to the graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where land-based strategies or creatures become predominant, Wrecking Ball’s capacity to remove key pieces from the equation makes it a potent sideboard card or even a main-deck consideration, depending on the adaptability of your deck.
How to beat
Wrecking Ball is a versatile card in the MTG world, renowned for its dual ability to destroy both creatures and lands. This card stands out as a hybrid between targeted creature removal and land destruction spells such as Terminate or Stone Rain, but with the added flexibility of catering to either need in a pinch. When facing this formidable spell, players need to be strategic in their approach to maintain their advantage on the battlefield.
Shielding your key creatures with hexproof abilities can safeguard them from being targeted by Wrecking Ball. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots or spells like Blossoming Defense offer a layer of protection against such targeted removal. Similarly, ensuring your land base is resilient against destruction is crucial. Running a suite of basic lands alongside nonbasic land utility helps mitigate the setback of losing a crucial mana source. Utilizing cards like Crucible of Worlds can recover lands from the graveyard, dampening the impact of Wrecking Ball’s land destruction ability.
In essence, beating Wrecking Ball entails preemptive protection and recovery strategies. Crafting your deck with these components in mind will place you in a stronger position against the threat of destruction that Wrecking Ball brings to the table.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wrecking Ball MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and Commander 2011, 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 Wrecking Ball 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 Wrecking Ball Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Ron Spears.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006-05-05 | Dissension | DIS | 139 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears | |
| 2 | 2011-06-17 | Commander 2011 | CMD | 238 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears | |
| 3 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 189 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears | |
| 4 | 2017-06-09 | Commander Anthology | CMA | 198 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears | |
| 5 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 74 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ron Spears |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wrecking Ball has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |