Pardic Wanderer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 226 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Igor Kieryluk |
Key Takeaways
- The Wanderer thwarts attacks, indirectly leading to card advantage by prolonging the game.
- While mana-intensive, it accelerates artifact-centric strategies with its Trample ability.
- Despite its generic mana cost, the Wanderer’s heft could prompt unwelcome discards.
Text of card
Trample
"To the head of Archaeological Findings: The excavation schedule at dig site 93-beta must be revised. Part of the site has walked off." —Tolarian field dispatch
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Pardic Wanderer doesn’t directly result in drawing cards, its substantial presence on the battlefield can dissuade opponents from attacking, potentially causing a stalemate that can buy you the turns needed to access more cards and resources.
Resource Acceleration: Pardic Wanderer may not offer traditional mana ramp, but as a common creature with the Trample ability, it can be a cost-effective addition to decks that focus on powering up artifact synergies or enabling metalcraft and improvise mechanics, thus accelerating your overall strategy.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Pardic Wanderer can complement decks that operate at instant speed by providing a resilient threat that must be dealt with. This allows players to capitalize on their opponent’s need to hold up mana to answer it, possibly leading to advantageous situations during their own turns.
Card Cons
Specific Mana Cost: Pardic Wanderer requires a specific combination of mana to cast – six colorless mana – which can be challenging to gather, especially in the early game or multicolored decks that may have other mana demands.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At six mana to cast, Pardic Wanderer comes with a high mana cost that can prove to be a considerable investment, particularly when there are numerous other creatures and spells at a lower cost that could be more impactful in a game.
Discard Requirement: Though Pardic Wanderer itself does not have a discard requirement, its high mana cost could indirectly force players to discard other valuable cards if they need to keep land drops to cast it. This can put players at a disadvantage by depleting their hand.
Reasons to Include Pardic Wanderer in Your Collection
Versatility: Pardic Wanderer may not be the flashiest of creatures, but its ability to be slotted into any deck due to its generic mana cost makes it a flexible option for players needing a robust artifact creature. Its trample ability ensures that it can push through damage even when blocked by multiple creatures.
Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Pardic Wanderer can synergize with strategies that care about artifact counts, such as those involving Affinity for Artifacts or Improvise. This allows you to potentially cast high-cost spells earlier or leverage artifacts-matter cards for greater effect.
Meta-Relevance: With a sturdy 5/5 body, Pardic Wanderer can be particularly relevant in metas where ground-based combat is prevalent. It can stand up to many of the format’s mid-size creatures and can be especially useful in limited formats such as draft or sealed where its size can dominate the battlefield.
How to beat
Pardic Wanderer may not be on the radar as one of the most intimidating creatures in Magic: The Gathering, but its trample ability can make it a nuisance, especially in limited formats like Draft or Sealed. On the surface, it’s a straightforward Common artifact creature from the Dominaria set, but like any card, it has its strengths and weaknesses.
Overcoming a Pardic Wanderer in play is a question of smart management and strategic resource allocation. As a 5/5 creature, direct removal spells are a highly effective way to deal with it. These spells bypass the trample ability, removing the threat immediately. Spells that can exile creatures, like Cast Out or Swords to Plowshares, can handle the Wanderer efficiently. Alternatively, chump blocking it with smaller creatures turn after turn can be a temporary solution, but it’s not sustainable.
Control decks that can outpace the Wanderer may simply ignore it until a win condition is reached. On the other hand, utilizing cards which decrease the opposing creature’s power or incapacitate it without destroying it, like Pacifism or Claustrophobia, can neutralize the Wanderer without triggering abilities that may benefit from the creature’s death. Recognizing the appropriate path to counter a Pardic Wanderer will smoothly clear your path to victory.
Cards like Pardic Wanderer
Pardic Wanderer presents an interesting case in the world of artifact creatures of Magic: The Gathering. This six-mana creature stands out with its significant toughness, making it a sturdy blocker on the battlefield. Comparing it to other artifact creatures such as Foundry Assembler, Pardic Wanderer doesn’t have the potential cost reduction advantage. Foundry Assembler can be cast for less with the assist of the improvise mechanic.
Ruined Stalactite also shares the trait of granting all creature types, akin to the Wanderer. However, Pardic Wanderer’s value lies in its consistent ability to fortify defenses without relying on other cards. Colossus of Akros can be a baseline for comparison too. Although more expensive, once it becomes monstrous, Colossus of Akros offers a massive offensive capability that Pardic Wanderer cannot equal.
In observing these comparisons, Pardic Wanderer remains a viable option for decks needing a reliable artifact creature with robust blocking potential. Its straightforward summoning cost and substantial toughness can be quite relevant during the late game stages, even without the auxiliary functions of similar cards.
Cards similar to Pardic Wanderer by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Pardic Wanderer MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, 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 Pardic Wanderer and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Pardic Wanderer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
