Spined Wurm MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 185
1998-03-02 - Number 121
2001-04-11 - Number 270★
2001-04-11 - Number 270
2003-07-28 - Number 279
2003-07-28 - Number 279★
2005-07-29 - Number S10
2007-07-13 - Number 298
2010-06-04 - Number 83
2010-07-16 - Number 197
2015-05-06 - Number 198
1995-01-02 - Number 11
| Card sets | Released in 12 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Wurm |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Spined Wurm’s robust stats can cause opponents to use multiple cards, potentially giving you card advantage.
- Efficient for its cost, Spined Wurm reinforces board presence without exhausting mana for other plays.
- While non-instant, Spined Wurm’s casting allows mana flexibility for other instant-speed interactions.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Spined Wurm itself may not directly allow you to draw cards, its robust presence on the battlefield compels opponents to expend more resources to deal with it. This can indirectly lead to a card advantage as opponents might need to use multiple cards to handle this single threat.
Resource Acceleration: Spined Wurm isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration. However, its efficiency in terms of power relative to mana cost makes it a cost-effective creature that allows you to develop your board presence without compromising your mana resources for other pivotal plays.
Instant Speed: Spined Wurm is a sorcery-speed creature. However, when assessing instant speed in interaction with Spined Wurm, it’s valuable to consider the spells you can play in tandem. Having mana open for other instant-speed interactions after casting Spined Wurm allows you to remain flexible and responsive to your opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Spined Wurm doesn’t demand a discard upon casting, which sets it apart from some other cards that may impact your hand negatively.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a green color commitment, meaning your deck must generate sufficient green mana, potentially limiting its inclusion in multi-colored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of five mana to field, Spined Wurm may seem pricey when evaluating its basic stat line and lack of abilities, especially when the board could be developed with more impactful cards with the same investment.
Reasons to Include Spined Wurm in Your Collection
Versatility: Spined Wurm boasts a solid body for green creature decks, potentially fitting in with various green-based strategies, from stompy to ramp archetypes, helping to hold off aggressive attacks or serve as a reliable mid-game threat.
Combo Potential: Boasting a simple yet sizable form, the Spined Wurm can be a key component in decks that capitalize on high-powered creatures, synergizing with mechanics like trample or auras that increase its might, transforming it into a formidable force on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where power and toughness are paramount, Spined Wurm’s sturdy 5/4 stats at a reasonable mana cost give it an edge, especially in environments that aren’t heavily focused on ultra-efficient removal spells.
How to beat
The Spined Wurm represents a classical power threat in MTG, boasting a solid body that can be a considerable obstacle on the battlefield. Its sheer size for its mana cost often means it can stand toe-to-toe with many creatures and come out on top. When facing such a formidable creature, it’s essential to employ strategic removal or control options.
When confronting the Spined Wurm, efficient removal spells are your best friends. Spells that can handle large creatures without a significant cost to you, like Doom Blade or Go for the Throat, can dispatch the Wurm before it has the chance to flex its muscles. Likewise, board control abilities like Pacifism or the ever-capable bounce spells, such as Unsummon, can neutralize it temporarily, giving you the upper hand. Utilizing these types of cards can sway the game back to an even playing field or even tilt it in your favor. Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of combat tricks; a well-timed Giant Growth on a smaller blocker can take down the Wurm, turning its strengths into vulnerabilities.
Ultimately, a balanced approach involving timely removal and strategic creature placement is the key to outmaneuvering the threat posed by Spined Wurm. Adaptability to such power plays is crucial to mastering the flow of the game.
Cards like Spined Wurm
In the vast array of MTG creature cards, Spined Wurm stands out due to its sheer simplicity as a stout green creature. With its formidable 5/4 stats for a relatively low mana cost, it provides a sturdy presence on the battlefield. Delving into cards with similarities, we find Craw Wurm, which shares the same creature type and cost-to-power ratio. Yet Spined Wurm is slightly more cost-effective due to one less mana in its cost.
Examining cards like Thorn Elemental, we see another kindred spirit in the green creature lineup. Thorn Elemental demands a higher mana investment but rewards players with the ability to assign damage as though it weren’t blocked. Baloth Woodcrasher offers another interesting comparison; while initially less powerful, its landfall ability provides potential for significant power increases during the game.
Lastly, Garruk’s Companion shines with its trample ability at a lower cost, but it doesn’t match the raw power Spined Wurm delivers. Thus, among its counterparts, Spined Wurm remains a solid choice for players seeking straightforward brute force on the board without the complication of additional abilities.
Cards similar to Spined Wurm by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Spined Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Portal, 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 Spined Wurm 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
Printings
The Spined Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Inserts | PMEI | 11 | 1997 | normal | white | Keith Parkinson | ||
| 2 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 185 | 1997 | normal | black | Colin MacNeil | |
| 3 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 121 | 1997 | normal | black | Keith Parkinson | |
| 4 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 270★ | 1997 | normal | black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 5 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 270 | 1997 | normal | white | Carl Critchlow | |
| 6 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 279 | 2003 | normal | white | Keith Parkinson | |
| 7 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 279★ | 2003 | normal | black | Keith Parkinson | |
| 8 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | S10 | 2003 | normal | white | Carl Critchlow | |
| 9 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 298 | 2003 | normal | black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 10 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 83 | 2003 | normal | black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 11 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 197 | 2003 | normal | black | Carl Critchlow | |
| 12 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 198 | 2015 | normal | black | Keith Parkinson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Spined Wurm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
