Moaning Wall MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie Wall
Abilities	Cycling,Defender
Released	2017-07-14
Set symbol
Set name	Hour of Devastation
Set code	HOU
Power	0
Toughness	5
Number	72
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Piotr Jabłoński

Key Takeaways

A 0/5 defender, Moaning Wall offers dependable battlefield blocking and graveyard strategy support.
Its cycling ability at instant speed enhances deck fluidity and adaptability during matches.
High mana cost and specific color requirements may challenge deck integration and versatility.

Text of card

Defender Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Before the monuments, before the first trials, before Naktamun itself, Bolas culled the plane of its adults in order to rebuild it for his own designs.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Moaning Wall helps to maintain a solid defense while still being a potential source of card advantage in certain graveyard-based strategies. Though not direct card draw, it can effectively count as a card when brought back from the graveyard or by enabling other card interaction mechanics.

Resource Acceleration: This creature can assist in resource acceleration by providing a stable defensive presence, allowing more substantial investments in future turns. Additionally, with synergistic cards, it has the potential to contribute to ramping mechanisms through its cycling ability.

Instant Speed: The cycling ability of Moaning Wall operates at instant speed, allowing for flexibility in gameplay. It offers players the option to cycle for a new card during an opponent’s turn if the creature aspect of the card is not immediately needed, thus optimizing resource usage and maintaining a fluid hand throughout the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Moaning Wall’s cycling ability comes at the cost of discarding it from your hand. This can set you back when you’re trying to maintain card advantage, as it means you’re losing a potential blocker or deterrent on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Moaning Wall, you need two colorless and one black mana. This specificity can be restrictive for multicolor decks that might struggle with producing the right mana at the right time, limiting the card’s versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana for a 0/5 creature, Moaning Wall may be considered a costly investment for its stats and abilities. In fast-paced games, players may find more aggressive or cost-effective creatures that offer a better return on investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Moaning Wall fits smoothly into various deck builds, often serving as a reliable defensive blocker with its solid toughness. It is particularly useful in strategies that require a durable creature on the battlefield to thwart aggressive opponents.

Combo Potential: As a creature with cycling, Moaning Wall has the potential to mesh with deck themes focused on graveyard synergy or drawing cards. This ability can help trigger effects that occur when a card is cycled or when a creature is sent to the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame dominated by aggressive decks, having a low-cost creature like Moaning Wall can stave off early threats, giving you time to set up your board and execute your strategy. It poses a wall for opponents to overcome while you cycle towards the right answers or threats in your deck.

How to beat

Moaning Wall is a defensive staple in many MTG decks, thanks to its significant toughness and ability to cycle for card advantage. This wall stands out with its formidable 0/5 body, making it a reliable blocker against early aggression. Its synergetic design caters to strategies revolving around graveyard mechanics, as cycling it dumps a card into your graveyard, potentially fueling other elements of your deck.

Overcoming this sturdy obstacle requires tactics that either bypass its defensive stature or remove it without engaging in combat. Direct removal spells are an effective answer; cards that can exile, destroy, or reduce toughness work exceptionally well. Fliers and creatures with trample can circumvent the wall entirely, applying pressure directly to your opponent’s life total. Enchantment-based removal that taps the wall down or prevents it from blocking ensures your creatures can safely attack. Strategic gameplay and knowledge of the right spells can smoothly navigate past the fortified defenses of Moaning Wall and secure victory.

Ultimately, if your strategy includes versatile removal or evasion abilities, Moaning Wall becomes less of an issue. The key is to remain adaptive and ensure your deck can handle a variety of defensive threats for a path to success.

Cards like Moaning Wall

Moaning Wall is a distinctive card that finds its niche within the defender archetype in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives in function might be cards like Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs and Wall of Vines. Each serves as an inexpensive way to stave off early aggression. Unlike its kin, Moaning Wall demands a heavier mana investment but compensates by offering a more robust defense strength. It has the additional utility of cycling for when it outlives its usefulness.

Looking at cards with cycling, we see a parallel in Desert of the Glorified. Though not a creature, this land shares the cycling trait, allowing players to dig through their decks for answers. Marrying the defensive utility of a wall with the flexibility of cycling makes Moaning Wall an intriguing choice. Stapled on to that is the substantial power level for a blocker, which although passive, can deter various threats early on.

Therefore, in the realm of defenders with added benefits, Moaning Wall is an interesting option for players needing a placeholder while they set up their board, affording both immediate defense and strategic depth with its cycling potential later in the game.

Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs - MTG Card versions

Desert of the Glorified - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Moaning Wall by color, type and mana cost

Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Moaning Wall MTG card by a specific set like Hour of Devastation, 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 Moaning Wall and other MTG cards: