Trench Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wurm
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	127
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Wayne England

Key Takeaways

The card’s ability to destroy land secures a distinct advantage in resource control battles.
Resource acceleration via land destruction can be pivotal in gaining game dominance.
Trench Wurm’s synergy with instant spells can turn the tide of a match.

Text of card

o R, oc T: Destroy target nonbasic land.

"Their arrival marks the end of Yawgmoth's subtlety." —Urza

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability of Trench Wurm to potentially destroy an opponent’s land when it deals combat damage grants a takeaway advantage. Maintaining a hand with such strategic cards ensures that you’ll have the upper hand as you force your opponent to lose vital resources.

Resource Acceleration: Trench Wurm comes with a devouring capability to rapidly accelerate your resources. By eliminating an opponent’s land, you not only set back their gameplay but potentially expand your battlefield dominance through indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: While Trench Wurm itself may not have instant speed, the potential to equip instant speed spells or abilities to react to its land-destroying attack can be a game-changer. This synergy with instant speed reactions further solidifies its role as an important player in any match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Trench Wurm’s activation demands that you discard a land card which can be restrictive, especially when your hand is already depleting, or when maintaining land drops is crucial to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that specifically requires both red and green mana, Trench Wurm’s flexibility is hindered as it slots only comfortably into Gruul decks or those that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a formidable creature, the mana investment required to summon the Trench Wurm is substantial, potentially hindering your tempo especially when matched against decks that output quicker threats or wield more cost-efficient removal.

Reasons to Include Trench Wurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Trench Wurm offers utility across various decks, adapting well to strategies that capitalize on land destruction or graveyard manipulation.

Combo Potential: This creature can be a key piece in decks focused on recurrence effects or those that benefit from cycling lands back from the graveyard to the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where land control is pivotal, Trench Wurm can disrupt your opponent’s mana base, giving you an advantage in resource-intensive matches.

How to beat

The Trench Wurm card introduces an intriguing challenge on the battlefield for Magic: The Gathering players. This creature can prove to be a formidable foe with its unique abilities that can catch opponents off guard. Assessing strategies to tackle this threat is crucial for players aiming to maintain control of the game.

To effectively counter Trench Wurm, players should consider its key characteristics. Since it often relies on land-based mechanics, disrupting the opponent’s land can be an efficient way to undermine Trench Wurm’s potential. Land destruction or land control spells could play a pivotal role in this scenario. Moreover, direct removal spells remain a reliable method to dispense with the creature before it starts wreaking havoc on your strategy. It’s also worth noting that Trench Wurm usually operates under specific conditions, so keeping an eye on the state of the game can give you an advantage and the opportunity to act before its abilities become too impactful.

Every card in Magic: The Gathering has its strengths and weaknesses, and Trench Wurm is no exception. Understanding the mechanics at play, preparing key cards in your deck, and adapting your tactics in response to the creature can ensure your triumph over this burrowing beast.

Cards like Trench Wurm

Trench Wurm is a noteworthy creature in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering. When scouting for similar cards within the game, one might consider the likes of Siege Wurm. Both embody the raw strength and presence of formidable wurm creatures on the battlefield. However, Trench Wurm’s unique land cycling ability offers a strategic advantage, providing both deck thinning and mana fixing capabilities. This is an edge that Siege Wurm, with its straightforward conquest trample ability, does not feature.

Another similar creature to Trench Wurm is Boneyard Wurm. While Boneyard Wurm’s power and toughness depend on the number of creature cards in your graveyard, thus bringing in an aspect of variability, Trench Wurm maintains consistent stats and the added versatility with its cycling ability. Additionally, Greater Sandwurm is a card that, like Trench Wurm, possesses a cycling ability, but it exchanges land cycling for sheer power with the ability to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or less, offering a different angle for bypassing opponents’ defenses.

In essence, while there are other wurms in Magic: The Gathering with their own unique strengths, Trench Wurm’s land cycling cannot be overlooked for players seeking a mix of power on the board and strategic deck management.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trench Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Trench Wurm and other MTG cards: