Ward Sliver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Ward Sliver defends other slivers, dissuading opponents from targeted spells and preserving your resources.
  2. A precise mana cost and potential discard requirement present tactical challenges when playing Ward Sliver.
  3. Its adaptability to threats and combo potential make it a strong choice for inclusion in Sliver-focused decks.

Text of card

As Ward Sliver comes into play, choose a color. All Slivers have protection from the chosen color.

The first wave of slivers perished from the Riptide wizards' magic. The second wave shrugged off their spells like water.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Ward Sliver in play, the ability to provide protection for your slivers means not just defending against targeted removal but also potentially dissuading opponents from casting single-target spells in the first place. This allows you to maintain a formidable board presence and keep your hand stocked with other strategic options.

Resource Acceleration: Although Ward Sliver doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it indirectly contributes to resource preservation. By safeguarding your slivers from targeted removal, you’re effectively saving the mana that would otherwise be spent on recasting these creatures, thus allowing you to allocate resources towards game-winning strategies.

Instant Speed: While Ward Sliver itself doesn’t have flash, its impact on the game can be felt as if it did. Its defensive ability keeps your slivers safe at all times, which can be akin to having an instant-speed counter ready for any targeted threats that come your way. This makes opponents think twice before making their move, giving you the upper hand during critical phases of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Utilizing the Ward Sliver often means conforming to the card’s specific demand on your hand. This card requires precision in play, as maintaining a hand that can accommodate both its casting and ability costs might result in discarding valuable assets. The strategic disadvantage can loom large for a player unable to balance the discard cost with their broader game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: The Ward Sliver comes with a particular mana cost that requires both white and colorless mana. This specific combination can present a limitation for players who are running multicolor decks that may not consistently produce the correct mana types. Integrating the Ward Sliver into such a deck demands careful mana base planning to avoid getting hamstrung by color constraints.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that leans on the higher end, Ward Sliver demands a significant mana investment. For the same mana expenditure, a player could potentially summon multiple creatures or cast spells with more immediate board impact. The resource allocation for Ward Sliver could therefore be seen as inefficient, especially in a fast-paced game where tempo is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ward Sliver extends its protective ability to all slivers you control, making it a must-have in any Sliver deck. Its capacity to offer choice in protection color adapts on-the-fly to different threats, providing a tactical advantage regardless of the opponent’s strategy.

Combo Potential: When paired with other slivers, Ward Sliver’s value exponentially increases. Whether it’s used to safeguard an aggressive board state or secure a pivotal combo piece, this card harmonizes with a multitude of Sliver synergies, creating opportunities for game-clinching plays.

Meta-Relevance: Within the ever-evolving MTG landscape, adapting to the predominant archetype is key. Given that targeted removal is a cornerstone of most competitive formats, integrating Ward Sliver into your arsenal can be an effective countermeasure against control decks and pinpoint destruction.


How to beat

Ward Sliver poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, giving fellow Slivers a powerful form of protection with its ability to dictate that any spells or abilities your opponents aim at them will cost more. This layer of defense makes targeting Slivers with removal spells or abilities less efficient and can quickly turn the tide in favor of Sliver decks. To overcome Ward Sliver, one strategy is to employ board wipes that don’t target individual creatures. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board without having to pay the additional costs imposed by Ward Sliver’s ability.

Another approach is to use mass -1/-1 effects like Infest, which skirt around the ‘ward’ by not targeting specific creatures. Additionally, utilizing spells that counter creature abilities or casting spells when your opponent is low on mana can help prevent the Ward Sliver from effectively using its ability. Winning against a Ward Sliver also often involves playing around its protections by prioritizing the removal of the Ward Sliver itself if possible, or otherwise changing your tactics to reduce the effect of its protective ward on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Ward Sliver can be a game-changer in your MTG battles, enhancing your slivers’ resilience against targeted spells and abilities. To maximize its potential, consider its synergies with your deck and weigh the mana cost against the benefit of improved defense. Explore our in-depth guide for strategic insights and learn how this card can turn your slivers into an impenetrable force. Build your ideal Sliver deck with Ward Sliver as a linchpin for protection, and make every match a testament to your tactical prowess. Elevate your collection and strategies with us today.


Cards like Ward Sliver

Ward Sliver plays a unique role in the Magic: The Gathering realm with its ability to grant all slivers you control the ward ability, making them harder to target. Akin to this card is Crystalline Sliver, which embraces a similar defensive strategy but opts to give slivers shroud, outright preventing them from being targeted. Although Crystalline Sliver’s effect is more absolute, Ward Sliver provides a customizable defense through its color choice upon entering the battlefield, allowing adaptability against your opponent’s deck.

Diving into the comparison, we also encounter Diffusion Sliver. This creature provides a more economical approach to protecting slivers with a cost on any spells or abilities your opponents cast targeting slivers you control. This deterrent can be highly effective, especially in games where mana resources are tight. Yet, Ward Sliver reinforces defenses even against non-targeted spells of the chosen color by requiring a ward payment for each attempt.

Assessing the protective abilities of slivers as a whole, Ward Sliver introduces a flexible and tactical element to the battlefield, complementing and contrasting the all-or-nothing approach of Crystalline and the mana-taxing nature of Diffusion Sliver. Each has its benefits, but Ward Sliver’s tailored protection often makes it a preferable choice for players seeking to adapt to evolving game states.

Crystalline Sliver - MTG Card versions
Diffusion Sliver - MTG Card versions
Crystalline Sliver - Stronghold (STH)
Diffusion Sliver - Magic 2015 (M15)

Cards similar to Ward Sliver by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Karmic Guide - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Glory - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Rashida Scalebane - Mirage (MIR)
Avenging Angel - Tempest (TMP)
Lancers en-Kor - Stronghold (STH)
Radiant, Archangel - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Karmic Guide - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Master Healer - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Angel of Mercy - The List (PLST)
Serra Angel - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Border Patrol - Judgment (JUD)
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Sigardian Savior - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID)
Glory - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Celestial Gatekeeper - Legions (LGN)
Collector Protector - Unhinged (UNH)
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - Saviors of Kamigawa Promos (PSOK)
Belfry Spirit - Guildpact (GPT)
Petra Sphinx - Masters Edition (ME1)
Barrenton Medic - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Ivory Gargoyle - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ward Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Ward Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ward Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-02-03LegionsLGN 251997normalblackPete Venters
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6172015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ward Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ward Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.

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