Barbed-Back Wurm MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Wurm
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Power	4
Toughness	3
Number	105
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gary Leach

Key Takeaways

Barbed-Back Wurm functions as a multifaceted card, challenging opponents while fortifying your defenses.
It demands answers, which can tilt resource allocation in your favor, subtly accelerating your gameplay.
When coupled with instant-speed spells, it enhances combat tactics, surprising adversaries during key interactions.

Text of card

oo B Target green creature blocking Barbed-Back Wurm gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

"The Mwonvuli Jungle has given the darkness teeth for tearing the gift of life from the weak." —Jolrael

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Barbed-Back Wurm is capable of providing indirect card advantage by acting as both an offensive and defensive asset on the board. Its formidable size can dissuade opponents from attacking, effectively saving cards in your hand that might have been needed for defense.

Resource Acceleration: Although Barbed-Back Wurm itself does not provide traditional mana acceleration, its mere presence can free up mana for other uses. By demanding answers from your opponent, they may have to invest resources to deal with it, accelerating your own game plan while they are set back.

Instant Speed: While this creature does not have an instant speed mechanic itself, it synergizes well with cards that do. Combining it with instant-speed spells or abilities can create unexpected combat math, swinging the battlefield in your favor at pivotal moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Barbed-Back Wurm necessitates the player to part with a card to utilize its formidable ability, potentially putting you at a card disadvantage during important stages of play.

Specific Mana Cost: Assembling the required black and green mana integral for summoning this fearsome creature may prove challenging in multicolored decks, confining its compatibility and impacting strategic flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The resource allocation for Barbed-Back Wurm is significant, especially when considered against other cards with lower mana investments that offer similar or superior board impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Barbed-Back Wurm offers a flexible role in numerous black-themed decks. Its capability to function both as a solid blocker and an aggressive threat makes it adaptable to shifting gameplay, suitable for varied strategic approaches.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice for benefit or those that thrive on graveyard interactions, giving it diverse combo potential for savvy players seeking to optimize their in-game tactics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors large creatures, Barbed-Back Wurm can shine as a cost-effective option. Its ability to influence the board at a reasonable mana value can make it a judicious choice for players contending with the current competitive environment.

How to beat

The Barbed-Back Wurm poses a unique challenge on the battlefield. As a creature that thrives on your opponent’s life loss to grow stronger, it requires a precise strategy to overcome. To effectively neutralize this threat, consider using removal spells that can handle larger creatures, such as Murder or Path to Exile. Direct damage spells can be less effective since they might inadvertently increase the wurm’s power before it’s potential is nullified.

Equally viable is the tactic of focusing on life gain and stabilizing your board, which protects you from the wurm’s growing threat and grants you more time to find a long-term solution. Cards that can exile creatures from the game, like Swords to Plowshares, bypass the wurm’s capability altogether and eliminate it without triggering its power boost. Moreover, utilizing enchantments that restrict the abilities of your opponent’s creatures will also serve to contain the wurm’s growth and render it a less formidable force.

Ultimately, managing your responses and maintaining control of the board state is critical when dealing with the Barbed-Back Wurm. Swift removal and strategic planning ensure that this particular peril is swiftly addressed, maintaining the upper hand in your MTG matches.

Cards like Barbed-Back Wurm

In the realm of creature cards within MTG, Barbed-Back Wurm has some competition when it comes to being a commanding presence on the battlefield. Its similar counterparts include Craw Wurm and Dross Crocodile, each with their own merits and slight variations in power, toughness, and mana costs. Craw Wurm, like Barbed-Back Wurm, boasts a significant power and toughness for the mana investment, making it a sturdy option for strategies that revolve around overwhelming the opponent with sheer force.

Moving to Dross Crocodile, players will notice this card has slightly lower toughness but compensates with a lower mana cost. This wurm variant sets itself apart with its home in black mana decks, aligning with a more aggressive play style focused on quick damage output. The balance of cost versus impact for these creatures is critical, as each card fits into its own unique deck archetype, showing the diverse pathways to potential victory offered up by MTG.

Overall, when it comes to choosing a hefty creature card for your deck, Barbed-Back Wurm stands up well with its kin, delivering a valuable mix of strength and board presence for those looking to leave a mark on the game with monstrous-sized creatures.

Cards similar to Barbed-Back Wurm by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Plaguelord - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Barbed-Back Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Barbed-Back Wurm and other MTG cards: