Wall of Swords MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 22 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wall
Abilities Defender,Flying
Power 3
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Blocks early threats efficiently, indirectly providing resource acceleration by saving mana for later plays.
  2. Demands strategy adaptation from opponents due to its immediate impact on combat dynamics.
  3. Limited use in versatile or multi-colored decks owing to its specific mana requirements.

Text of card

Flying

Just as the evil ones approached to slay Justina, she cast a great spell, imbuing her weapons with her own life force. Thus she fulfilled the prophecy: "In the death of your savior will you find salvation."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though not directly impacting card draw, Wall of Swords can stabilize your board, deterring multiple attackers over time. This solid defense can indirectly lead to card advantage, as opponents might need to use multiple resources to overcome it.

Resource Acceleration: While Wall of Swords doesn’t produce mana or treasure tokens, its four toughness represents a form of resource acceleration. By efficiently blocking early threats, it can preserve your life total and other creatures, effectively saving the mana you’d otherwise spend on stabilizing the board later.

Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, the value Wall of Swords provides comes from its deterrent effect, similar to instant speed interaction. It can change the dynamics of combat immediately as it’s played, forcing opponents to consider new lines of attack or commit further resources hastily.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t directly necessitate discarding cards, however, due to its specific mana cost and leaning towards defensive play, it could indirectly force players to discard if holding onto too many non-creature cards that do not align with the defensive strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires two white mana, Wall of Swords may not easily fit into multi-colored decks or those with a more flexible mana base. This can limit its playability primarily to mono-white or decks with heavy white mana accessibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment of four mana, especially with the two being white-specific, might seem steep for a card that primarily serves as a defensive measure. There are other creature cards or defensive options available that could provide more board presence or versatility at a lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Swords offers solid defensive capabilities across a broad range of deck types. Whether you’re running a control strategy or a combo deck, the card provides a reliable shield against early assaults.

Combo Potential: With its high toughness, Wall of Swords stands as a formidable defender, and when used in conjunction with cards that utilize toughness for special abilities or damage calculations, it becomes an even more valuable piece in various defensive combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by aggressive creature decks, Wall of Swords can quickly become an essential barrier. It can halt many attackers in their tracks, buying you the precious time needed to set up your winning board state or deliver crucial spells.


How to beat

The Wall of Swords card stands out within Magic: The Gathering as a formidable defender with both a high toughness and flying. Its presence can deter many combat strategies, potentially stalling opponents who rely on airborne attacks. Navigating around this card requires a strategic approach that can align with several methods.

One effective strategy is to bypass the Wall of Swords entirely. Cards that grant unblockable status to your creatures or spells that reduce the opponent’s life total without engaging in combat, such as direct damage spells or effects, can effectively circumvent this wall’s defensive stance. Additionally, board wipes that clear all creatures from the board, including robust defenders like Wall of Swords, can reset the field of play to your advantage, allowing for a fresh attack on your opponent’s life points.

Another tactic is to target the Wall of Swords directly. Removal spells that can target any creature, irrespective of abilities like flying, are particularly useful. Moreover, engaging in combat with creatures that have deathtouch, which allows any damage they deal to be lethal to a creature, can also prove to be a practical method to dismantle this aerial barrier. Therefore, including versatile removal or evasion tactics in your deck can provide the necessary tools to overcome obstacles like the Wall of Swords.


Cards like Wall of Swords

Wall of Swords stands out in Magic: The Gathering with its defining feature as a sturdy defender with a solid stat line of 3/5. Among comparable walls in the game, Wall of Omens catches attention for providing card advantage upon entry, though it’s less formidable with a 0/4 defense. Sentry of the Underworld also shares the skies with Wall of Swords and brings versatility, offering lifelink and flying, albeit at the cost of more resources and a white/black color requirement.

Another card to consider is Guardian of the Ages, a more costly alternative but one that transforms from a passive defender into a powerful attacker once triggered. Where Wall of Swords offers consistent aerial defense, Guardian of the Ages promises a dramatic shift in battlefield control under the right circumstances. Gleaming Barrier falls on the budget-friendly side, able to deter early aggression and leave behind a valuable Treasure token after its destruction, though it pales in comparison with Wall of Swords’ sheer defensive presence.

Each of these defenders carries its unique advantages and roles within different strategies, yet it’s the Wall of Swords’ straightforward and resilient defense that anchors it as a reliable choice for players who value a solid defensive line to protect against aerial threats.

Wall of Omens - MTG Card versions
Sentry of the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Guardian of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Gleaming Barrier - MTG Card versions
Wall of Omens - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Sentry of the Underworld - Theros (THS)
Guardian of the Ages - Magic 2014 (M14)
Gleaming Barrier - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Cards similar to Wall of Swords by color, type and mana cost

Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Teroh's Vanguard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Leonin Abunas - MTG Card versions
Kami of Old Stone - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Blinking Spirit - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Veteran of the Depths - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - Revised Edition (3ED)
Moorish Cavalry - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Witch Hunter - Chronicles (CHR)
Carrier Pigeons - Alliances (ALL)
Tormented Angel - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Seasoned Marshal - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Coalition Honor Guard - Apocalypse (APC)
Teroh's Vanguard - Torment (TOR)
Mangara, the Diplomat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Akroma's Devoted - Legions (LGN)
Leonin Abunas - Mirrodin (MRD)
Kami of Old Stone - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Aven Cloudchaser - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Blinking Spirit - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Seht's Tiger - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Valor - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Veteran of the Depths - Lorwyn (LRW)
Guardian Seraph - Magic 2010 (M10)
Lightkeeper of Emeria - Worldwake (WWK)
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - Salvat 2011 (PS11)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Swords MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Wall of Swords and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wall of Swords Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 8 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 421993normalblackMark Tedin
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 431993normalblackMark Tedin
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 431993normalwhiteMark Tedin
41993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 431993normalblackMark Tedin
51993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 431993normalblackMark Tedin
61994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 431993normalwhiteMark Tedin
71994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 431993normalblackMark Tedin
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 431993normalwhiteMark Tedin
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 551993normalblackMark Tedin
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 551993normalwhiteMark Tedin
111997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 671997normalwhiteBrian Snõddy
121997-05-01PortalPOR 371997normalblackDouglas Shuler
131999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 511997normalwhiteBrian Snõddy
142001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 551997normalwhiteHannibal King
152001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 55★1997normalblackHannibal King
162003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 56★2003normalblackHannibal King
172003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 562003normalwhiteHannibal King
182007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 572003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
192007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 57★2003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
202013-07-19Magic 2014M14 412003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
212022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 422015normalblackMark Tedin
222022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 3391997normalblackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Swords has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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