Witherscale Wurm MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Wurm |
| Released | 2008-05-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Shadowmoor |
| Set code | SHM |
| Power | 9 |
| Toughness | 9 |
| Number | 134 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Thomas M. Baxa |
Key Takeaways
- Witherscale Wurm’s damage response adds counters, offering card draw potential, posing a dilemma for opponents.
- Discarding a card is essential to leverage the Wurm’s abilities, demanding savvy hand management.
- Versatile in many decks, especially those capitalizing on battlefield control through sizeable creatures.
Text of card
Whenever Witherscale Wurm blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gains wither until end of turn. (It deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.) Whenever Witherscale Wurm deals damage to an opponent, remove all -1/-1 counters from it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Witherscale Wurm provides you with a formidable creature that can potentially generate card advantage. Each time it’s dealt damage, it places a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the damage on it, and if those counters are removed, you draw cards. This not only encourages your opponents to think twice before attacking, but it can also turn any damage dealt to the wurm into future card draw for you.
Resource Acceleration: While Witherscale Wurm itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its substantial presence can dominate the battlefield and make way for your other spells. By absorbing damage and potentially growing stronger, it helps maintain your other resources, letting you commit mana to further your board state instead of constantly defending.
Instant Speed: Although Witherscale Wurm is a creature that doesn’t have an instant speed ability on its own, its interaction with damage makes it synergize well with instant speed spells in your deck. Spells that can deal damage to the Wurm at instant speed allow you to draw cards on your terms, giving it an indirect connection to instant speed dynamics.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging with Witherscale Wurm requires strategic planning, as it necessitates discarding another card to unleash its abilities. This can be restrictive when you’re already managing a tight hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Tailored for green-centered decks, Witherscale Wurm demands a heavy green mana investment. This specific mana cost could hinder its integration into more diverse deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Witherscale Wurm offers a substantial presence on the battlefield, its six mana cost is significant. This cost may delay play or compete with other high-impact cards in the same mana range.
Reasons to Include Witherscale Wurm in Your Collection
Versatility: Witherscale Wurm can easily fit into a variety of decks, particularly those that strive for a strong battlefield presence with large creatures. Its ability to deal damage while gaining you life adds a dynamic layer to both offensive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: The Wurm’s unique interaction with damage and -1/-1 counters can synergize with a range of cards that manipulate counters or benefit from damage being dealt. This opens up opportunities for creative and potentially game-winning combinations.
Meta-Relevance: Given that it can be a formidable threat against decks that rely on smaller creatures, its relevance in the meta should be considered. The Wurm challenges opponents to find an answer quickly, or risk falling to its growing power on the battlefield.
How to beat
Witherscale Wurm offers a unique challenge on the battlefield. This hefty creature from the Strixhaven set is recognized for its power and its ability to inflict Wither counters on creatures it battles. However, defeating this formidable Wurm isn’t impossible. One effective tactic is to use creature removal spells that don’t involve damage, bypassing the Wither counter mechanic entirely. Spells like “Path to Exile” or “Murderous Rider” swiftly deal with the Wurm without triggering its Wither ability.
Alternatively, control strategies focused on countering creature spells can prevent the Wurm from entering the field in the first place. An arsenal that includes versatile counterspells like “Mana Leak” or “Dovin’s Veto” can keep your opponent’s threats at bay, including the Witherscale Wurm. Since the creature requires a substantial mana investment, countering it also sets back your opponent’s game plan significantly.
In summation, tackling the Witherscale Wurm requires a mix of smart removal choices and preemptive counterspelling. Ensure your deck has the tools to handle such threats, and the Wurm will be less of an obstacle and more of a stepping stone to victory.
Cards like Witherscale Wurm
Witherscale Wurm is a powerful creature in MTG that has made a significant impact in decks that favor graveyard strategies and damage-based effects. It aligns with cards like Polukranos, Unchained, which also thrives on its ability to return from the graveyard and leverage damage received. However, Witherscale Wurm’s uniqueness lies in its ability to place -1/-1 counters on creatures that dealt damage to it, thus altering the battlefield dynamics conspicuously.
Taunting similar creatures, we also see Vigor, a card that rather than weakening creatures that harm it, buffs up your own creatures instead. While both creatures present a scalable threat, Vigor takes a more protective approach contrary to Witherscale Wurm’s aggressive counter-attack mechanism. Another creature that echoes the feel of Witherscale Wurm is The Scorpion God, which also emphasizes counter play but with a focus on drawing cards upon the death of creatures with -1/-1 counters. This difference in secondary benefits highlights the diversity of strategies among these similarly themed MTG cards.
Evaluating their various abilities and niche synergies in gameplay, Witherscale Wurm stands out amongst its peers for those who appreciate the intertwining of offense and defense, signaling that it could be a formidable choice in the right MTG deck construction.
Cards similar to Witherscale Wurm by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Witherscale Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Witherscale Wurm and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Witherscale Wurm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Witherscale Wurm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | Witherscale Wurm’s first ability does *not* give Witherscale Wurm wither. |
| 2008-05-01 | Witherscale Wurm’s second ability triggers when it deals any damage to an opponent, not just combat damage. |
