Elder Land Wurm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Dragon Wurm
Abilities Defender,Trample
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Elder Land Wurm is a formidable deterrent on the battlefield, transforming into a wall when tapped.
  2. It offers great synergy with tap/untap mechanics, enhancing both defense and game pacing.
  3. Despite mana and setup challenges, its strategic versatility fortifies numerous deck types.

Text of card

Trample Wurm cannot attack until it has been assigned as a blocker.

Sometimes it's best to let sleeping dragons lie.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elder Land Wurm provides a strategic benefit on the battlefield by deterring attacks. Once it becomes tapped, it morphs into a strategically advantageous defensive position, effectively becoming a wall which can repeatedly shield you from harm while you build up your resources.

Resource Acceleration: In decks that utilize tap and untap mechanics, Elder Land Wurm can be employed to accelerate your game plan. By using various cards that tap your creatures, you can transform the Wurm swiftly, and with untap synergies, you get a reusable defensive tool that can manage the pacing of the game.

Instant Speed: Although Elder Land Wurm itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with spells and abilities that can instantly tap or untap your creatures. This pairing creates unforeseen obstacles for your opponent during combat, making the Wurm a surprise element in the strategic ebb and flow of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Elder Land Wurm demands a significant setup before unleashing its potential. You must discard other cards to transform this creature, a critical drawback when your hand is running low, or you’re clinging to key cards for later strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a very specific investment of mana colors, emphasizing white mana. This restricts its inclusion to mainly white or two-color decks, potentially excluding it from various multicolored and mono decks where this creature could flourish if not for its stringent casting requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a casting cost that is steep compared to other creatures of its caliber, Elder Land Wurm can be a liability in fast-paced games where efficiency is king. With numerous alternatives available, its relatively high mana cost can deter players from slotting it into competitive decks, especially when faster options might turn the tide of battle more effectively.


Reasons to Include Elder Land Wurm in Your Collection

Versatility: Elder Land Wurm serves multiple roles within various deck archetypes. As a creature, it can act as a formidable blocker with its first strike ability, deterring early game aggression. Additionally, its transformation into a Land upon dying offers a unique form of resilience against removal spells.

Combo Potential: This powerful dragon has synergy with decks that manipulate the graveyard. Through specific interactions, you can potentially return it from the graveyard to the battlefield or hand, exploiting its transformation ability to establish a strong board presence over time.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by creature-centric strategies, Elder Land Wurm can play a crucial role. Its presence on the battlefield can influence opponents’ combat decisions, making it a valuable asset in decks designed to counter aggressive metas.


How to beat

Elder Land Wurm in MTG presents a challenging foe with its unique defensive capabilities, particularly its transformation into an impenetrable wall upon its first assignment as a blocker. This card fundamentally alters the battlefield, demanding adaptation and clever strategies from opponents. To overcome this grand creature, the most straightforward approach would be to avoid it altogether. Engaging it in combat may not be wise unless you can muster a force overwhelming enough to overpower it in a single blow.

Another effective strategy could be the utilization of removal spells that circumvent the wurm’s transformation ability. Direct damage spells, such as Lightning Bolt or Doom Blade, can efficiently dispatch the wurm before it has the chance to block and become an indestructible fortress. Alternatively, spells that negate the wurm’s abilities, including those that remove it from combat or strip it of its keywords, can also prove invaluable in bypassing its defenses.

Ultimately, facing Elder Land Wurm requires a careful balance of aggression and control. Capitalizing on opportunities to remove it before it becomes a blocker and capitalizing on moments when it cannot hinder your assault is key to victory. Players must remain vigilant and resourceful, as this creature demands respect on the battlefield.


Cards like Elder Land Wurm

Elder Land Wurm is a notable creature card in Magic: The Gathering with its unique ability to transform into an indestructible wall when blocking. Its closest kin in terms of gameplay might be cards like Daru Spiritualist, which also gain strength from being targeted. Both are white creatures but Elder Land Wurm stands out with its dramatic shift in combat dynamics. Daru Spiritualist, however, is more about synergizing with other cards to exploit its ability.

Looking at dragons, we have cards like Dragon Egg, which shares the theme of transforming under certain conditions. While Dragon Egg brings forth a flying dragon upon its demise, the Elder Land Wurm adds defensive value while survive blocking. A more recent addition is Resolute Watchdog, offering a one-time indestructible effect to another creature, a different approach to durability compared to Elder Land Wurm’s self-contained protection.

Analyzing protective creature cards reveals Elder Land Wurm to possess a blend of proactive and defensive abilities, offering a unique angle in player strategies. Its command over both the offense and defense phases makes it a multifaceted card within Magic: The Gathering’s vast repertoire of creatures.

Daru Spiritualist - MTG Card versions
Dragon Egg - MTG Card versions
Resolute Watchdog - MTG Card versions
Daru Spiritualist - Scourge (SCG)
Dragon Egg - Magic 2014 (M14)
Resolute Watchdog - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)

Cards similar to Elder Land Wurm by color, type and mana cost

Seraph - MTG Card versions
Archangel - MTG Card versions
Ancestor's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Serra Avatar - MTG Card versions
Drogskol Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Eternal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Soul of Eternity - MTG Card versions
Crowd Favorites - MTG Card versions
Kami of the Honored Dead - MTG Card versions
Luminous Angel - MTG Card versions
Angel of Retribution - MTG Card versions
Ghosts of the Innocent - MTG Card versions
Angel of Glory's Rise - MTG Card versions
Windbrisk Raptor - MTG Card versions
Pale Wayfarer - MTG Card versions
Yoked Plowbeast - MTG Card versions
Vengeful Archon - MTG Card versions
Angelic Arbiter - MTG Card versions
Kemba's Legion - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions
Seraph - Masters Edition (ME1)
Archangel - Starter 1999 (S99)
Ancestor's Chosen - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Serra Avatar - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Drogskol Cavalry - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Eternal Dragon - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Soul of Eternity - Commander Legends (CMR)
Crowd Favorites - Onslaught (ONS)
Kami of the Honored Dead - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Luminous Angel - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Angel of Retribution - Battlebond (BBD)
Ghosts of the Innocent - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Angel of Glory's Rise - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Windbrisk Raptor - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Pale Wayfarer - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Yoked Plowbeast - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)
Vengeful Archon - Magic 2011 (M11)
Angelic Arbiter - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Kemba's Legion - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - Multiverse Legends (MUL)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elder Land Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Elder Land Wurm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elder Land Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Quinton Hoover.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-06-01LegendsLEG 111993normalblackQuinton Hoover
21995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 241993normalblackQuinton Hoover
31995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 241993normalwhiteQuinton Hoover
41995-08-01RenaissanceREN 91993normalblackQuinton Hoover
52007-09-10Masters EditionME1 111997normalblackQuinton Hoover

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elder Land Wurm has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 Another effect can give Elder Land Wurm defender after it has lost it. Blocking again will cause it to lose that instance of defender too.

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