Secure the Wastes MTG Card


Secure the Wastes excels in token generation, greatly enhancing your board presence with a single card. Instant speed deployment allows players to surprise opponents, turning the tides at critical moments. It requires white mana and a significant investment for maximum effect, influencing deck construction.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Text of card

Put X 1/1 white Warrior creature tokens onto the battlefield.

"The Shifting Wastes provide our clan eternal protection. It is our duty to return the favor." —Kadri, Dromoka warrior


Cards like Secure the Wastes

Secure the Wastes stands out in the realm of token-generating spells in MTG. It’s easy to draw parallels with White Sun’s Zenith, another card that produces a number of creature tokens. White Sun’s Zenith offers the added benefit of shuffling back into your library, ensuring its return for repeated use. However, Secure the Wastes is distinctive due to its instant-speed capability, allowing players to create tokens as a combat trick or on an opponent’s turn.

Another card that shares a concept with Secure the Wastes is Raise the Alarm. Although Raise the Alarm brings fewer tokens into play, only two, it does so on an efficient two-mana cost. It lacks the scalability of Secure the Wastes, which can adjust the number of tokens created according to the available mana. Then we find Timely Reinforcements, a spell that not only gives you tokens if you are behind on creature count but also life if you’re lower than your opponent, offering a different kind of flexibility and utility.

Each card provides unique advantages, but Secure the Wastes grants unmatched versatility with its power to scale token generation in accordance with the current game state, making it a formidable tool for player arsenals in MTG.

White Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Timely Reinforcements - MTG Card versions
White Sun's Zenith - MTG Card versions
Raise the Alarm - MTG Card versions
Timely Reinforcements - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Secure the Wastes by color, type and mana cost

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Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
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Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions
Death Ward - MTG Card versions
Blaze of Glory - MTG Card versions
Healing Salve - MTG Card versions
Purelace - MTG Card versions
Guardian Angel - MTG Card versions
Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions
Righteousness - MTG Card versions
Indestructible Aura - MTG Card versions
Glyph of Life - MTG Card versions
Warning - MTG Card versions
Heal - MTG Card versions
Anoint - MTG Card versions
Reaping the Rewards - MTG Card versions
Rally the Troops - MTG Card versions
Enlightened Tutor - MTG Card versions
Orim's Touch - MTG Card versions
Pollen Remedy - MTG Card versions
Sacred Rites - MTG Card versions
Pay No Heed - MTG Card versions
Path to Exile - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Secure the Wastes. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
TronTron ModernTronModern Challenge 64 2024-03-10
Mono-White ControlMono-White Control ModernMono-White ControlModern Challenge 96 2024-01-20
Naya MidrangeNaya Midrange PioneerNaya MidrangePioneer League 2023-11-27
Boros ComboBoros Combo PioneerNaya Midrange21Champions Cup Final Season 2 Round 1

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Secure the Wastes offers an upper hand by creating multiple tokens with just one card, potentially flooding the board and overwhelming your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The flexibility in its mana cost enables you to tailor your strategy, producing a vast number of Warrior tokens that can be utilized for various in-game advantages, depending on the board state.

Instant Speed: Its capability to be cast at instant speed gives you the strategic benefit of summoning an army at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping your plans hidden and your mana available for other decisive moves.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Secure the Wastes does not have a discard requirement, it’s important for players to consider their hand before committing to a large mana spell to avoid depleting resources without sufficient backup.

Specific Mana Cost: Secure the Wastes requires white mana specifically, which necessitates a commitment to that color or to a mana-fixing strategy in multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To make the most of Secure the Wastes, a substantial amount of mana is needed. This higher cost can make it challenging to play in early turns, and it can compete with other high-impact cards for a slot in your mana curve.


Reasons to Include Secure the Wastes in Your Collection

Versatility: Secure the Wastes stands out for its ability to scale with the game. Early on, it can create enough blockers to protect life totals, while in the late game, it can generate a massive army with just one card, fitting into both aggressive and control deck strategies.

Combo Potential: This card is a boon for decks that thrive on having a high creature count. With Secure the Wastes, you can easily amplify strategies involving creature synergies or sacrifice mechanics, making it a linchpin for various combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: Given its adaptability, Secure the Wastes frequently finds its place in the ever-shifting meta. The ability to flood the board can be crucial against control decks that seek to limit creature threats or capitalize on stalemates in creature combat.


How to beat

Secure the Wastes is a powerful card, offering significant versatility and the ability to generate a large army of tokens on demand. Overcoming this spell in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic planning and an understanding of its potential impact on the game. Timing is crucial, as this instant card can turn the tide of a match by swarming the battlefield with Warrior tokens at the end of your opponent’s turn.

Having board wipes like Supreme Verdict or spot removal spells in your deck can mitigate the threat posed by Secure the Wastes. Board wipes can efficiently clear multiple tokens at once, while spot removal can address other key threats that may accompany the tokens. It’s also wise to maintain pressure on your opponent, forcing them to use their resources defensively and reducing their ability to save mana for a large Secure the Wastes play. Lastly, cards that limit the number of tokens that can be produced, like Illness in the Ranks, directly counter the effectiveness of this strategy, affording you an upper hand when facing decks that rely on Secure the Wastes.

By staying ahead in card advantage, maintaining board control, and having specific answers ready, the surprise factor and impact of Secure the Wastes can be intelligently managed, keeping you in a strong position to claim victory in your MTG battles.


BurnMana Recommendations

Bridging the gap between knowledge and victory in MTG is what defines a true player. Secure the Wastes epitomizes strategic flexibility and its potential to alter game states is unparalleled. Building a deck around such a card underscores the importance of understanding its mechanics and the metagame. Whether you’re considering how to seamlessly integrate Secure the Wastes into your existing strategy or counteract it, advancing your gameplay is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. For those who are eager to delve further into optimizing your deck’s potential and mastering the dynamics of MTG, we encourage you to join our community for deeper insights and strategies that go beyond the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Secure the Wastes MTG card by a specific set like Dragons of Tarkir and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Secure the Wastes and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Secure the Wastes Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-03-27 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-03-27Dragons of TarkirDTK 362015NormalBlackScott Murphy
22023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2032015NormalBlackScott Murphy
32024-03-08FalloutPIP 4572015NormalBlackViko Menezes
42024-03-08FalloutPIP 9852015NormalBlackViko Menezes
52024-03-08FalloutPIP 1712015NormalBlackViko Menezes
62024-03-08FalloutPIP 6992015NormalBlackViko Menezes

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Secure the Wastes has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal