The Wanderer MTG Card


The Wanderer excels in exiling creatures, providing card advantage, and disrupting opponents’ plays. Its damage prevention ability acts as a resource accelerator, keeping creatures and life totals secure. Leveraging The Wanderer gives decks a strong defense against high-powered, instant-speed threats.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Planeswalker
Loyalty 5

Text of card

Prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to you and other permanents you control.
-2: Exile target creature with power 4 or greater.


Cards like The Wanderer

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, The Wanderer stands out as a unique planeswalker with a mystique all her own. Analogous to other planeswalkers like Sorin, Solemn Visitor, The Wanderer also offers protection to your creatures, but instead of buffing their attack, she completely prevents all noncombat damage that would be dealt to them. Although Sorin can provide a lifelink boost, The Wanderer’s ability is a definite edge in matchups with heavy damage-based board wipes.

Examining further, we can find Ajani Steadfast as another similar card. Ajani’s -2 ability can indeed shield one creature with an effect similar to The Wanderer’s passive ability. However, The Wanderer extends this protection to all your creatures and has the added bonus of a mass-removal secondary ability, capable of exiling large creatures. In terms of defensive strategies, her abilities align closer with effects seen on Shalai, Voice of Plenty, who delivers a global safeguarding to your creatures and yourself, an effect not replicated by The Wanderer, who lacks this holistic protection.

Nevertheless, when it comes to nullifying damage and removing threats, The Wanderer holds a significant place in player’s decks, offering a distinctive combination of defense and removal that can be pivotal in turning the tides of a game.

Sorin, Solemn Visitor - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - MTG Card versions
Sorin, Solemn Visitor - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Shalai, Voice of Plenty - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to The Wanderer by color, type and mana cost

Grand Master of Flowers - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
The Wandering Emperor - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Champion of Justice - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants - MTG Card versions
Serra the Benevolent - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane // Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
Teyo, Aegis Adept - MTG Card versions
Archangel Elspeth - MTG Card versions
Grand Master of Flowers - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Sun's Nemesis - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
The Wandering Emperor - MTG Card versions
Elspeth, Knight-Errant - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Champion of Justice - MTG Card versions
Ajani Steadfast - MTG Card versions
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants - MTG Card versions
Serra the Benevolent - MTG Card versions
Ajani, Strength of the Pride - MTG Card versions
Ajani Goldmane // Ajani Goldmane - MTG Card versions
Teyo, Aegis Adept - MTG Card versions
Archangel Elspeth - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Orzhov PlaneswalkersOrzhov Planeswalkers GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 08 2024
Bant ControlBant Control GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When it comes to The Wanderer, players can harness its unique exile ability to eliminate threats seamlessly from the game. This strategic play doesn’t just serve as a defensive maneuver, but also efficiently pares down an opponent’s resources while maintaining your own card equilibrium on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: The Wanderer’s passive ability to reduce damage from a noncombat source to your creatures and yourself can act as a form of indirect resource acceleration. By preserving your life total and your creatures, The Wanderer helps maintain a strong board presence, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere and advance your game position swiftly.

Instant Speed: Although The Wanderer itself does not operate at instant speed, the planeswalker’s ability to exile creatures with power 4 or greater can be leveraged against opponents’ instant-speed threats during combat or end of turn actions. This responsiveness makes The Wanderer a formidable card that can disrupt opposing strategies at pivotal moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Wanderer necessitates the discard of another card for some of its abilities. This can create a detrimental situation when your hand is already depleted, forcing you to choose between holding onto key cards or activating the necessary ability.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to cast The Wanderer is color-specific, requiring a mix of generic and white mana. This specification can complicate the deck-building process for players not focused on white or multicolored decks, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment to cast The Wanderer is relatively steep, demanding a considerable amount of mana that could otherwise be allocated to more immediate threats or defenses. In fast-paced games, the delay in getting The Wanderer onto the battlefield can prove to be a significant setback.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Wanderer is a versatile planeswalker that can slot into various white or multicolor control decks. Its ability to prevent noncombat damage to you and other permanents you control provides a broad layer of protection that can be an asset in numerous game scenarios.

Combo Potential: The card’s unique exile effect couples well with strategies meant to handle an opponent’s creatures without sending them to the graveyard, thwarting potential recursion tactics. This synergizes with decks that capitalize on temporary removal to choke an opponent’s resources.

Meta-Relevance: With a consistently evolving MTG metagame, The Wanderer holds its ground by being a potent solution to creature-heavy decks and those dependent on damage-based removal. Its ability to handle powerful creatures and prevent damaging effects makes it a valuable asset in decks designed to counter prevalent aggressive strategies.


How to beat

The Wanderer poses a unique challenge on the battlefield for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. This enigmatic planeswalker brings a layer of protection with its ability to prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to you and other permanents you control, which means strategies relying on direct damage spells will falter. Its -2 loyalty ability that exiles a creature with power 4 or greater can disrupt your board presence significantly.

To effectively combat The Wanderer, consider adjusting your strategy to employ combat tricks and abilities that bolster creature toughness rather than relying on damage-dealing spells. Alternatively, spells that cause loss of life instead of damage can circumvent The Wanderer’s shielding ability. Removal spells that do not cause damage, such as those that force a player to sacrifice a creature, can also prove useful. Moreover, focusing on swarming the board with a greater number of smaller creatures, instead of a few larger ones, can prevent the devastating impact of The Wanderer’s exile ability.

Understanding The Wanderer’s strengths is key. By tweaking your deck to include indirect forms of creature removal and life-loss spells, you can navigate around The Wanderer’s defenses and maintain control of the game. Tackling this planeswalker with precision and adaptability in your deck construction can ultimately lead to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on the MTG journey, we encounter cards that shape our strategies and test our wit on the battlefield. The Wanderer, with its unique abilities, represents just such a challenge, offering a blend of defense and card utility that can define games. Harnessing its potential requires a skillful balance of deck-building and tactical play. As you refine your collection and adapt your gameplay, consider how The Wanderer could elevate your strategic approach. Curious about weaving this card into your deck to enhance your MTG experience? Dive deeper into our resources, where your path to mastery awaits.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Wanderer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, 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 The Wanderer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The The Wanderer Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 780012015NormalBlackWesley Burt
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 722672015NormalBlackNorikatsu Miyoshi
32019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 37★2015NormalBlackNorikatsu Miyoshi
42019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 372015NormalBlackWesley Burt
52019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 37s★2015NormalBlackNorikatsu Miyoshi
62019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 37s2015NormalBlackWesley Burt
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 5052015NormalBlackWesley Burt
82020-09-26The ListPLST WAR-372015NormalBlackWesley Burt
92023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8432015NormalBlackWesley Burt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The Wanderer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-05-03 If The Wanderer would be dealt lethal damage at the same time as you and/or other permanents you control would be dealt noncombat damage, the damage that would be dealt to you and your other permanents is prevented.