Wurmquake is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Corrupted — Create an X/X green Phyrexian Wurm creature token with trample and toxic 1, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast this spell. Then for each opponent with three or more poison counters, you create another one of those tokens. Flashback(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Complete guide
Wurmquake is a high-impact sorcery that brings the full might of New Phyrexia to your tabletop. By leveraging the Corrupted mechanic and the resilience of Flashback, this spell can generate a massive board presence in the late game. Whether you are playing a dedicated poison deck or just need heavy hitters, these Phyrexian Wurm tokens are designed to end games quickly.
Scaling Power and Toxicity
The strength of Wurmquake lies in how much mana you invest. When you cast it, you create a green Phyrexian Wurm token with trample and toxic 1. Its power and toughness, X, are equal to the total mana spent to cast the spell. While its base cost is six mana, the Flashback cost is ten mana, meaning the tokens generated from your graveyard are significantly larger. The Corrupted ability then checks each opponent; for every opponent who has three or more poison counters, you create an additional token with those same X/X stats.
Resolution Step by Step
First, the game checks how much mana was actually spent to cast Wurmquake. This includes the base cost or Flashback cost plus any additional tax effects. Second, one X/X Phyrexian Wurm token is created and enters the battlefield. Third, the spell checks the poison counter count for each opponent. Finally, if any opponents are Corrupted (having 3 or more poison counters), the remaining tokens are created simultaneously. Note that the first token enters before the others, which may trigger abilities in sequence.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is assuming you can voluntarily pump more mana into X. You cannot choose to pay extra mana just to make the Wurm bigger; X is strictly defined by the required costs and any mandatory additional costs (like tax effects). Additionally, if you cast Wurmquake for free—using an effect like Rishkar's Expertise—X will be zero because no mana was spent. The tokens would enter as 0/0 creatures and immediately die unless an external anthem effect is boosting their toughness.
Strategic Timing
Wurmquake is best utilized after you have successfully applied early pressure with poison counters. Because it has Flashback, you don't need to worry about it being countered or discarded early in the game. It serves as a perfect follow-up to a board wipe, allowing you to spend ten mana from your graveyard to potentially create two, three, or even four 10/10 creatures with trample in a single turn, instantly rebuilding your presence.
Interaction examples
Wurmquake
Poison CounterYou cast Wurmquake for its mana cost of {4}{G}{G}. You spend 6 mana. One opponent has four Poison Counters. When the spell resolves, you create one 6/6 Phyrexian Wurm token. Because that opponent is Corrupted, you then create a second 6/6 Phyrexian Wurm token.
Shamanic RevelationYou cast Wurmquake from your graveyard for its Flashback cost of {8}{G}{G}, spending 10 mana. You create a 10/10 Phyrexian Wurm token. If you have two Corrupted opponents, you create two more 10/10 tokens for a total of three. You can then follow up with Shamanic Revelation to draw three cards and gain 12 life thanks to the Ferocious trigger.
Rishkar's ExpertiseYou cast Rishkar's Expertise and choose to cast Wurmquake for free from your hand. Since you spent 0 mana to cast Wurmquake, X is 0. You create one or more 0/0 Phyrexian Wurm tokens. Unless you have an effect providing a static toughness boost, these tokens will be put into the graveyard as a state-based action immediately.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Wurmquake
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The first token that Wurmquake creates as it resolves is created and enters the battlefield before the rest of them, then you create a number of tokens equal to the number of opponents with three of more poison counters and they enter the battlefield at the same time.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You can't choose to spend more mana to cast Wurmquake than you're asked to just to make a bigger Wurm. In most cases, it's a 6/6 Phyrexian Wurm the first time, and a 10/10 Phyrexian Wurm when you cast Wurmquake with flashback. However, if there are any additional costs to cast it, the mana spent to pay those costs counts.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
"Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and "If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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