by Can Tran

Created on: October 30, 2009

"Cairn Wanderer" is a 4/4 black shapeshifter printed as a rare for the Magic the Gathering expansion set known as "Lorwyn." This is perhaps one of the most interesting creatures that I have ever come across for the most part. In this respect, you may not mind having creatures in the graveyard. With certain creatures in the graveyard, Cairn Wanderer becomes quite the impressive creature.

The converted mana cost for Cairn Wanderer is five. You will need one black mana and four colorless mana to bring Cairn Wanderer from your hand and onto the battlefield. For what Cairn Wanderer can do, you want to have creatures with a bunch of different abilities. At the same time, you want to be able to keep the Cairn Wanderer protected for the most part.

What does Cairn Wanderer do in the first place?

It is a changeling. It means that Cairn Wanderer is every creature type at all times. In this respect, Cairn Wanderer will benefit from spells and abilities that boost certain creature types. At the same time, it is susceptible to spells and abilities that harm certain creature types. In this respect, it is a rogue, goblin, vampire, skeleton, elf, merfolk, kor, ally, etc.

In a sense, Cairn Wanderer could be known as the "Sylar" of Magic the Gathering. For those that watch "Heroes," Sylar is a person that kills other people to copy their abilities. With the case of Cairn Wanderer, it gains abilities as long as creatures with the respective abilities are in the graveyard.

If you have a creature with Flying in the graveyard, Cairn Wanderer gets Flying. This provided that you have at least one creature in the graveyard with Flying. The same thing goes for the following abilities: Fear, First Strike, Double Strike, Deathtouch, Haste, Landwalk, Lifelink, Protection, Reach, Trample, Shroud, and Vigilance.

If a creature with Fear gets sent to the graveyard, that ability would be bestowed upon Cairn Wanderer. In this respect, Cairn Wanderer cannot be blocked except by black and artifact creatures. In the case of Double Strike, Cairn Wanderer will deal both First Strike and regular damage. Deathtouch allows Cairn Wanderer to destroy the creature that is blocked or blocking. Lifelink would grant Cairn Wanderer to grant its controller life points whenever it deals combat damage.

In one example, think about the "Baneslayer Angel" and Cairn Wanderer being in the same deck. If the Baneslayer Angel gets sent to the graveyard, Cairn Wanderer would inherit its abilities which are: Flying, Vigilance, Lifelink, Protection from Dragons, and Protection from Demons. If the "Inkwell Leviathan" ends up getting sent to the graveyard, Cairn Wanderer would have Trample, Shroud, and Islandwalk.

In a sense, Cairn Wanderer makes a good insurance policy. Overall, Cairn Wanderer is an impressive card to have. With certain creatures in the graveyard, Cairn Wanderer is quite the handy card.

Learn more about this author, Can Tran.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.