Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life MTG Card


The Gardener offers both card and resource acceleration, establishing a substantial presence in prolonged matches. Its specific mana needs and potential discard costs require strategic deck building and careful play for optimal use. Versatile and combo-ready, the Gardener enhances decks that capitalize on creature production and landfall mechanics.
Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life - Commander 2018
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Human Monk
Released2018-08-09
Set symbol
Set nameCommander 2018
Set codeC18
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number134
Frame2015
LayoutFlip
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Text of card

: You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. If you control ten or more lands, flip Budoka Gardener.


Cards like Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life

Budoka Gardener brings a unique twist to creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Much like Llanowar Elves, it provides mana acceleration but instead of a static ability, Budoka Gardener transforms under specific conditions. While you can tap a Llanowar Elves for green mana outright, the Gardener requires a sufficient land count on the field to flip into Dokai, Weaver of Life, unleashing a powerful creature-creating capability. This transformation aspect is akin to the werewolves from the Innistrad sets, that also evolve with changing game states.

Similarly, Sakura-Tribe Scout can also put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield, albeit without the transformational upside. This Scout does not demand a high count of lands for activation; hence, it offers immediate land ramp effect, which can be more consistent early in the game. Azusa, Lost but Seeking pushes this playstyle even further, allowing multiple land plays in a single turn, drastically outpacing the Gardener’s setup but without the end-game creature generating potential.

When evaluating these options, Budoka Gardener stands out for its late-game value within Magic: The Gathering. The card offers a balance between board development early on and a game-ending threat once it transforms, making it a versatile pick for decks built around land synergies.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Scout - MTG Card versions
Azusa, Lost but Seeking - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Scout - MTG Card versions
Azusa, Lost but Seeking - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life by color, type and mana cost

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Budoka Gardener enables players to transform into the powerful Dokai, Weaver of Life, providing them with the unique ability to turn extra lands into massive creatures, thus offering significant card advantage in longer games.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to tap for putting additional lands onto the battlefield, Budoka Gardener acts as an excellent resource acceleration tool, allowing for quicker deployment of high-cost spells that can turn the tide in your favor.

Instant Speed: Although Budoka Gardener’s abilities themselves are not instant speed, its transformation into Dokai occurs if you control ten or more lands, which can be achieved swiftly with instant-speed land ramp spells, giving opponents minimal time to react before you start generating enormous Elemental creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Budoka Gardener requires careful resource management as it lacks an innate method of card advantage. If you find yourself needing more lands to convert the Gardener into Dokai, Weaver of Life, the discard cost for this effect can set you back in other aspects of your gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: Budoka Gardener demands a specific combination of mana colors, needing both green and generic mana to deploy. This requirement can be restrictive, limiting its inclusion to mainly green or green-centered decks, reducing its utility in a more diverse deck landscape.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although its flip ability can create powerful 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens, the Gardener’s transformation condition is steep, as it needs ten or more lands to morph into Dokai, Weaver of Life. For a mana dork, this transition may be slower compared to other mana ramp options available in the game, particularly in highly competitive formats where speed and efficiency are key.


Reasons to Include Budoka Gardener in Your Collection

Versatility: Budoka Gardener offers a dual functionality in transforming into Dokai, Weaver of Life, which can mesh well with land-focused decks as well as strategies keen on putting numerous creatures into play.

Combo Potential: In the right setup, this card can synergize seamlessly with landfall mechanics and cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield, setting up potential for devastating combos.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the MTG landscape, Budoka Gardener’s inherent ability to produce large creature tokens can become a game-changer in metas that favor creature-heavy board states.


How to beat

Confronting the Budoka Gardener in MTG can be a unique challenge, yet understanding the intricacies of this card sets you on the path to overcoming it. As with many creature cards that boast an ability to mutate the battlefield dynamically, the Budoka Gardener demands immediate attention once it’s played. Knowing when to apply removal spells is critical; prioritize eliminating the Gardener before its controller can exploit its ability to generate a formidable land creature — typically through instant-speed removal to prevent any land transformation surprises during your opponent’s turn.

Beyond direct removal, countering the Gardener upon cast is extremely efficient, especially when your deck includes blue spells known for their precise interruption abilities. This keeps the board clear and avoids late-game pitfalls. Another strategy is through land disruption, ensuring the Gardener’s controller never reaches the critical mass of lands needed to activate its transformation. Pairing land destruction with graveyard hate can thwart any attempts to recur lands from the graveyard back to the battlefield. Remember, keep control early on, and the Budoka Gardener’s strength will never fully root.

Remain vigilant in your resource management, leverage timing, and understand the synergy in your deck to make sure this powerful creature doesn’t turn the game in your opponent’s favor. Swift and decisive actions are your best plays against the Gardener.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Magic the Gathering is akin to understanding the intricate dance of the Budoka Gardener. By unraveling its dual nature, one realizes the nuanced tactics needed to harness its full potential. Should you wish to delve deeper into the art of playing with and against such dynamic cards, we invite you to step into a world where strategy meets creativity. Expand your MTG knowledge and arm your deck with versatile tools that adapt to ever-evolving gameplay. Discover how to skillfully cultivate your plays with Budoka Gardener and join us for a deeper insight into transforming your game experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2018, 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 Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2004-12-01 Budoka Gardener flips if you control ten or more lands when its ability resolves, even if you don’t use its ability to put a land onto the battlefield.
2013-07-01 Budoka Gardener flips even if you put a second copy of a legendary land onto the battlefield. You’ll have ten lands on the battlefield while the ability is resolving, so the Gardener flips. Then you will choose one of the legendary lands to keep and put the other into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action.