Snake of the Golden Grove MTG Card


Offers card advantage as a creature or aura, ensuring continuous battlefield presence. Boosts resources with life gain for defense or to pivot into an aggressive stance. Versatile in various decks, acting as a robust combo enabler or life stabilizer.
Snake of the Golden Grove - Born of the Gods
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Snake
Abilities Tribute
Released2014-02-07
Set symbol
Set nameBorn of the Gods
Set codeBNG
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number141
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMathias Kollros

Text of card

Tribute 3 (As this creature enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice may place three +1/+1 counters on it.) When Snake of the Golden Grove enters the battlefield, if tribute wasn't paid, you gain 4 life.

Some fruits are best left ungathered.


Cards like Snake of the Golden Grove

Snake of the Golden Grove is an interesting card that fits into the broader category of green creatures with beneficial enter the battlefield (ETB) effects in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relative is the Baloth Packhunter, which also provides a considerable boost to life total when it comes into play. Where Snake of the Golden Grove offers adaptability with its tribute mechanic, the Baloth Packhunter lacks this, but makes up for it with a potential to strengthen other creatures.

Another cousin in the family of green creatures is the Thragtusk. It immediately makes an impact on the board by providing life gain and leaves behind a 3/3 beast token when it leaves the battlefield, making it a persistent threat. Unlike the Snake of the Golden Grove which offers a one-time large life gain, Thragtusk provides a more lasting board presence.

Considering the varied MTG strategies, the preference between these cards might shift. Snake of the Golden Grove has the surprise element with its tribute, potentially giving a quick life boost or a sizable creature. Thragtusk is consistently reliable, and Baloth Packhunter requires a more creature-focused deck to unlock its full potential. These attributes give players in the Magic: The Gathering universe diverse options when decking out their green builds.

Baloth Packhunter - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions
Baloth Packhunter - MTG Card versions
Thragtusk - MTG Card versions

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Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Moss Monster - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Snake of the Golden Grove has a beneficial Bestow mechanic, giving you the flexibility to cast it as a creature or as an aura, either way providing potential for card advantage. When deployed as an aura, if the enchanted creature dies, Snake of the Golden Grove remains on the battlefield, offering sustained presence and value.

Resource Acceleration: When Snake of the Golden Grove enters the battlefield, it can provide a significant boost to your resources, often allowing you to gain life. This surge not only fortifies your defenses but can also help you pivot to a more aggressive game plan with added stability.

Instant Speed: While Snake of the Golden Grove cannot be cast at instant speed itself, it synergizes well in decks that operate at instant speed. The life gain and Bestow ability can be geared to work smoothly with flash creatures or spells you control, maximizing the potential for unforeseen plays and maintaining threat adaptability during crucial moments of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although the Snake of the Golden Grove doesn’t have a discard requirement, this aspect is crucial when evaluating other cards in your deck that could synergize with it. Cards with a discard requirement might put you at a disadvantage when looking to maximize your board with creatures like this.

Specific Mana Cost: The Snake of the Golden Grove has a specific mana cost, including two green, making it less flexible for decks that aren’t geared towards heavy green mana production or that don’t have the means to generate multiple mana of any color.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The five mana cost might be cumbersome for players looking to deploy threats quicker. In today’s fast-paced game, the mana investment might outweigh the benefits, especially considering there are more mana-efficient creatures that could potentially be played sooner.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Snake of the Golden Grove can be a valuable addition to a variety of mono-green or multicolored decks. Its ability to offer a choice upon entering the battlefield makes it adaptable to different game states, providing either creature bolstering or life gain based on your immediate needs.

Combo Potential: The flexibility of Snake of the Golden Grove can be leveraged in decks focusing on life gain strategies or those that benefit from creatures with significant power. It can act as a pivotal piece in combos that revolve around manipulating life totals or utilizing creatures’ power metrics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and life stabilization are crucial, Snake of the Golden Grove offers a resilient body that aids in maintaining board state while the life gain option can be a game-changer against aggressive strategies trying to close the game quickly.


How to beat

Snake of the Golden Grove offers players a unique challenge in MTG, owing to its flexibility on the battlefield. This creature stands as a solid manifestation of green’s affinity for life and strength, encapsulated in its Tribute mechanic. When it enters the battlefield, an opponent may choose to place three +1/+1 counters on it, turning it into a threatening 7/7 creature; otherwise, you gain 4 life. The key to overcoming this versatile serpent lies in strategic deployment of removal spells or effects that can neutralize it before the Tribute decision affects the board state.

Understanding timing is crucial—employing instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization after the Tribute choice but before counters are placed can effectively bypass a potentially more dominating creature. Alternatively, if you’re aiming to maintain control, allowing the life gain and dealing with a smaller creature may align better with your strategy. Moreover, board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset conditions regardless of your opponent’s Tribute decision, offering a clean slate from which to press your advantage. Thus, by carefully considering your options and the current game state, the Snake of the Golden Grove can be managed and overcome.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Snake of the Golden Grove MTG card by a specific set like Born of the Gods, 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 Snake of the Golden Grove and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Snake of the Golden Grove has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-02-01 If the opponent pays tribute, the creature will enter the battlefield with the specified number of +1/+1 counters on it. It won’t enter the battlefield and then have the +1/+1 counters placed on it.
2014-02-01 If the triggered ability has a target, that target will not be known while the creature spell with tribute is on the stack.
2014-02-01 Players can’t respond to the tribute decision before the creature enters the battlefield. That is, if the opponent doesn’t pay tribute, the triggered ability will trigger before any player has a chance to remove the creature.
2014-02-01 The choice of whether to pay tribute is made as the creature with tribute is entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late to respond to the creature spell. For example, in a multiplayer game, opponents won’t know whether tribute will be paid or which opponent will be chosen to pay tribute or not when deciding whether to counter the creature spell.
2014-02-01 The triggered ability will resolve even if the creature with tribute isn’t on the battlefield at that time.
2017-04-18 For effects that check which player put counters on the entering creature, the player chosen to pay tribute puts those counters on it, not the creature’s controller.