Uproot MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Sorcery — Arcane
Released	2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Betrayers of Kamigawa
Set code	BOK
Number	149
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Heather Hudson

Key Takeaways

Uproot provides a twist in games by disrupting opponents’ mana, essential for controlling the pace.
Though powerful, its discard requirement and specific mana cost may limit its use in diverse decks.
Its impact on the meta and combo potential make Uproot valuable for certain strategic MTG plays.

Text of card

Put target land on top of its owner's library.

"We arrived at the battlefield too late. *Again*. Another error on your part, and you will have to answer to me personally." —General Takeno, letter to the imperial mapmaker

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Uproot enables you to return a land to its owner’s hand, potentially disrupting your opponent’s mana base while keeping your card count steady.

Resource Acceleration: By setting your opponent back a land, you effectively accelerate your own resources in comparison, keeping you one step ahead in the race to deploy your threats.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting Uproot at instant speed allows you to react swiftly to an opponent’s strategy, maximizing its impact by choosing the optimal moment for disruption.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Uproot is that playing the card requires you to discard another card. This cost can deplete your hand, leaving you with fewer options as the game progresses. For players trying to maintain card advantage, this aspect can be a significant deterrent from including Uproot in their decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Uproot comes with a specific mana cost that includes green mana. This requirement can restrict its integration into a deck, especially for those that don’t incorporate much green mana or use multi-colored decks without sufficient green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is not exactly low, Uproot may not always be the most mana-efficient option available, especially when compared to other cards within the same mana range that might provide a more immediate impact on the game state. The cost of four mana for its effect could be considered steep, particularly in faster-paced games where efficiency is key.

Reasons to Include Uproot in Your Collection

Versatility: Uproot can be a significant asset in decks that aim to disrupt land-based strategies. It’s not just a sideboard option; it can tactically set back ramp-heavy opponents or throw off multicolor deck mana bases, slotting seamlessly into various control or tempo decks.

Combo Potential: This card offers synergy with landfall mechanics, allowing you to replay those same lands to activate abilities multiple times. It’s also a handy piece in decks focused on resource denial, pairing well with cards that punish players for playing or fetching lands.

Meta-Relevance: As metas often feature decks that are greedy with their mana bases, Uproot can serve as a countermeasure. In formats where land manipulation is key, having a card that can set back an opponent’s development can be a game-changer, giving Uproot a place as a tactical tool in the current competitive landscape.

How to beat

Uproot emerges as a subtle yet strategic card within the realm of land manipulation strategies in Magic: The Gathering. This card has the unique capability to send a land back to its owner’s hand, interrupting mana flow and delaying critical plays. It’s a common tactic used in control decks to gain an edge over opponents, especially those with fewer lands or those reliant on specific lands for combo execution.

To effectively counter Uproot, players should prioritize mana acceleration and land redundancy. By utilizing cards that allow for extra land drops per turn or that fetch lands directly from the deck, you can mitigate the setback caused by Uproot. Additionally, keeping an alternate source of mana, like mana artifacts or creatures that tap for mana, can safeguard your game plan against this kind of disruption. It’s also worth considering cards that can counteract non-creature spells, denying Uproot’s effect altogether.

Ultimately, countering Uproot requires foresight and a deck that’s designed to withstand resource manipulation. By planning ahead, maintaining a steady mana base, and possibly including countermeasures, you can overcome the challenges posed by Uproot and maintain a solid position in the game.

Cards like Uproot

Uproot occupies a unique niche in the realm of land control in Magic: The Gathering. It shares similarities with cards like Plow Under, which also targets an opponent’s lands, displacing them back to their library. Nevertheless, Uproot comes with the added flexibility of being able to target any permanent, giving players an edge by disrupting more than just mana bases. Meanwhile, Plow Under is confined to lands but tucks two at a deeper library level, setting the opponent further behind.

Another close relative in this space is Temporal Spring. This card enables players to put any permanent back on top of its owner’s library just like Uproot, however, it carries the additional cost of blue mana. The decision between these two cards often hinges upon the player’s mana base and deck strategy. Then we have Reclaiming Vines as a companion in the discussion, which destroys a land outright, but lacks the subtlety and indirect tempo advantage offered by repositioning the card within the library.

In essence, as players consider their options for manipulating opponents’ resources, Uproot offers a strategic tool that lies between the spectrum of genial repositioning and outright destruction, balancing cost and utility in land control strategies.

Cards similar to Uproot by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Uproot MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Uproot and other MTG cards: