Orochi Sustainer MTG Card

Orochi Sustainer - Champions of Kamigawa

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Snake Shaman
Released	2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Champions of Kamigawa
Set code	CHK
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	236
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	rk post

Key Takeaways

Orochi Sustainer offers card advantage and instant speed mana flexibility in your turn.
Its green mana acceleration is key, yet its color-specific and discard requirement can limit usage.
Versatile and meta-relevant, it’s a solid inclusion for green decks and snake tribal strategies.

Text of card

: Add to your mana pool.

"Nothing is the same anymore. The forests are not as lush, the waters not as pure, the air not as clear. Without the kami to direct and sustain the forces of nature, it's only a matter of time before we feel their neglect."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Orochi Sustainer’s ability to tap for green mana can be symbiotic with card draw spells or abilities enabling you to sustain your hand size while deploying other strategies on the board.

Resource Acceleration: As a one-mana creature that taps for mana, the Orochi Sustainer acts as a ramp tool, helping you accelerate your resources smoothly to outpace your opponent with more significant threats.

Instant Speed: While Orochi Sustainer itself is not an instant, its mana-generating ability can be leveraged during either player’s turn, giving you the flexibility to cast instant speed spells or activate abilities without missing a beat.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Any card that necessitates you to discard another can be a setback, especially when holding a hand with crucial cards that formulate your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Orochi Sustainer requires green mana to be utilized effectively. This can be limiting for decks not running green or that have difficulty generating the specific color mana required.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that might be seen as steep for its ability, Orochi Sustainer can be overshadowed by other mana accelerants that come into play with either a lower mana cost or offer additional benefits.

Reasons to Include Orochi Sustainer in Your Collection

Versatility: Orochi Sustainer can seamlessly integrate into various green decks with its capability to provide additional mana. Its simplicity allows for flexibility in deck-building, especially in formats where mana acceleration is crucial.

Combo Potential: As a mana dork, Orochi Sustainer works well with strategies that capitalize on untapping creatures for value or that require a critical mass of mana to execute powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors quick development and efficiency, Orochi Sustainer’s utility as a reliable mana source keeps it relevant, ensuring your deck can consistently execute its game plan.

How to beat

The Orochi Sustainer offers a strategic edge with its mana acceleration in the game of Magic: The Gathering. This card allows players to tap it for an extra green mana, which can be pivotal for deploying larger creatures or casting costlier spells early on in the game. To combat the advantage it provides, it’s critical to address the Sustainer swiftly.

Employing removal spells that can target and eliminate creatures such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be highly effective for disrupting an opponent’s mana curve. Another tactic involves utilizing counter spells when the Sustainer is being cast. Countering the creature before it can impact the board denies the player the opportunity for ramp, maintaining a balance of power.

In essence, dealing with the Orochi Sustainer is about timing and choosing the right moments to strike. This ensures that the card does not accelerate your opponent’s game plan, allowing you to stay in control. By keeping the pressure and not allowing the Sustainer to sustain your opponent’s mana base, you remain on equal footing, preserving your chances of victory.

Cards like Orochi Sustainer

Within the realm of Green mana acceleration in Magic: The Gathering, Orochi Sustainer stands as a solid choice for ramping up your mana resources. While it shares its primary purpose with Llanowar Elves, a staple in such strategies, Orochi Sustainer offers a unique flavor tied to the Snake tribe. Unlike Llanowar Elves, Orochi Sustainer isn’t as vulnerable to sorcery-speed removal due to its higher toughness.

Another card that mirrors the function of Orochi Sustainer is Fyndhorn Elves, which, much like Orochi Sustainer, taps for Green mana and has more resistance compared to Llanowar Elves. However, Fyndhorn Elves carries the Elf tribal synergies, which can be more prominent in certain decks. Birds of Paradise also serves a similar role but adds the flexibility of providing any color mana, though it comes at the cost of a rare slot and a higher market price.

In the MTG landscape, Orochi Sustainer may not be the flashiest of mana dorks, but it has a reliable functionality that can quietly strengthen your deck’s performance, especially when aligned with Snake tribal mechanics or in need of a sturdier mana accelerator.

Cards similar to Orochi Sustainer by color, type and mana cost

Eladamri, Lord of Leaves - MTG Card versions

Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions

Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions

Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions

Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions

Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Orochi Sustainer MTG card by a specific set like Champions 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 Orochi Sustainer and other MTG cards: