Civic Gardener MTG Card

Delivers card draw and ramps mana, effectively enriching both hand and board resources for strategic plays. Demands precise mana and card discard, leading to potential deck constraints and resource management challenges. Combines versatility and meta-relevance, making it a significant contender for diverse MTG strategies.
Civic Gardener - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human Citizen
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number140
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDrew Baker

Text of card

Whenever Civic Gardener attacks, untap target creature or land.

"I've told you knuckleheads a hundred times: You can kill 'em here, but bury the bodies somewhere else. If you disturb my prized azaleas again, you'd better dig a second hole for yourself!"

Cards like Civic Gardener

The Civic Gardener is a recent addition to the green creature roster in Magic: The Gathering, reminding players of cards like Saruli Caretaker. Both are low-cost creatures that excel in mana generation, but the Civic Gardener offers a unique twist. Unlike Saruli Caretaker, which requires creature tapping for mana, the Gardener provides mana when creatures you control become tapped during combat. This subtle difference can lead to new synergies and strategies in gameplay.

Comparatively, the card Llanowar Elves also springs to mind. As one of the most iconic mana dorks in the game, Llanowar Elves allows for mana generation with a simple tap. The Civic Gardener doesn’t have this immediate effect but compensates with potential for greater mana production during combat phases. Another similar card is the Conclave Mentor, which doesn’t directly produce mana, but amplifies the effect of +1/+1 counters, a complementary strategy often seen with the Civic Gardener’s typical green creature and token decks.

Overall, Civic Gardener stands out among mana-generating creatures, embedding itself seamlessly into decks emphasizing tapping and combat, and utilizing +1/+1 counters to bolster the battlefield presence.

Saruli Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Conclave Mentor - MTG Card versions
Saruli Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Conclave Mentor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Civic Gardener doesn’t just develop your board presence, it also helps you pull ahead by drawing a card when it enters the battlefield, aiding in ensuring your hand stays replenished throughout the match.

Resource Acceleration: This reliable creature is especially adept at ramping up your mana pool. By planting a Rich Soil token, Civic Gardener boosts your resources, smoothing out future plays and enabling bigger moves earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Civic Gardener itself is not an instant, it facilitates the casting of powerful instant-speed spells by providing additional mana. This can lead to significant tempo swings and surprise plays that catch opponents off guard.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Civic Gardener comes at the cost of discarding another card. For players who are already managing limited hand sizes, having to discard can be a serious downside, potentially depleting crucial resources or strategy options.

Specific Mana Cost: Civic Gardener’s mana cost is split between two colors, which can pose a deck-building constraint. This necessity for a multi-color mana base might prevent its inclusion in more streamlined or mono-colored decks that prioritize consistency over color diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Civic Gardener can be considered mana-intensive for its abilities. Other cards in the game might provide similar or better effects at a lower mana cost, making Civic Gardener less appealing in fast-paced or tightly curated decks where every mana point counts towards building a winning advantage.

Reasons to Include Civic Gardener Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Civic Gardener florishes in a wide array of deck archetypes given its ability to both support creature-based strategies and contribute to life-gain tactics, ensuring that it adapts seamlessly to the needs of any match.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergy with mechanics that capitalize on boosted life totals, potentially unlocking new combos and enhancing the performance of existing ones that respond to health changes.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to stabilize the early game and contribute to a lasting board presence, Civic Gardener has a place in a metagame where maintaining momentum and board advantage is crucial.

How to beat

Civic Gardener presents an interesting dynamic in Magic: The Gathering, showcasing the game’s focus on synergy among creature types and abilities. As a card that can potentially accelerate mana generation, the Civic Gardener can be a backbone for strategies in Green or creature-heavy decks. The card often acts as a facilitator, enabling more significant plays much earlier in the game than typically possible.

To effectively counter Civic Gardener, disrupting the mana curve becomes vital. Employing removal spells is a straightforward tactic; these prevent the Gardener from carrying out its role in ramping up mana. Another efficient approach is to utilize control elements that limit the ability to tap or untap creatures. Cards like Frost Breath or Sleep can stall the tempo of a Gardener-centric deck, giving you the upper hand. Additionally, preventing the Gardener from ever hitting the battlefield through counterspells can thwart your opponent’s game plan from the outset, ensuring they never gain the accelerated development they’re aiming for.

Ultimately, understanding the critical role that Civic Gardener plays within its deck context is crucial. Through strategic disruption and maintaining control of the board state, you can undermine the Gardener’s effectiveness and ensure your position stands strong against this utility creature.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Civic Gardener MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Civic Gardener and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Civic Gardener has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal