Roon of the Hidden Realm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Rhino Soldier
Abilities Trample, Vigilance
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Roon offers repeatable card advantage through blinking creatures with impactful enter-the-battlefield effects.
  2. Instant speed blinking provides strategic flexibility and can disrupt opponent maneuvers during a match.
  3. Despite its strengths, Roon’s effectiveness is curtailed without creatures to target or against exile-focused removal.
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.

Text of card

Vigilance, trample, : Exile another target creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.

"Time and space are just new battlefields to be mastered."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Roon of the Hidden Realm offers a repeating source of card advantage by allowing you to repeatedly blink creatures. This not only keeps your hand full but can also reuse powerful enter-the-battlefield effects that help you outmaneuver opponents.

Resource Acceleration: Through its blinking ability, Roon can accelerate your resources by untapping your own permanents or by removing blockers, effectively enhancing your board presence and mana utility to maximize each turn.

Instant Speed: The ability to exile another target creature and return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control at the end of turn at instant speed affords flexibility. This allows strategic repositioning in response to an opponent’s actions or taking advantage of new opportunities as they arise during the course of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Roon of the Hidden Realm doesn’t require an actual discard from the hand, its reliance on the battlefield presence to utilize its blink ability can be problematic. If your board is cleared or you’re facing an empty hand, Roon’s utility significantly diminishes, as you lack the necessary creatures to take advantage of his exile and return ability.

Specific Mana Cost: This commander demands a specific mana alignment, requiring white, blue, and green to cast. This tricolor commitment can be restrictive and poses a challenge in mana-fixing, making the deck less flexible in terms of the mana base and potentially slowing you down if you can’t procure the right lands or mana sources early in the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including three different colors, Roon’s entry to the battlefield isn’t always swift. Other creatures or spells with lower mana costs can offer immediate impacts or quicker responses, making Roon a less appealing option when fast plays are crucial. Additionally, his activated ability costs two mana each time you wish to use it, which can be a significant investment over the course of a game, reducing the resources available for other spells or actions.


Reasons to Include Roon of the Hidden Realm in Your Collection

Versatility: Roon of the Hidden Realm offers a variety of tactical advantages for those who appreciate control-focused gameplay. By enabling the flicker of creatures, you have the opportunity to exploit enter-the-battlefield effects or even save your key pieces from potential threats.

Combo Potential: Coupled with cards that untap creatures or have benefits from leaving or entering the battlefield, Roon becomes a cornerstone for intricate and powerful combos. This allows for a dynamic game state that can shift in your favor with a well-timed activation of its ability.

Meta-Relevance: As metas shift towards creature-based strategies or ones that rely heavily on battlefield presence, Roon emerges as a notable contender. Its ability to repeatedly disrupt opponent strategies while providing value to your side of the field ensures its relevance in various meta scenarios.


How to Beat

Roon of the Hidden Realm stands out as a formidable commander in MTG, often being the centerpiece of a deck built around flickering creatures to exploit enter-the-battlefield effects. Despite its potential for creating value, there are straightforward strategies to counter it. Targeted removal spells that don’t destroy but exile, like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, can permanently deal with Roon before it starts generating advantage. Counterspells are also effective, preventing Roon from hitting the battlefield in the first place.

Once on the battlefield, keeping Roon tapped using cards like Frost Titan or removal that involves tapping creatures without untapping them during the next untap step, such as with Tumble Magnet, can nullify its impact. Enchantment-based removals such as Darksteel Mutation can render Roon useless without sending it to the command zone, forcing your opponent to find a way to remove the enchantment. Moreover, strategies that limit the use of the command zone, like with the card Drannith Magistrate, will stop Roon from coming back repeatedly. Staying ahead of your opponent’s game by anticipating and neutralizing Roon swiftly is key to victory.

Ultimately, while Roon can create a labyrinth of triggers and value, with thoughtful play and the right answers, you can navigate the hidden realms and emerge victorious.


BurnMana Recommendations

The allure of MTG is in its deep strategy and the enchanting abilities of cards like Roon of the Hidden Realm. With its power to reshape the battlefield at will, Roon is an asset for players who cherish finesse and control. Utilizing its blink ability can turn the tides of any match, making it essential in certain decks. While aware of its limitations in mana specificity and tempo, smart deck-building and playstyle adjustments can unlock its full potential. If these strategic layers of MTG excite you, delve deeper into our guides for advanced tactics and deck optimization. Discover how to wield Roon’s power to its maximum and refine your gameplay to triumph over your opponents.


Cards like Roon of the Hidden Realm

Roon of the Hidden Realm stands out in the collection of Magic: The Gathering’s flicker archetype cards. With its unique ability to exile another target creature and return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control, Roon offers a repeatable blink effect at the cost of two mana and tapping. Brago, King Eternal bears a resemblance, granting you a mass blink effect whenever it deals combat damage. While Brago can potentially reset more creatures, it lacks the control and selectivity that Roon provides.

Then there is Deadeye Navigator, another powerhouse in the flicker strategy. This creature pairs with others to enable a blink at any moment, offering similar utility as Roon but with the flexibility of use at instant speed. The downside is its soulbond mechanic, which requires a paired creature to utilize the ability. Conversely, Roon requires no pairing, making it more standalone in its control.

Evaluating the strategic benefits of these cards, Roon of the Hidden Realm’s precise control and utility in creature-centric decks often gives it the edge in MTG matches where timing and choice dictate the tempo of play.

Brago, King Eternal - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Navigator - MTG Card versions
Brago, King Eternal - Conspiracy (CNS)
Deadeye Navigator - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Roon of the Hidden Realm MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2013 and Commander Anthology, 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 Roon of the Hidden Realm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Roon of the Hidden Realm Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-11-01 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2062003normalblackSteve Prescott
22017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1902015normalblackSteve Prescott
32020-09-26The ListPLST CMA-1902015normalblackSteve Prescott
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2702015normalblackSteve Prescott
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5352015normalblackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Roon of the Hidden Realm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-10-17 If Roon of the Hidden Realm’s ability targets a commander, that card’s owner may choose to have it go to the command zone after it is exiled. If they do, it will not be returned to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.

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