Thelonite Hermit MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Abilities Morph
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates card advantage by creating multiple tokens, increasing battlefield presence significantly.
  2. Offers resource acceleration through synergies with creature-based decks for strategic depth.
  3. Flexibility with morph ability adds surprise element, enabling instant speed plays.

Text of card

All Saprolings get +1/+1. Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Thelonite Hermit is turned face up, create four 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Thelonite Hermit can create a substantial number of Saproling creature tokens when it’s morphed and then turned face up. This mass token generation leads to significant card advantage as you’re effectively getting multiple creatures out of a single card, overwhelming your opponent with potential blockers or attackers.

Resource Acceleration: Those Saproling tokens aren’t just there to look pretty; they can be channeled into various synergies within your deck. Cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or being sacrificed can turn this card advantage into a form of resource acceleration, propelling you ahead of your opponent in both board presence and strategic options.

Instant Speed: While Thelonite Hermit itself isn’t an instant, the versatility of its morph ability allows you to play it face down and turn it face up at instant speed. This means you can end your opponent’s turn by creating a surprise blocker wall or suddenly enhancing your army before the strike, keeping your foes consistently on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The mechanics of Thelonite Hermit demand a significant investment in mana resources which can restrain its playability. Ensuring you have enough mana to not only cast but also sustain its abilities throughout the game can be restrictive, especially when up against faster-paced decks.

Specific Mana Cost: Thelonite Hermit has a stringent mana requirement, needing three green mana out of its four total mana cost. This specific demand narrows its seamless integration to primarily green or green-heavy decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-colored deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana and a morph cost that’s equally high, Thelonite Hermit’s expense is significant when compared to other cards with similar effects. Players might find that other creatures or spells offer more immediate board presence or utility for the same, or even a smaller, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thelonite Hermit can adapt to various deck strategies, contributing both as a morph card and a token generator. It’s a solid fit in decks aiming to capitalize on creature numbers or requiring creatures for synergistic purposes.

Combo Potential: With this hermit, the potential for combinations is significant. When it unmorphs, it creates a board presence that can be exploited with cards that benefit from having many creatures, adding layers to your tactical plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given the current trends where creature-heavy decks are common, Thelonite Hermit can become an asset in sustaining and multiplying your field advantage, responding well against a variety of popular deck themes.


How to beat

Thelonite Hermit is a unique card that can quickly overrun the board with Saprolings in Magic: The Gathering. With its morph ability allowing a surprise deployment and the subsequent mass creature generation, tackling this hermit requires strategic maneuvering. The key is to disrupt the symbiosis between the hermit and its tokens before they multiply out of control. Removal spells that can target the hermit while it’s still face-down are invaluable, as they sidestep its ability to flood the board later in the game.

Cards with sweep effects, like Wrath of God or Damnation, can efficiently deal with the Saprolings post-morph. If Thelonite Hermit does manage to morph and activate its ability, prioritize spells or effects that can bypass its token boost, maintaining pressure to prevent the hermit from becoming a game-ending threat. Holding up instant-speed interaction for when your opponent commits mana to flip the Hermit is also crucial to ensure it doesn’t get out of hand. By staying one step ahead of the Hermit’s multiplication game, you can keep the board state manageable and maintain control of the match.

Remember, it’s all about timing and choosing the right moment to strike. By doing so, you’ll be in an excellent position to take down the hermit and any pesky Saprolings that come with it.


BurnMana Recommendations

Distilling the essence of MTG strategy is pivotal for every deck builder. Thelonite Hermit offers a unique blend of token generation and augmentation for your Saproling swarm, serving as a lynchpin for green-centric decks. It’s essential to harness its morph surprise and synergies. Utilize our insights on executing disruptive plays, adapting to the current meta, and leveraging similar cards to Thelonite Hermit for enhancing your collectible armory. Strengthen your game plan, capitalize on our curated MTG knowledge, and integrate these tactics for a dominant board state. Delve deeper into strategic plays with us and ensure your next match reflects a well-orchestrated victory with Thelonite Hermit as your ace in the hole.


Cards like Thelonite Hermit

Thelonite Hermit is a unique creature card that finds its own niche in Magic: The Gathering. Its functionality reminds seasoned players of cards like Deranged Hermit, which similarly creates several Squirrel tokens upon entering the battlefield. However, Thelonite Hermit enhances Saproling tokens, a slight yet distinctive difference. Deranged Hermit’s boost is limited to Squirrels alone, whereas Thelonite Hermit strengthens a broader range of tokens.

Delving into the green token-generating theme, Verdant Force is another card that bears resemblance but with a different rhythm. Both create tokens, yet Verdant Force does so at every upkeep, offering increased consistency over the Hermit’s one-time effect upon morphing. Nonetheless, Thelonite Hermit grants an immediate army and a boost that can turn the tides in a single turn.

Moreover, the Hermit with its morph ability and the extra layer of surprise stands out among its counterparts. The surprise factor can disrupt opponent strategies, a tactical advantage not to be underestimated. As we consider the ecosystem of similar MTG cards, Thelonite Hermit undoubtedly finds its merit for its synergistic boost to Saproling tokens and its morphing intrigue.

Deranged Hermit - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Deranged Hermit - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Verdant Force - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Thelonite Hermit by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
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War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
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Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
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Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thelonite Hermit MTG card by a specific set like Salvat 2005 and Time Spiral, 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 Thelonite Hermit and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thelonite Hermit Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2005-08-22 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by Chippy.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL J492003normalwhiteChippy
22006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 2282003normalblackChippy
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 712003normalblackChippy
42015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2052015normalblackChippy
52016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1712015normalblackChippy
62019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1842015normalblackChippy
72021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 2392015normalblackChippy
82024-02-09Murders at Karlov Manor CommanderMKC 1882015normalblackChippy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thelonite Hermit has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-03-19 Because damage remains marked on a creature until the damage is removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to a Saproling may become lethal if Thelonite Hermit leaves the battlefield during that turn.

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