Dense Foliage MTG Card
1997-06-09 - Number 124
1999-04-21 - Number 221
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
Creatures cannot be the target of spells.
"Big plants not only good for hidin', but full o' tasty bugs, too." —Squee, goblin cabin hand
Cards like Dense Foliage
Dense Foliage stands out as a unique enchantment in MTG, offering creatures protection from being the targets of spells. This particular card resembles features found in cards like Asceticism, which not only prevents creatures from being targeted but also grants them regenerative abilities. Nevertheless, Dense Foliage is more narrowly focused, exclusively addressing targeting issues without the added benefit of regeneration.
Another card in close comparison is Steely Resolve. Similar to Dense Foliage, Steely Resolve provides shroud to a chosen creature type, making them untargetable by spells or abilities. However, Steely Resolve’s tribal specificity makes it a more strategic choice in decks that capitalize on certain creature types. Also, consider Spectral Guardian, a creature that can protect your other creatures from targeting, deceptively comparable in effect, yet it is more vulnerable being a creature itself.
Upon examining these comparisons, Dense Foliage holds a significant place among protective spells. It remains a cost-effective option for players looking to safeguard their creatures across the board without incurring additional effects or limiting the protection to creature types.
Cards similar to Dense Foliage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dense Foliage provides a continuous effect that can effectively give a player card advantage by protecting creatures from being targeted by an opponent’s spells or abilities. This means your creatures tend to stick around longer, leading to an ongoing advantage on the board.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, Dense Foliage can accelerate your game by allowing you to commit to deploying creatures without the usual fear of targeted removal. This creates a more robust presence on the battlefield and lets you leverage that strength to push for victory more confidently.
Instant Speed: Dense Foliage operates as an enchantment with a static ability, and while it isn’t played at instant speed itself, it affects the gameplay similarly. It lets your instant-speed spells and abilities resolve without concern for reactive targeting against your creatures, effectively increasing the potency of your instant-speed interactions in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite Dense Foliage providing a substantial boost to a creature-heavy deck, it necessitates players to often discard to maintain card parity, potentially putting them at a disadvantage in longer matches where resources are key.
Specific Mana Cost: Dense Foliage’s requirement for green mana can be restrictive. Players running multicolor decks may find it challenging to consistently generate the necessary mana without compromising their deck’s flexibility or speed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that sits on the higher end of the curve, Dense Foliage competes with other impactful four-mana spells. Players may opt for alternatives that provide immediate board presence or game-changing effects in place of the protective nature Dense Foliage offers.
Reasons to Include Dense Foliage in Your Collection
Versatility: Dense Foliage offers protection for your creatures by preventing them from being the targets of your opponents’ spells, making it a valuable addition to decks that focus on creature-based strategies.
Combo Potential: This card enables combos by safeguarding key creatures that are essential to your win conditions, allowing you to execute your strategy without interruption.
Meta-Relevance: With a meta that includes a substantial amount of targeted removal or control elements, Dense Foliage can preserve your board presence, giving you a significant advantage over opponents who lean heavily on targeted spells.
How to beat
Dense Foliage is one of those enchantments in Magic: The Gathering that can create a restrictive environment for players who rely heavily on targeted spells. By preventing creatures from becoming the targets of spells or abilities controlled by your opponents, it creates a protective canopy under which creatures thrive unscathed by point-removal or combat tricks. Overcoming this green enchantment requires a strategic shift towards global effects or untargeted removal strategies.
Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation bypass the protective layer by not singling out individual creatures. Such board wipes become essential tools in your arsenal when facing a deck insulated by Dense Foliage. Moreover, employing creatures with powerful board impact, like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, can naturally suppress opposing threats without needing to target them directly. As another tactic, advancing your game plan with non-creature spells that don’t require targeting, such as powerful planeswalkers or global enchantments, ensures that your strategy moves forward without hindrance.
In essence, while Dense Foliage can be a formidable barrier, it demands flexibility and innovation in your strategy, encouraging the usage of mass removal or non-target reliant permanents to successfully navigate through its lush barricades.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dense Foliage MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Dense Foliage and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Dense Foliage Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-06-09 and 1999-04-21. Illustrated by Alan Rabinowitz.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-06-09 | Weatherlight | WTH | 124 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Rabinowitz | |
| 2 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 221 | 1997 | Normal | White | Alan Rabinowitz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dense Foliage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |