Cloudcrown Oak MTG Card

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 201

Cloudcrown Oak - Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)

Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might (DDS)
2017-03-31 - Number 45

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Treefolk Warrior
Abilities	Reach
Power	3
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Cloudcrown Oak’s reach ability offers a consistent defense against flying creatures in many MTG deck archetypes.
Its four toughness provides a stable board presence, but its mono-green mana cost may limit deck versatility.
While it doesn’t accelerate resources, its efficient cost-to-stat ratio makes it a valuable creature card.

Text of card

Reach (This can block creatures with flying.)

"Clever folk build their homes near cloudcrowns. If a hawk or even just a faerie tries to swoop in, it'll get swatted from here to Cloverdell." —Calydd, kithkin farmer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cloudcrown Oak’s ability to potentially block multiple flying creatures each turn can help maintain card parity on the board. This is especially beneficial in formats where aerial threats are prevalent, effectively keeping your side of the battlefield fortified.

Resource Acceleration: While Cloudcrown Oak doesn’t directly accelerate resources, its four toughness for four mana offers a decent cost-to-stat ratio. This allows a stable board presence without committing too many resources, letting you develop your mana base or cast other spells more freely.

Instant Speed: Cloudcrown Oak lacks instant speed itself, but its reach ability can surprise unsuspecting opponents by blocking unexpected flyers. This mimics the effect of instant speed interaction by disrupting the opponent’s combat calculations, potentially leading to advantageous trades.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cloudcrown Oak itself does not have this drawback, it is important for players to consider other cards in their deck that might require discarding as a cost, which can hamper their game plan if trying to keep Cloudcrown Oak in play.

Specific Mana Cost: Cloudcrown Oak requires a specific mana alignment to cast (Green), making it less versatile for multi-colored decks or those that don’t have a strong green mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Cloudcrown Oak’s mana cost of 4 (three generic and one green) might be on the higher side for its stats and abilities. Players should weigh its reach and toughness against other creatures in the same mana range to ensure optimum deck performance.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cloudcrown Oak offers a flexible option for deck builders looking for a defender creature with reach. Its capability to block flying creatures can be an asset in various deck archetypes that require defense against aerial threats.

Combo Potential: This card can be a key piece in decks that benefit from having creatures with defender or those that capitalize on tap and untap mechanics. Its solid stature for its mana cost enables it to survive in situations where other defenders might not.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where flying creatures are prevalent, Cloudcrown Oak can serve as an efficient countermeasure. It is a handy inclusion in any collection for players who anticipate needing to address strategies that rely heavily on flying creatures to dominate the board.

How to beat

Cloudcrown Oak is a notable creature card that brings a touch of resilience to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. With its reach ability, it has the power to ward off flying creatures, posing a sizeable obstacle to many popular strategies that rely on air superiority. Its solid toughness makes it an effective deterrent, maintaining a defensive presence as a treefolk.

Overcoming Cloudcrown Oak demands a strategy that bypasses its strengths. Ground-based aggression can prove futile, so consider employing spells that don’t engage in combat. Removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can cleanly handle the Oak without the need for confrontation. Additionally, using creature abilities that don’t require combat, such as those found on Shriekmaw or Nekrataal, offers an alternative method for dealing with it.

For those favoring a more proactive approach, boosting your creatures’ power to surpass the Oak’s toughness can take it down through combat. Meanwhile, enchantments and artifacts that grant unblockable or protection from green, such as Whispersilk Cloak or Sword of Fire and Ice, enable your creatures to avoid the Oak’s reach and strike directly. By carefully selecting the right tools and tactics, players can effectively minimize the impact of Cloudcrown Oak on the game.

Cards like Cloudcrown Oak

Cloudcrown Oak holds a unique place among creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the capabilities of other treefolk such as Dauntless Dourbark, which gains power and toughness for each Forest and Treefolk you control. While Dauntless Dourbark comes with the potential for tremendous power growth, Cloudcrown Oak maintains a simpler stance, providing consistent aerial defense with its reach ability.

Another counterpart in the world of towering trees is Leaf-Crowned Elder. The Elder may not have the reach ability of Cloudcrown Oak, yet it offers card advantage potentially casting Treefolk and Shaman spells for free. This kinship with other tribal members can forge a pathway towards commanding the board. Dungrove Elder, too shares a bond with Forests much like Cloudcrown Oak. Dungrove Elder enjoys hexproof and its power and toughness are equal to the number of Forests you control, thus providing a robust challenge for opponents to overcome.

Overall, Cloudcrown Oak finds its strengths in being a low-cost defender in MTG, an important asset for treefolk tribal decks or any green strategy that requires early protection against flying creatures.

Cards similar to Cloudcrown Oak by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cloudcrown Oak MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might, 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 Cloudcrown Oak and other MTG cards: