Earthcraft MTG Card


Earthcraft turns creatures into mana engines, enabling aggressive acceleration and combo setups in your MTG games. This card’s utility shines with creature tokens, offering advantages in mana generation and instant-speed plays. While Earthcraft is potent, it can be countered by inhibiting creature abilities or denying board presence.
Earthcraft - Tempest
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1997-10-14
Set symbol
Set nameTempest
Set codeTMP
Number222
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRandy Gallegos

Text of card

Tap an untapped creature you control: Untap target basic land.

"The land gives up little, but we are masters of persuasion." —Eladamri, Lord of Leaves


Unleashing Potential with Tap Abilities

Like the sway of a pendulum in a clock, MTG sees certain cards become pivotal in strategies that hinge on resource manipulation. Among these, Earthcraft stands out, reminiscent of enchantments like Cryptolith Rite, which converts your creature’s taps into a rainbow mine of mana. Earthcraft though, with its unique twist, requires a land to be untapped for each creature’s twist of a tap, creating an immense mana acceleration when paired with creature tokens.

Cards like Earthcraft

The Earthcraft card finds its kinship with enchantments such as Intruder Alarm and Cryptolith Rite in MTG. Intruder Alarm emanates a symphony of untap possibilities across all creatures, not just the controller’s, unlike the Earthcraft plainswalking tap dance that singles out your creatures for unfurling land’s untapped potential. Cryptolith Rite is another enchantment that echoes Earthcraft’s ambition, albeit in a different octave. Where Earthcraft seeks the land’s renewal through creatures, Cryptolith Rite imbues each creature with the capability to directly conjure mana of any color.

Though Earthcraft is banned in some formats for its potential for abuse, it remains unparalleled in decks that thrive on generating and exploiting creature tokens. Its ability to consistently transform creatures into an engine of untapped land resources tips the scale of any game remarkably. In the ecosystem of utility enchantments, Earthcraft certainly warrants its niche status and continues to influence deck compositions where it’s legal to play.

Cryptolith Rite - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
Cryptolith Rite - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Earthcraft by color, type and mana cost

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Quiet Disrepair - MTG Card versions
Quest for the Gemblades - MTG Card versions
Regeneration - MTG Card versions
Aspect of Wolf - MTG Card versions
Lifeforce - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Touch - MTG Card versions
Night Soil - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Library - MTG Card versions
Primal Rage - MTG Card versions
Survival of the Fittest - MTG Card versions
Crosswinds - MTG Card versions
Fortitude - MTG Card versions
Treetop Bracers - MTG Card versions
Root Cage - MTG Card versions
Elfhame Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Compost - MTG Card versions
Thoughtleech - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Harmony - MTG Card versions
Shigeki, Jukai Visionary - MTG Card versions
Fertile Ground - MTG Card versions
Quiet Disrepair - MTG Card versions
Quest for the Gemblades - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Earthcraft. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
WG SquirrelCraft EnchantressWG SquirrelCraft Enchantress Free formMiddle School World Championships
RogueRogue Vintage2023 NA Vintage Champs

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Earthcraft is known for its ability to untap creatures to generate a consistent flow of mana. While it doesn’t draw cards directly, it provides virtual card advantage by maximizing the potential of each creature on the battlefield, turning them into resource-generating powerhouses.

Resource Acceleration: Earthcraft excels in resource acceleration as it can turn each creature into a potential mana dork. By tapping a creature to put a 1/1 squirrel into play, then untapping a land with Earthcraft, it establishes a loop that greatly advances your mana capability, paving the way for casting high-cost spells much earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: While Earthcraft itself is not an instant, it allows for instant-speed interactions by giving your creatures the ability to untap lands whenever you can cast an instant. This utility can keep opponents guessing about your available resources, letting you respond to threats or opportunities at critical moments with surprising speed and efficiency.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Earthcraft necessitates having creatures to tap, thus without a board presence, this card becomes idle in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Endeavoring to seamlessly integrate Earthcraft into a multi-colored deck can be challenging due to its green mana requirement, potentially disrupting mana base consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana, Earthcraft may not seem costly, but its reliance on both numerous creatures and untapped lands to optimize its potential means it might lag behind other two-mana ramp options available, delaying your game strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Earthcraft serves as a powerful engine in numerous deck archetypes, allowing untapped creatures to create a burst of mana. This ability harmonizes with strategies that can summon creatures easily or have creatures that benefit from being untapped.

Combo Potential: Earthcraft has the capacity to initiate infinite combos when paired with cards like Squirrel Nest, turning each creature into a potent resource. Its ability to synergize with various cards amplifies potential board states massively.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where speed and efficiency are key, Earthcraft allows for a rapid deployment of your game plan. It optimizes your mana usage and accelerates the pace at which you can execute your strategy, making it an influential tool in competitive play.


How to beat

Earthcraft is a unique enchantment from Magic: The Gathering that enables players to unfurl their strategic plans, transforming creatures into potent mana generators. This card, while undeniably powerful, isn’t unbeatable and requires careful navigation. Unlike more straightforward spells, Earthcraft’s power hinges on a synergy with creatures and the ability to untap lands, promoting a combo-centric playstyle.

To disrupt Earthcraft, focus on strategies that prevent creature abilities from being activated or that keep creatures from entering the battlefield altogether. Using removal spells to clear the board, employing counterspells to intercept key pieces of the combo, or engaging enchantment destruction to eliminate Earthcraft directly are effective methods. Respectively, spells like Cursed Totem, which restrict creature’s abilities, or Silent Arbiter, limiting attacks and blocks, can severely cripple Earthcraft’s potential.

In essence, the route to victory against Earthcraft involves preempting your opponent’s board development, carefully selecting spells to disrupt their synergistic plans while advancing your own board state. By maintaining a proactive approach, Earthcraft can be managed and its impact on the game mitigated, steering you towards a successful outcome in your match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the synergy and strategy involved with the Earthcraft card is essential for any savvy MTG player. Not just an enchantment, Earthcraft is a combo enabler that transforms each creature into a potential mana source, crucial for fast-paced, competitive play. Whether you’re looking to optimize your deck’s resource acceleration or seeking to disrupt your opponent’s Earthcraft-powered plans, there’s a wealth of tactics to consider. Deepen your understanding of intricate MTG card interactions and elevate your gameplay. If Earthcraft has piqued your interest or you want to master strategies against it, join us to learn more and refine your deck-building skills.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Earthcraft MTG card by a specific set like Tempest, 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 Earthcraft and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Earthcraft has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyBanned
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernBanned
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal