Rootwater Alligator MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Crocodile
Released	1998-06-15
Set symbol
Set name	Exodus
Set code	EXO
Power	3
Toughness	2
Number	122
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Stephen Daniele

Key Takeaways

Rootwater Alligator’s graveyard recycling conveys card advantage by extending the utility of key spells.
Instant speed interaction allows flexible play, maximizing mana and defensive capabilities during gameplay.
Though powerful, Alligator’s discard requirement and specific mana cost can limit its deck compatibility.

Text of card

Sacrifice a forest: Regenerate Rootwater Alligator.

Subduing and skinning an alligator is the first rite of maturity adolescent merfolk must pass.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rootwater Alligator may not draw cards directly, but it provides an edge by recurring other cards from your graveyard. This ability to reuse spells means extending the utility of your best resources, which is a subtle form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana, by enabling you to return permanents to your hand, Rootwater Alligator can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. It allows you to replay lands for landfall triggers or additional enchantments that might ramp your mana.

Instant Speed: The Alligator’s ability works at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to maximize your mana usage and response timing. This adaptability ensures that you can interact on your opponent’s turn, making the most of your game plan while keeping your options open.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate Rootwater Alligator’s regeneration ability, a player must discard a card. This can be particularly taxing in game scenarios where card advantage is critical or when your hand is nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Rootwater Alligator demands a specific blend of mana — one blue and two colorless — which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that aren’t focused on blue mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a casting cost of three mana, Rootwater Alligator’s stats and abilities may not hold up when compared to other creatures in its mana range, potentially leading to a suboptimal board presence.

Reasons to Include Rootwater Alligator in Your Collection

Versatility: The Rootwater Alligator offers flexibility to any deck looking to capitalize on its regeneration ability. It’s a solid choice for decks focused on survivability and creature longevity. With the capability to withstand removal spells, this card proves to be a tough adversary on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This reptilian creature can be a key component in combos that rely on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. Its self-preservation skill works well with strategies that revolve around sacrifice for greater gains, making it a wise inclusion for synergistic deck builds.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies prevail, Rootwater Alligator can become an essential asset. Its regeneration makes it a resilient blocker and a continual presence that opponents must plan around, keeping it relevant in various metagames.

How to beat Rootwater Alligator

Rootwater Alligator may not be the most formidable creature you’ll encounter in a game of MTG, but it has its quirks that could frustrate opponents. The Alligator’s regenerative ability can make it a stubborn blocker, ready to survive numerous battles unscathed. To effectively tackle this scaly adversary, consider using removal spells that don’t deal damage but rather exile or force the player to sacrifice the creature. This sidesteps its regeneration by not giving the Alligator a chance to use its ability.

Spot removal cards like Path to Exile provide an efficient way to deal with the Alligator permanently without it regenerating. Alternatively, board wipes such as Wrath of God can clear the field of creatures, including the Alligator, bypassing its defensive mechanism entirely. Edict effects that force a player to sacrifice a creature are also effective since regeneration can’t save a creature from being sacrificed.

Taking down Rootwater Alligator hinges on understanding its strengths and exploiting its weaknesses. By utilizing non-damaging removals, you can eliminate it from the game and keep your way to victory clear of any pesky reptilian obstacles.

Cards like Rootwater Alligator

Rootwater Alligator is an intriguing creature in the world of MTG, reminiscent of other life-gaining creatures like Centaur Healer. While Rootwater Alligator demands the sacrifice of a land for a modest life gain, Centaur Healer grants life upon entering the battlefield without any additional cost. This distinction can affect the pace and strategy of your gameplay, as holding onto valuable lands often proves crucial.

Exploring further, we encounter creatures such as Rhox Faithmender, which offer a different approach to increasing life totals. With its ability to double the life you gain, the effect of Rhox Faithmender can dramatically expand your life pool, but unlike Rootwater Alligator, it does not provide a sink for excess lands nor an immediate life boost upon resolution.

Each creature card embodies its unique benefits within the MTG ecosystem, and a card like Rootwater Alligator can serve as a strategic choice in a deck that aims to convert abundant lands into a stronger position on the life scoreboard. When evaluating these creatures side by side, it becomes evident that balancing creature abilities with deck composition is key to optimizing performance in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Rootwater Alligator by color, type and mana cost

Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions

Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rootwater Alligator MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Rootwater Alligator and other MTG cards: