Gaea's Cradle MTG Card
1998-01-01 - Number 3
1998-10-12 - Number 321
1999-08-04 - Number ml321
2011-01-02 - Number 2022A
2011-01-02 - Number 2014
2002-06-24 - Number 36112
2002-06-24 - Number 59655
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Land |
Text of card
: Add for each creature you control.
"Here sprouted the first seedling of Argoth. Here the last tree will fall." —Gamelen, Citanul elder
Cards like Gaea's Cradle
Discussing legendary lands in MTG, Gaea’s Cradle often emerges as the gold standard for mana generation. This powerful card from the Urza’s Saga set taps for green mana for each creature you control, giving it the potential for vast mana acceleration. In comparison, Growing Rites of Itlimoc is a card with a transforming ability that becomes Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun. While Itlimoc also taps for green mana for each creature you control, it initially enters as an enchantment, offering less immediate impact than Gaea’s Cradle’s land form.
Alternatively, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx provides a somewhat similar effect. It can tap for a significant amount of mana based on devotion to a single color, yet it doesn’t match Gaea’s Cradle’s scalability with a wide creature board. Mana generation lands like these are crucial for decks aiming to cast high-cost spells quickly or activate demanding abilities in a single turn.
Comparing Gaea’s Cradle with its counterparts reveals why it remains a staple in formats where it’s legal. While other cards provide mana growth, the synergy Gaea’s Cradle offers with creature-heavy decks makes it a uniquely influential and sought-after piece in the MTG universe.
Cards similar to Gaea's Cradle by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gaea's Cradle. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Maverick | Legacy | Maverick | Legacy Showcase Challenge 2024-04-21 |
 | Elves | Legacy | Elves | Legacy League 2024-05-06 |
| Cradle Control | Legacy | Cradle Control | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-04-21 |
 | BRG | Vintage | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-05-02 | |
| Counter Vine | Vintage | Counter Vine | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-27 |
 | Patchwork Stompy | Legacy | Patchwork Stompy | Legacy Showcase Challenge 2024-04-21 |
| Hogaak Vine | Vintage | Hogaak Vine | Vintage Challenge 32 2024-04-21 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Gaea’s Cradle enables the generation of vast amounts of mana which, in turn, allows for casting multiple spells in one turn. This ability to outpace the opponent by deploying more threats or answers is crucial in establishing and maintaining card advantage over the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: The strength of Gaea’s Cradle lies in its resource acceleration. By tapping for one green mana for each creature you control, it can exponentially increase your mana availability as your creature base grows. This is exceptionally powerful in creature-heavy decks, where it amplifies your ability to cast high-cost spells much earlier than would otherwise be possible.
Instant Speed: Although Gaea’s Cradle does not act at instant speed, it provides the necessary resources to effectively utilize instant speed spells within your deck. The mana it produces allows for a more flexible and responsive gameplan, keeping opponents on their toes and enabling you to react promptly to their moves with your own instants and abilities.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gaea’s Cradle doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, but integrating it into your deck may necessitate additional card slots to ensure a steady stream of creatures to capitalize on its mana-generating ability. This could potentially force you to discard other valuable cards to make room.
Specific Mana Cost: While Gaea’s Cradle doesn’t require specific colors of mana to play, its usage is highly specialized. It generates green mana, which may not be as beneficial if your deck isn’t built around green creatures or if you need other colors of mana to cast spells or activate abilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card itself isn’t expensive to cast, but the high initial financial investment for this powerful land can be a barrier for many players. With a high cost on the secondary market, acquiring Gaea’s Cradle could divert funds from other aspects of deck building, especially within budget constraints.
Reasons to Include Gaea’s Cradle in Your Collection
Versatility: Gaea’s Cradle effortlessly supports a wide array of strategies as it provides a significant mana boost in creature-heavy decks. This legendary land is a mainstay in formats where summoning numerous creatures is part of a winning strategy.
Combo Potential: The cradle shines in its ability to combo with cards that untap lands or with those that multiply the number of tokens or creatures you control. This can lead to potentially game-ending plays by unleashing powerful spells or overwhelming your opponents with a massive army.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to generate large amounts of mana, Gaea’s Cradle remains perpetually relevant in metas dominated by creature-centric decks. This card can escalate your board presence and enable high-cost spells sooner than usual, which can be a decisive advantage in competitive play.
How to beat
Gaea’s Cradle is a powerhouse land card revered among MTG players for its ability to generate a vast amount of mana in decks that deploy numerous creatures. Decks that integrate this card can explosively utilize the mana for summoning large creatures or executing game-winning combos early on. Beating a deck with Gaea’s Cradle often hinges on controlling the number of creatures your opponent has on the field. Board wipes or cards that limit creature spell casts can drastically reduce the effectiveness of this legendary land.
Moreover, targeting Gaea’s Cradle directly with land destruction spells or using cards that alter land types can disrupt your opponent’s mana base and strategy. Sowing Salt or Ghost Quarter, for example, can be instrumental in removing Gaea’s Cradle from the game. Additionally, ramping up your own mana production can help match the speed at which decks with Gaea’s Cradle play, leveling the playing field.
Ultimately, persistence is key. By hindering their creature development and being strategic with land removal, you not only decrease the impact of Gaea’s Cradle but also reduce the momentum of your opponent’s deck, providing a pathway to victory against this formidable card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gaea's Cradle MTG card by a specific set like Judge Gift Cards 1998 and Urza's Saga, 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 Gaea's Cradle 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
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Printings
The Gaea's Cradle Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-01-01 and 2011-01-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 1998 | JGP | 3 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 2 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 321 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 3 | 1999-08-04 | World Championship Decks 1999 | WC99 | ml321 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Mark Zug | |
| 4 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36112 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | ||
| 5 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 59655 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan | ||
| 6 | 2011-01-02 | Legacy Championship | OLGC | 2022A | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ralph Horsley | |
| 7 | 2011-01-02 | Legacy Championship | OLGC | 2014 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filip Burburan |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gaea's Cradle has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Legal |