Genju of the Cedars MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 126
2014-12-05 - Number 13
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
: Enchanted Forest becomes a 4/4 green Spirit creature until end of turn. It's still a land. When enchanted Forest is put into a graveyard, you may return Genju of the Cedars from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Genju of the Cedars
Genju of the Cedars is a unique enchantment from Magic: The Gathering that transforms any Forest into a formidable creature. Standing shoulder to shoulder with this card is Nissa’s Zendikon which also animates land, albeit turning it into a 4/4 Elemental with trample. Nissa’s Zendikon stands out for giving the affected land a boost in power and the trample keyword, but it does not offer the return-to-hand ability that Genju of the Cedars provides when the enchanted land is put into a graveyard.
Another equivalent enchantment is Wind Zendikon, which endows a land with the capability to become a 2/2 blue Elemental creature with flying. While it gives the land flying and a lower mana cost for activation, unlike Genju of the Cedars, it doesn’t have the recurring nature that allows for repeated use throughout the game. Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi also draws parallels; it instantly turns any land into a massive 9/9 creature with haste, presenting an immediate impact on the battlefield, yet lacking the iterative aspect of Genju of the Cedars.
Assessing these options, Genju of the Cedars provides recurring value and durability for players who appreciate a persistent board presence and the tactical flexibility of a land that can repeatedly become a creature.
Cards similar to Genju of the Cedars by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Genju of the Cedars grants the ability to transform a land into a formidable 4/4 creature. This essentially allows the land to serve a dual function, maintaining card economy while providing a significant threat on the board.
Resource Acceleration: Although it doesn’t directly produce additional mana, by enhancing a land, Genju of the Cedars enables the optimized use of existing resources. This form of indirect acceleration can be a game changer, as the land continues to be utilized for mana while also threatening as a creature.
Instant Speed: The activation of Genju of the Cedars can be done at instant speed, offering flexibility and the element of surprise. This allows you to adapt to the flow of the game, activating the creature ability when most advantageous, potentially after your opponent has committed to other actions during their turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the limitations of Genju of the Cedars is that it returns to the owner’s hand if the enchanted Forest is sent to the graveyard. This can feel similar to a discard requirement, especially in a game where land destruction or sacrifice is common, putting the player at a potential disadvantage for re-establishment.
Specific Mana Cost: Genju of the Cedars requires green mana for both its initial cast and activation. This specificity might not always align well with decks that are not mono-green or that have a diverse mana base, as it could potentially strain the deck’s mana availability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to activate Genju of the Cedars’ ability is two mana, including one green. When considering the mana invested in casting and then activating the ability to turn the Forest into a 4/4 creature, the total cost can be high when compared to other creature options or mana-efficient enhancements available in the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Genju of the Cedars offers flexibility as it can turn any land into a significant threat. It’s a natural fit for green-based decks seeking to utilize their lands for more than just mana, massively improving the usefulness of each forest.
Combo Potential: The ability to animate lands as creatures opens up combo avenues with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or dying. This can lead to potent synergies in decks that capitalize on such mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature removal is saturated, Genju of the Cedars can repeatedly bring your forests back as formidable defenders or attackers, giving you resiliency against sweepers or targeted removal and ensuring your board presence remains strong.
How to beat
Genju of the Cedars is a unique enchantment that can turn lands into formidable creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Key to overcoming this card lies in recognizing its reliance on the land it enchants. Targeted land destruction or enchantment removal are both effective, as they can not only disrupt the Genju’s mid-to-late game strategy but also potentially leave your opponent a land short.
Another tactic involves countering the activation of Genju of the Cedars. This requires sharp timing and keeping up mana for instant-speed interaction. Using cards that prevent abilities from being activated or that punish your opponent for activating abilities can also throw a wrench in their plans. Always remember that without its host land, this card loses its threatening power. By combining land disruption and timing your controls, you can efficiently neutralize this quiet powerhouse and maintain the upper hand throughout your match.
In essence, by targeting the land Genju of the Cedars inhabits or by disrupting its activation cycle, you can effectively minimize its impact and retain control of the board, steering the game towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Genju of the Cedars MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa and Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana, 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 Genju of the Cedars 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 Genju of the Cedars Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Arnie Swekel.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 126 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel | |
| 2 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 13 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Genju of the Cedars has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Genju of the Cedars card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |
| 2009-10-01 | Activating the ability that turns it into a creature while it’s already a creature will override any effects that set its power and/or toughness to a specific number. However, any effect that raises or lowers power and/or toughness (such as the effect created by Giant Growth, Glorious Anthem, or a +1/+1 counter) will continue to apply. |