Genju of the Fens MTG Card
2005-02-04 - Number 66
2014-12-05 - Number 47
2019-11-07 - Number 666
2020-09-26 - Number DDD-47
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
: Until end of turn, enchanted Swamp becomes a 2/2 black Spirit creature with ": This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn." It's still a land. When enchanted Swamp is put into a graveyard, you may return Genju of the Fens from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Genju of the Fens
Genju of the Fens holds an intriguing niche within the realm of enchant land cards in Magic: The Gathering. This black enchantment mirrors the functionality of cards like Shade’s Form, both breathing life into lands by turning them into creatures. Yet, where Genju of the Fens shines is in its resilience; even if the animated land is destroyed, Genju returns to your hand, ready to animate another day.
Exploring further comparisons, we stumble upon Nantuko Monastery. While it also animates lands, it requires threshold to transform the land into a creature, unlike the always-ready nature of Genju of the Fens. Spawning Pool is another relevant enchantment, allowing a land to become a regenerating creature. Nevertheless, it lacks the return-to-hand mechanic that makes Genju of the Fens a persistent threat.
To encapsulate, Genju of the Fens offers a unique blend of persistent board presence and flexibility, making it a formidable player in land animation strategies. Its enduring nature places it a step above other similar enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, ensuring its place in decks that value longevity and resilience on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Genju of the Fens by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Genju of the Fens grants significant card advantage by allowing the activation of its effect multiple times. Transforming a land into a formidable creature can result in repeated threats from a single card.
Resource Acceleration: This card does not directly increase resources but it has a nuanced synergy with lands, essentially multiplying their utility without the need for additional mana investment beyond its initial activation cost.
Instant Speed: The capability to become a creature at instant speed provides strategic flexibility, enabling responses to the battlefield during any phase of the game, and surprising opponents with unexpected blockers or attackers.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Genju of the Fens requires you to return it to your hand and discard a card if the enchanted Swamp becomes the target of a spell or ability. This can set you back, especially when holding a crucial card in your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Activation demands black mana, which restricts it to black or multicolored decks, potentially reducing its versatility in a varied MTG meta.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost of one black mana, plus the reanimation fee to bring it back from your graveyard to a Swamp, the investment can add up over time. This can be particularly taxing when facing opponents with efficient removal options, reducing the card’s net value.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Genju of the Fens turns any Swamp into a recurrent threat, making it an excellent addition to decks that aim to utilize their lands beyond mana production.
Combo Potential: When paired with land-animation effects or landfall mechanics, Genju of the Fens can become a repeatably efficient creature, synergizing well with various deck strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where control decks are prevalent, this enchantment card can repeatedly create a resilient threat that can evade conventional removal spells, maintaining its relevance in diverse metagames.
How to beat Genju of the Fens
In the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, Genju of the Fens presents a unique challenge as a land enchantment. What makes Genju stand out is its ability to turn a simple Swamp into a formidable, regenerating creature, threatening to return to the battlefield even after being dealt with. One intricacy of this card is its resilience, tempting players to tread carefully when deciding how to tackle it.
To effectively navigate against Genju of the Fens, consider enchantment removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize which can efficiently dispatch the threat. Another strategy involves the use of counterspells to prevent Genju from hitting the field in the first place. Be mindful also of land destruction or land-bouncing effects; by targeting the enchanted Swamp, you remove the Genju’s housing, rendering it inoperative. As with any persistent card, managing your resources and timing your answers are key to keeping the enchanted threats under control and securing victory.
While Genju of the Fens may adeptly rise from the graveyard, with strategic play and a well-constructed deck, you can ensure that this mystical enchantment does not overwhelm your chances of success in your MTG matches.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Genju of the Fens 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 Fens 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
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Printings
The Genju of the Fens Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2005-02-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Tsutomu Kawade.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 66 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tsutomu Kawade | |
| 2 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana | GVL | 47 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tsutomu Kawade | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 666 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tsutomu Kawade | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDD-47 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Tsutomu Kawade |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Genju of the Fens 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 Fens 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. |