Genju of the Spires MTG Card
2005-01-01 - Number 6
2005-02-04 - Number 105
2018-03-16 - Number 132
2019-11-07 - Number 945
2002-06-24 - Number 36284
2020-09-26 - Number A25-132
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant Mountain : Enchanted Mountain becomes a 6/1 red Spirit creature until end of turn. It's still a land. When enchanted Mountain is put into a graveyard, you may return Genju of the Spires from your graveyard to your hand.
Cards like Genju of the Spires
Genju of the Spires stands out in the realm of Magic the Gathering as a unique enchantment that transforms a land into a formidable creature. In the landscape of similar cards, we can look at Koth of the Hammer whose -1 ability temporarily turns a mountain into a 4/4 creature that can attack right away. While Genju of the Spires requires the land to be untapped to use its ability again, Koth’s influence is a one-turn wonder, demanding new targets for each activation.
Exploring further, we find Nissa, Worldwaker who escalates this concept by unleashing the potential of any land, not just mountains, and empowering them to become 4/4 creatures with trample. Unlike Genju of the Spires, Nissa’s ability is an emblem, setting her apart with a lasting impact on the lands for the remainder of the game. Additionally, Guardian Zendikon serves a related purpose, turning lands into vigilant creatures, yet they differ, as the Zendikon’s effect ceases once the land perishes, whereas Genju can be reused.
Each of these cards puts a unique twist on animating lands. Nonetheless, Genju of the Spires offers a repeated use case, potentially offering more long-term value in games where it can be protected and reused effectively.
Cards similar to Genju of the Spires by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Genju of the Spires is in play, it transforms the land it enchants into a formidable creature, effectively giving you an extra card’s worth of utility without losing land resources. Even if the enchanted land is destroyed, this card returns to your hand, ready to be reused, ensuring continuous card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: By turning a basic land into a potent threat, you get more mileage out of your lands, allowing them to serve as both mana sources and offensive tools. This dual functionality helps you maximize resources and can lead to faster gameplay, as you can maintain pressure without dedicating additional cards to the board.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Genju of the Spires at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing you to take opponents by surprise or wait until the last possible moment to make a strategic move. This adaptability ensures that you’re always ready to respond to your opponent’s actions or capitalize on an unguarded state of the game board.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not directly a discard mechanic, Genju of the Spires demands the presence of a Mountain card. This can be constrictive, as it could render the card useless if you’re facing a shortage of lands or if your Mountain is removed from the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchant land card requires a specific mana color—red—for activation, thereby limiting its versatility. If you’re experimenting with a multi-color deck, you might find the red mana stipulation somewhat restrictive.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Genju of the Spires requires two red mana for initial casting and another red mana to activate its ability each time. For savvy players, this mana could potentially be invested in spells or creatures that provide a quicker or more impactful advantage on the game state.
Reasons to Include Genju of the Spires in Your Collection
Versatility: Genju of the Spires can turn any mountain into a formidable threat, making it an addition that can improve nearly any red deck, especially those that seek to capitalize on land synergies.
Combo Potential: This enchantment has potential in combo scenarios, particularly with cards that allow for multiple land activations or benefit from creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, a card like Genju of the Spires remains relevant, particularly in formats where land-based strategies are prevalent or red decks need a recurring creature that evades conventional removal.
How to beat
Mastering the gameplay nuances in Magic: The Gathering can be as much about understanding powerful cards as it is about knowing how to counter them. Genju of the Spires, while not the most prominent powerhouse, has its unique flair when it animates a mountain into a potent 6/1 red Spirit creature. This transformation can consistently present a substantial threat each turn.
To effectively disable the threat of Genju of the Spires, strategic removal is key. The use of land destruction cards can permanently remove the empowered mountain, preventing its return. Alternatively, direct damage spells or ‘burn’ spells can deal with the Spirit before it deals damage. Cards like Path to Exile or direct removal spells that can exile or return the enchanted land to its owner’s hand also work by disrupting the Genju’s ability to trigger.
Another approach to beating Genju of the Spires involves focusing on repeated removal strategies. Since the Genju can reanimate the mountain multiple times, having an array of cheap removal spells at the ready can ensure the spirit creature doesn’t maintain a presence on the battlefield. Thus, while Genju of the Spires offers a unique avenue for aggressive strategies, it can be effectively countered with the right removal techniques.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Genju of the Spires MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Arena League 2005, 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 Spires and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Genju of the Spires Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2005-01-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Joel Thomas.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36284 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas | ||
| 2 | 2005-01-01 | Arena League 2005 | PAL05 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas | |
| 3 | 2005-02-04 | Betrayers of Kamigawa | BOK | 105 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas | |
| 4 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 132 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 945 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | A25-132 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joel Thomas |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Genju of the Spires has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Genju of the Spires 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. |