Groundswell MTG Card
2010-02-05 - Number 104
2015-08-28 - Number 15
2019-11-07 - Number 1230
2022-12-02 - Number 669
2020-09-26 - Number DDP-15
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Landfall |
Text of card
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Landfall — If you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn, that creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn instead.
"This world will not be tamed."
Cards like Groundswell
Groundswell is a captivating instant in Magic: The Gathering that strengthens creatures with a burst of power. It mirrors the iconic Giant Growth, giving a creature +3/+3 until end of turn. Groundswell, however, reserves the potential for a greater boost if landfall has occurred, granting a +4/+4 enhancement instead. This conditional aspect introduces an additional layer of strategy compared to the consistency of Giant Growth.
Comparatively, we also have cards like Mutagenic Growth, offering a similar instant-speed power-up without a mana cost, at the price of 2 life points through the Phyrexian mana system. This can often be a favorable trade-off in faster, more aggressive decks. Additionally, there’s the card Vines of Vastwood, providing not only a +4/+4 gain like the optimal outcome of Groundswell but also protection from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. This dual functionality can be pivotal in crucial gameplay moments.
Each card comes with its own advantages, making them situational additions to any deck. Groundswell shines brightest within land-centric strategies, where its full potential is more readily unlocked, positioning itself as a strong contender in the suite of green pump spells.
Cards similar to Groundswell by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Groundswell. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Golgari Infect | Modern | Infect | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Modern Mainevent |
 | Infect | Modern | Infect | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Modern Mainevent |
| Bant Infect | Modern | Infect | DEN24 Sun 9:30 - Modern $10k Open 8-slot RCQ |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Groundswell is a card that can give a notable edge when it comes to combat tricks or crucial turns. It brings more than just a temporary buff; it can solidly turn the tides in your favor by making your creatures unexpectedly larger, potentially leading to advantageous trades or even unanticipated victories.
Resource Acceleration: While Groundswell itself doesn’t produce mana or tokens, it synergizes well with landfall mechanics. Playing a land and then casting Groundswell can result in a sudden spike in your creature’s power, acting as a force multiplier and accelerating your path to winning the game through enhanced creature potency.
Instant Speed: One of Groundswell’s strengths is its instant-speed capability. This allows for reactive gameplay, giving you the flexibility to cast it during the combat phase or in response to an opponent’s actions. The surprise element this card possesses can be a critical asset, as it lets you adapt to evolving board states and outmaneuver opponents with timely power boosts.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In order to activate Groundswell’s landfall ability, you might need to play another card first, which could reduce your hand size and leave you at a disadvantage if you run out of cards to play.
Specific Mana Cost: Groundswell requires green mana, which could restrict its inclusion to decks that have a green mana base, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For just a single green mana, Groundswell’s benefit is significant, but reliant on the landfall trigger. Without a land to play, its effectiveness diminishes, making it costly in terms of opportunity when compared to other instant-speed pump spells in your deck that might increase power and toughness unconditionally.
Reasons to Include Groundswell in Your Collection
Versatility: Groundswell is a card that fits seamlessly into a variety of green decks, especially those that rely on landfall mechanics or need a quick boost in creature power to overcome opponents.
Combo Potential: This instant can be a game-changer when used in conjunction with cards that allow for multiple land plays per turn, potentially doubling its effect and giving an enormous temporary power boost during critical combat phases.
Meta-Relevance: With aggressive strategies often taking center stage in many formats, Groundswell provides a low-cost and efficient way to turn the tide of battle and secure victories against decks that may not be expecting such an immediate surge in power.
How to beat
Dealing with Groundswell in Magic: The Gathering can challenge even seasoned players. A common tactic found in green decks, Groundswell significantly amplifies a creature’s power, often leading to unexpected game swings. To effectively combat this card, understanding the timing of its Landfall ability, which triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield, becomes crucial. Keeping a watchful eye on the opponent’s lands and maintaining instant-speed removal or trick cards to disrupt combat can thwart a Groundswell play.
Counterplay hinges on anticipating and mitigating its effects. Utilizing counterspells to prevent Groundswell from resolving is a solid strategy. Equally useful is the strategy of limiting your opponent’s ability to play lands at critical moments, using card effects that restrict land drops or untapping. Another effective method is to employ bounce effects, returning the buffed creature to hand after Groundswell has been cast. This not only disrupts your opponent’s momentum but also wastes their Groundswell, rendering it less impactful on the game’s outcome.
Crafted for competitive play, Groundswell’s potential to turn the tide of battle warrants strategic considerations and responses. By staying vigilant and deploying these strategies, you stand a better chance to come out on top in a game where Groundswell is in play.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Groundswell MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake and Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi, 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 Groundswell 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 Groundswell Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-02-05 | Worldwake | WWK | 104 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 2 | 2015-08-28 | Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi | DDP | 15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1230 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDP-15 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | ||
| 5 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 669 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Groundswell has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Groundswell card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2010-03-01 | Having more than one land enter the battlefield under your control this turn provides no additional benefit. |
| 2010-03-01 | Once the spell resolves, having a land enter the battlefield under your control provides no further benefit. |
| 2010-03-01 | The effect of this spell’s landfall ability replaces its normal effect. If you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn, only the landfall-based effect happens. |
| 2010-03-01 | The landfall ability checks for an action that has happened in the past. It doesn’t matter if a land that entered the battlefield under your control previously in the turn is still on the battlefield, is still under your control, or is still a land. |
| 2010-03-01 | Whether you had a land enter the battlefield under your control this turn is checked as this spell resolves, not as you cast it. |