Grappling Sundew MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Plant |
| Abilities | Defender,Reach |
| Released | 2018-10-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Guilds of Ravnica |
| Set code | GRN |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 131 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sung Choi |
Key Takeaways
- Grappling Sundew’s reach and indestructibility provide a formidable defense against flying threats.
- Its defensive presence allows for resource conservation and strategic game extension.
- Activatable indestructible ability awards tactical flexibility, making it a resilient obstacle.
Text of card
Defender, reach : Grappling Sundew gains indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy this creature.)
Some rooftop gardens attract bees; others capture dragons.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Grappling Sundew offers a unique form of card advantage in prolonged games. As a creature with reach, it can repeatedly block and destroy various flying threats, effectively allowing you to remove multiple enemy creatures with just one card.
Resource Acceleration: While the Grappling Sundew doesn’t directly accelerate resources in terms of mana, it does contribute to resource acceleration in a defensive manner. By providing a consistent blocker on the board, it ensures your other resources are not drained by needing to cast additional creatures or removal spells to deal with flying creatures.
Instant Speed: This particular card may not operate at instant speed, but its activated ability to gain indestructible until end of turn can be activated whenever you have the mana. This closely resembles the flexibility of instant speed interactions, allowing you to adapt to threats even during your opponent’s turn, providing a significant strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While not applicable to Grappling Sundew itself, similar cards often suffer when needing to discard as part of the cost. Running out of cards to discard can be detrimental in key moments.
Specific Mana Cost: Grappling Sundew requires both green mana and generic mana to play. This specific cost can sometimes limit the card’s flexibility in deck-building, especially in multi-color decks that might struggle with mana consistency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Grappling Sundew’s defensive capabilities come at the cost of two mana – a green and a colorless. In a game where tempo and efficiency are crucial, this cost is sometimes viewed as steep for a 1/4 creature, even with its ability to reach and block fliers effectively.
Reasons to Include Grappling Sundew in Your Collection
Versatility: Grappling Sundew can serve as an effective defender in a variety of decks, thanks to its reach ability. This allows it to block flying creatures, which are common in many formats.
Combo Potential: The card’s adaptability shines when combined with cards that benefit from creatures with +1/+1 counters or those that key off activated abilities, opening up numerous combo avenues for the savvy player.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggressive flying creatures dominate, Grappling Sundew provides an essential defensive role. Its ability to deter attacks can be crucial in preserving your life total and maintaining board control.
How to beat
Grappling Sundew is a unique card that offers defensive capabilities on the battlefield. Much like its creature type suggests, it can trap and bog down opponents with its reach and ability to block multiple flying creatures. When facing Grappling Sundew, it’s crucial to recognize that its major strength lies in its defense, not offense. Therefore, it becomes less threatening if you’re able to diminish its defensive leverage.
A straightforward strategy to overcome Grappling Sundew is to use removal spells that don’t target it directly, such as board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the board, bypassing Sundew’s potential indestructibility. Another tactic is to deploy creatures with trample; even if Sundew blocks, excess damage will carry through to your opponent. Lastly, flying creatures are typically a valuable asset against most green decks, but against Sundew’s reach, consider adding creatures with higher power or utilizing spells that grant evasion to bypass its stalwart defense.
When playing against Grappling Sundew, it’s essential to adapt your strategy, focusing on broad removal or evasion, while also ensuring the game doesn’t stall out, which allows Sundew to shine in its role as a formidable defender. By doing so, you can neutralize its defensive presence and continue to press your advantage.
Cards like Grappling Sundew
Grappling Sundew is an intriguing creature within the MTG realm, offering both defensive fortitude and the capacity for imposing board control. This card is reminiscent of creatures like Wall of Tanglecord which also provides an affordable defensive option. Grappling Sundew, however, distinguishes itself with its vigilant ability, allowing it to both attack and defend adeptly—a trait Wall of Tanglecord does not share.
Glaring similarities can be drawn with creatures such as Tangle Spider. Both are green and boast reach, enabling them to effectively block flying creatures, an essential strategy against aerial assaults. Nonetheless, Grappling Sundew edges out with its activated indestructible ability, ensuring it remains a persistent threat on the battlefield, unlike Tangle Spider. Meanwhile, Sporeweb Weaver is another card that resonates with the defensive aspect but focuses more on life gain and token generation upon being dealt damage.
When evaluating these cards closely, Grappling Sundew emerges as a versatile defender in MTG. Its added flexibility and the safeguard it offers against removal effects lend it a special place in decks that favor long-term tactical positioning over immediate power spikes.
Cards similar to Grappling Sundew by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Grappling Sundew MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica, 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 Grappling Sundew and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Grappling Sundew has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
