Hermit Druid MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 2 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Human Druid |
Power | 1 |
Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
o G, oc T: Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a basic land card. Put that card into your hand and put all other revealed cards into your graveyard.
Seeking the company of plants ensures that your wits will go to seed.
Cards like Hermit Druid
Hermit Druid remains a unique card within the world of Magic: The Gathering, setting a peculiar standard for deck-manipulation abilities. The card parallels with effects such as Millstone, which allows a player to put the top two cards of their library into their graveyard. However, unlike Millstone’s fixed number, Hermit Druid excavates until a basic land card is revealed, which can potentially churn through a massive portion of a library in one go.
Another analogous card is Golgari Grave-Troll, featuring the dredge mechanic, which can replace a draw with a hefty number of cards moved from the library to the graveyard. Though similar in the graveyard-filling strategy, Hermit Druid’s ability is a single activation per turn and can be a more controlled yet expansive option. Then there’s Mesmeric Orb, which mills cards for each untap, providing a steady stream of graveyard filling but without the target player’s control that Hermit Druid offers.
When comparing these mechanics, Hermit Druid can significantly alter a game’s dynamic through its potential to flip a deck into the graveyard, a trait that can be a linchpin in many combo-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a card that, while comparable to others, stands out for its strategic depth and potential game-ending interactions.
Cards similar to Hermit Druid by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Hermit Druid. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
UBG | Vintage | Vintage League 2024-03-28 | ||
UBRG | Vintage | Vintage Preliminary 2024-03-15 | ||
Angry Hermit | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent | ||
Full English Breakfast | Premodern | Eternal Weekend Europe 2023 Premodern Mainevent |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hermit Druid has the unique ability to potentially mill a significant portion of your library into your graveyard, thus setting up the potential for powerful graveyard synergies. This can translate into substantial card advantage, as the creature allows you to access more of your cards indirectly through graveyard mechanics.
Resource Acceleration: This creature’s ability can be seen as a method of resource acceleration. By rapidly filling the graveyard, it enables strategies that are dependent on having a high volume of cards in the graveyard, effectively speeding up the game plan of decks built to exploit this.
Instant Speed: While Hermit Druid’s ability itself isn’t at instant speed, the card sets the stage for numerous instant-speed interactions. Once your graveyard is stocked, it opens up the possibility to utilize flashbacks, unearth, and other abilities that can be activated during either player’s turn, thereby increasing the card’s strategic flexibility.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Those hoping to integrate Hermit Druid into their deck must be prepared for a higher level of strategy due to its unorthodox gameplay style. Engaging its ability demands the removal of your library’s top card, which may lead to involuntary discard of key cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Hermit Druid necessitates precise mana alignment, requiring both green and one other unspecified mana. This specificity can restrict deck-building options, particularly for those seeking to deploy a multicolored strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a startup cost of two mana and a maintenance cost of one green mana every time its ability is activated, Hermit Druid’s expense may outweigh the benefits. Players must weigh this recurring investment against other potential card selections that could offer more immediate or flexible advantages on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Hermit Druid in Your Collection
Versatility: Hermit Druid has the unique ability to manipulate a player’s library directly into their graveyard. This characteristic ensures that it can be a key component in a variety of decks, especially those built around graveyard strategies or themes that involve self-mill.
Combo Potential: Hermit Druid is notorious for its ability to engage in powerful combinations. For instance, the card can quickly mill entire libraries if there are no basic lands to reveal, setting up for an instant win condition with cards like Thassa’s Oracle or Dread Return.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where games can end quickly or in environments where graveyard synergy is prevalent, Hermit Druid remains a card that can pose a significant threat. It’s a card that can adapt to various metas with its ability to assemble pieces for a game-winning combo efficiently.
How to beat
The Hermit Druid is a notoriously powerful card within the MTG universe, often acting as a keystone in combo decks that aim to put large numbers of cards into the graveyard swiftly. With an activated ability that can dramatically change the course of a game, it’s essential to know how to interrupt this strategy. Graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can shut down the Druid’s effectiveness by preemptively eliminating the graveyard as a resource. Without a graveyard to fuel the engine, the Druid’s ability becomes nullified.
Control elements are also key against the Hermit Druid. Counterspells, instant-speed removal, or even hand disruption can prevent your opponent from taking advantage of the Druid’s ability. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Thoughtseize can disrupt the Druid’s combo before it takes off. Additionally, keeping pressure on your opponent’s life total can force them into a defensive position where they aren’t able to leverage the Druid’s full potential. Balanced aggression, strategic control, and specific hate cards are effective ways to stop a Hermit Druid in its tracks.
Ultimately, preparation and understanding the Druid’s role in your opponent’s game plan are necessary for countering its potent ability. Making the right sideboard choices and playing reactively will help you remain one step ahead, mitigating the Druid’s capacity to dominate the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
The Hermit Druid is an MTG card that beckons the strategically minded player, inviting a deep dive into the tactics of self-mill and graveyard synergy. As you’ve learned about its potential for card advantage and game-winning combos, it’s clear that this card deserves consideration in your MTG arsenal. For the savvy deck builder who thrives on complex interactions and enjoys shaping the battlefield, the Hermit Druid stands as a formidable ally. If the prospect of sculpting your playstyle around such mechanisms intrigues you, we encourage you to explore further. Embrace the challenge and finesse required to wield the Hermit Druid effectively—your deck might just transcend to a new level of competitive edge. Learn more and harness the full power of this iconic card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hermit Druid MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Magic Online Promos, 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 Hermit Druid 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 Hermit Druid Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Heather Hudson.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 108 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 36080 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | ||
3 | 2004-01-01 | Judge Gift Cards 2004 | G04 | 6 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
4 | 2014-06-16 | Vintage Masters | VMA | 216 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
5 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 175 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson | |
6 | The List | PLST | STH-108 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Heather Hudson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hermit Druid has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Banned |
Paupercommander | Restricted |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Premodern | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Banned |
Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hermit Druid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2004-10-04 | You can put the cards from your library into your graveyard in any order. |