Ominous Roost MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Ominous Roost enhances graveyard spell casting by creating valuable bird tokens for sustained board presence.
  2. Works well within creature-based strategies and flight-centric defenses, offering versatile battlefield advantages.
  3. Despite its mana requirements, this card is a strong pick for decks exploiting graveyard mechanics and spell synergies.

Text of card

When Ominous Roost enters the battlefield or whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard, create a 1/1 blue Bird creature token with flying and "This creature can block only creatures with flying."

"One raven is a bad omen. Two are a curse. I don't know what this is, but it can't be good." —Verna, priest of Sigarda


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ominous Roost enhances your card efficiency by creating Bird Illusion tokens whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard. This recurring token generation means you keep getting more value out of spells you’ve already played.

Resource Acceleration: While Ominous Roost does not directly accelerate resources, the Bird tokens it creates can contribute to strategies that capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield, indirectly leading to forms of acceleration in the right deck.

Instant Speed: Although Ominous Roost itself is not cast at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that are. It supports a strategy that involves playing instants from the graveyard, which can significantly impact the game’s tempo and enable surprise plays on the opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ominous Roost requires you to have birds in hand or a way to generate bird tokens, which might be challenging in games where you’re tight on resources or token-generating mechanics.

Specific Mana Cost: Ominous Roost comes with a blue mana cost, making it less versatile for multicolored decks that might struggle to consistently produce the required mana type.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost sitting at three, including two blue, it may be deemed inefficient, especially when your strategy does not synergize with the production of bird tokens or when faster tempo plays are crucial to your game plan.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ominous Roost slides into a wide array of deck builds with ease, particularly those aiming to capitalize on recurring creature effects and token generation. Its ability to create flying bird tokens adds layers of defense and offense to your board state.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that unfold around casting spells from the graveyard. Every instance becomes an opportunity to add another evasive creature to your field, providing incremental advantages that can escalate to overwhelming board presence.

Meta-Relevance: With decks that focus on spell-slinging and graveyard mechanics gaining traction, Ominous Roost has seen an uptick in play. Its enduring presence cements it as a solid choice for enthusiasts looking to stay competitive in the ever-evolving battlefield.


How to beat

Ominous Roost is an enchantment that brings a unique gameplay dynamic to the table in Magic: The Gathering. It allows players to create a 1/1 blue Bird Illusion creature token with flying whenever they cast a spell from their graveyard. This card can quickly generate an army of fliers, presenting a challenge for opponents to deal with. The key to overcoming Ominous Roost lies in disrupting the synergy it relies upon.

Targeted removal spells are effective ways to deal with the enchantment itself, preventing any bird tokens from being created. Graveyard hate is another strategic option; by exiling cards from the graveyard, you eliminate the fuel that Ominous Roost depends on for generating tokens. Additionally, board sweepers can clear out the tokens already on the battlefield, albeit this is a temporary solution if the enchantment remains in play. Utilizing flying blockers can also stall the token onslaught, though this is more of a defensive tactic.

Ultimately, staying ahead of Ominous Roost requires a direct approach to either remove the source of the tokens or to neutralize the graveyard strategies that it complements. A swift and decisive play can keep the skies clear and maintain control over the game.


Cards like Ominous Roost

Ominous Roost stands out in the land of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. Its effect of creating a 1/1 blue Bird creature token with flying each time you cast a spell from the graveyard gracefully mirrors the functionality of other Magic cards. A comparison can be drawn to other token-generating cards, such as Talrand, Sky Summoner, which produces 2/2 flying drake tokens albeit exclusively when casting instant or sorcery spells.

Looking at the synergy with graveyard casting, Desperate Farmer similarly activates upon a change in state, transforming when another creature you control dies. While it’s not a precise match in terms of effects, it shares the theme of transformation and token generating. Furthermore, Sedgemoor Witch presents another comparable mechanic as it conjures up 1/1 black and green Pest creature tokens with lifelink whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell—but it does require the Magecraft ability to trigger.

In essence, Ominous Roost is a distinctive piece within the vast MTG landscape, offering a unique blend of strategic value for decks that focus on leveraging the graveyard, suggesting a similarity in concept but distinct versatility in application among its peers.

Talrand, Sky Summoner - MTG Card versions
Sedgemoor Witch - MTG Card versions
Talrand, Sky Summoner - Magic 2013 (M13)
Sedgemoor Witch - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Cards similar to Ominous Roost by color, type and mana cost

Feedback - MTG Card versions
In the Eye of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Undertow - MTG Card versions
Mana Vortex - MTG Card versions
Energy Flux - MTG Card versions
Gaseous Form - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Trance - MTG Card versions
Soul Barrier - MTG Card versions
Puppet Master - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Intruder Alarm - MTG Card versions
Equilibrium - MTG Card versions
Mana Breach - MTG Card versions
Checks and Balances - MTG Card versions
Douse - MTG Card versions
Veiled Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Charisma - MTG Card versions
Rhystic Study - MTG Card versions
Traveler's Cloak - MTG Card versions
Shifting Sky - MTG Card versions
Feedback - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
In the Eye of Chaos - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Undertow - Legends (LEG)
Mana Vortex - The Dark (DRK)
Energy Flux - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Gaseous Form - The List (PLST)
Mesmeric Trance - Ice Age (ICE)
Soul Barrier - Ice Age (ICE)
Puppet Master - Chronicles (CHR)
Propaganda - Commander 2020 (C20)
Intruder Alarm - The List (PLST)
Equilibrium - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Mana Breach - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Checks and Balances - Unglued (UGL)
Douse - Urza's Saga (USG)
Veiled Crocodile - Urza's Saga (USG)
Charisma - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Rhystic Study - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Traveler's Cloak - Invasion (INV)
Shifting Sky - Planeshift (PLS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ominous Roost MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Ominous Roost and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ominous Roost Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-09-24 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Josu Hernaiz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 652015normalblackJosu Hernaiz
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 652015normalblackJosu Hernaiz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ominous Roost has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

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