Zendikar's Roil MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Landfall

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates tokens to enhance board presence while conserving hand resources for other strategic moves.
  2. Synergizes with instant-speed land plays, allowing for unexpected board state shifts during opponents’ turns.
  3. A higher mana curve and specific mana cost may limit flexibility and early game development.

Text of card

Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a 2/2 green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield.

"I was wrong. Zendikar isn't after me. It isn't after any of us. It's not evil or vengeful. It's magnificent . . . but it's in pain." —Nissa Revane


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Zendikar’s Roil generates elemental creature tokens, each of which can potentially draw out answers from opponents or add to board presence, keeping your hand free for other strategic plays.

Resource Acceleration: These elemental tokens also serve as an incremental form of resource acceleration. Each token represents additional power on the board, effectively increasing your available resources with every landfall triggering the card’s ability.

Instant Speed: Although Zendikar’s Roil operates at sorcery speed, it synergizes well with lands put into play at instant speed. This interaction allows for sudden board state changes during opponents’ turns or at the end of their turn, catching them off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Zendikar’s Roil does not directly require you to discard a card, it can indirectly pressure your hand by demanding consistent land plays for optimal value. This can result in a thinner hand if you’re deploying lands from it instead of other spells.

Specific Mana Cost: Zendikar’s Roil requires both green and generic mana to cast, making it less flexible in decks that aren’t focused on green or that have a less stable mana base. This can be particularly challenging in multi-colored decks where mana must be carefully balanced.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including two green, Zendikar’s Roil sits at a higher point on the mana curve. This may delay your ability to develop other aspects of your board state, and it competes with other impactful five-mana spells within the game that could offer immediate effects upon casting.


Reasons to Include Zendikar’s Roil in Your Collection

Versatility: Zendikar’s Roil is a flexible enchantment that seamlessly integrates into landfall decks. By creating a 2/2 green Elemental creature token every time a land enters the battlefield under your control, it multiplies the benefits of playing lands, a fundamental action in MTG.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in combinations, especially with cards that allow multiple land plays per turn or bounce lands back to your hand. Pair it with cards like ‘Evolution Sage’ to proliferate counters or ‘Retreat to Coralhelm’ to create a synergy that can quickly overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-changing MTG landscape, Zendikar’s Roil can be particularly potent in a meta that favors strategies around land interactions. As it stands, this enchantment can provide consistent creature generation, which is a solid advantage in various match-ups.


How to beat

Zendikar’s Roil is an enchantment that has been known to create overwhelming board states in Magic: The Gathering. As an engine for landfall, which generates a 2/2 Elemental creature token every time a land enters the battlefield under your control, it can quickly spiral out of control if not addressed early. To effectively neutralize this threat, it’s crucial to have enchantment removal at the ready. Cards like Nature’s Claim or Disenchant can be efficient tools to dismantle this sort of strategy.

Board clears are also a solid strategy against the tokens produced by Zendikar’s Roil. Sweeping removal spells, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, can reset the board and remove the accumulated Elemental tokens. Moreover, including counter spells like Negate or Mana Leak can prevent Zendikar’s Roil from ever hitting the field, allowing a player to maintain control of the game.

Overall, staying ahead of Zendikar’s Roil involves preventive measures and immediate responses. Efficient removal and disruption are keys to ensuring that this enchantment does not take over the game, thus keeping the match in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Zendikar’s Roil offers dynamic possibilities for MTG enthusiasts aiming to harness the power of landfall mechanics to build board presence. While its intricacies challenge deck builders to maintain a balanced hand and mana base, the card’s potential to change the game state is undeniable. If you’re intrigued by strategies that revolve around land plays and want to capitalize on generating value with each land drop, then this enchantment deserves a place in your arsenal. Dive deeper into the strategies and explore how Zendikar’s Roil can turn the tide in your favor. Elevate your gameplay, outsmart your opponents, and enjoy the never-ending journey to mastery with us. Learn more and unlock the full potential of your deck with BurnMana.


Cards like Zendikar's Roil

Zendikar’s Roil is an enchantment that holds its ground in the realm of landfall abilities in Magic: The Gathering. Another card with a land-themed mechanism is Retreat to Coralhelm, which also capitalizes on lands entering the battlefield but offers a choice in benefits, including tapping or untapping creatures, or scrying. Unlike Zendikar’s Roil, it doesn’t produce creature tokens, which can be vital for board presence.

However, comparing it with Omnath, Locus of Rage brings a more direct parallel. Omnath capitalizes on landfall by creating 5/5 Elemental creature tokens, similar to the 2/2 tokens from Zendikar’s Roil. Moreover, Omnath adds a layer of aggression by dealing damage when Elemental creatures die. While Zendikar’s Roil steadily builds an army, Omnath’s impact has a higher power ceiling, potentially turning every land drop into a significant threat. Lastly, Rampaging Baloths brings another notable parallel to Zendikar’s Roil, creating 4/4 Beast creature tokens with landfall; it requires one more mana but provides creatures with more substantial individual impact.

Despite the tough competition, Zendikar’s Roil remains a valuable card for players looking to exploit landfall mechanics, providing a steady stream of creatures capable of overwhelming opponents if left unchecked.

Retreat to Coralhelm - MTG Card versions
Omnath, Locus of Rage - MTG Card versions
Rampaging Baloths - MTG Card versions
Retreat to Coralhelm - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Omnath, Locus of Rage - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Rampaging Baloths - Zendikar Promos (PZEN)

Cards similar to Zendikar's Roil by color, type and mana cost

Nature's Revolt - MTG Card versions
Midsummer Revel - MTG Card versions
Saproling Burst - MTG Card versions
Verdant Succession - MTG Card versions
Unnatural Growth - MTG Card versions
Glorious Sunrise - MTG Card versions
Paradox Zone - MTG Card versions
Centaur Glade - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Perilous Forays - MTG Card versions
Hibernation's End - MTG Card versions
Verdant Embrace - MTG Card versions
Tornado - MTG Card versions
Flourishing Defenses - MTG Card versions
Gigantiform - MTG Card versions
Vastwood Zendikon - MTG Card versions
Asceticism - MTG Card versions
Gutter Grime - MTG Card versions
Lost in the Woods - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions
Nature's Revolt - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Midsummer Revel - Urza's Saga (USG)
Saproling Burst - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Verdant Succession - Odyssey (ODY)
Unnatural Growth - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Glorious Sunrise - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Paradox Zone - Commander 2021 (C21)
Centaur Glade - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Doubling Season - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Perilous Forays - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Hibernation's End - Coldsnap (CSP)
Verdant Embrace - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Tornado - Masters Edition (ME1)
Flourishing Defenses - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Gigantiform - Zendikar (ZEN)
Vastwood Zendikon - Jumpstart (JMP)
Asceticism - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Gutter Grime - Shadows of the Past (SIS)
Lost in the Woods - Dark Ascension (DKA)
Primal Vigor - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Zendikar's Roil MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Mystery Booster, 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 Zendikar's Roil and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Zendikar's Roil Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Sam Burley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 2092015normalblackSam Burley
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 13822015normalblackSam Burley
32020-07-17JumpstartJMP 4482015normalblackSam Burley
42020-09-25Zendikar Rising CommanderZNC 882015normalblackSam Burley
52020-09-26The ListPLST ORI-2092015normalblackSam Burley
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 7472015normalblackSam Burley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Zendikar's Roil has restrictions

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

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