Cultivator of Blades MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Artificer
Abilities Fabricate
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers either unit multiplication or self-strengthening, enhancing the board according to strategic needs.
  2. While versatile, commitment to green mana and high cost can limit deck integration opportunities.
  3. Presents potential for explosive plays in creature-focused decks, rewarding comprehensive board strategies.

Text of card

Fabricate 2 (When this creature enters the battlefield, put two +1/+1 counters on it or create two 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens.) Whenever Cultivator of Blades attacks, you may have other attacking creatures get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is Cultivator of Blades's power.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cultivator of Blades offers a unique form of card advantage as it empowers other creatures you control. When it enters the battlefield with fabricate 2, you can choose to create two additional 1/1 Servo tokens, effectively putting more bodies on the board, or strengthen it with two +1/+1 counters. This versatility lets you tailor your strategy on the fly, ensuring you’re not just gaining a single card but potentially augmenting several.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly generating mana, Cultivator of Blades can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. It boosts the attack power of your other creatures, potentially turning them into threats much quicker than usual. When it attacks, this ability shines by elevating your entire frontline, maximizing the efficiency of your existing resources, and can accelerate the clock against your opponent significantly.

Instant Speed: Although Cultivator of Blades itself does not operate at instant speed, its effect on the game is instantaneous in a way that’s crucial for combat math. By adjusting your board presence before attackers are declared, you can create an overwhelming swing in power, often catching an opponent off guard. This element of surprise mimics the tactical advantage of instant-speed plays, albeit in the context of combat strategy rather than spell timing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its potential to significantly amplify your board’s offensive capabilities, Cultivator of Blades does not come without its drawbacks. One such issue is its reliance on the Fabricate ability, which can lead to a crucial decision of whether to create Servo tokens or place +1/+1 counters on the card itself. This choice becomes particularly challenging when facing a hand with limited options, causing a conundrum for the player on whether to sacrifice card advantage for an immediate board presence or long-term power.

Specific Mana Cost: Cultivator of Blades demands a specific mana composition to cast–two green and three of any other type. This requirement restricts the card to decks that can reliably generate the necessary green mana early enough to make a timely impact on the game, potentially hindering its inclusion in certain multicolored or mana-intensive strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of five mana to summon, Cultivator of Blades is on the higher end of the mana curve for creatures that serve a similar role. When considering the options for five mana, many players might find alternative creatures or spells that provide more immediate impact, a stronger standalone presence, or additional flexibility without the conditional setup that Cultivator of Blades requires.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cultivator of Blades offers adaptability in deck building, effortlessly finding its place in token strategies or decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. Its ability to fit into various archetypes makes it a valuable asset for collectors and players alike.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with numerous other cards, enabling explosive turns by empowering a wide spread of creatures. In combination with other support cards, it can turn a modest board state into a threatening one, unlocking new levels of gameplay and interaction.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that often rewards wide board states and the capacity for significant combat swings, Cultivator of Blades can be a game-changer by turning even a single creature into a substantial threat. This relevance to current strategies makes it a worthwhile addition to competitive and casual foundations.


How to beat

Cultivator of Blades is a unique creature card that brings a powerful fabricate ability to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. The card allows players to either boost its own power and toughness or create a number of 1/1 Servo creature tokens equal to its fabricate number. When attacking, it gives other attacking creatures a significant boost, equal to its power, which can quickly turn the tide of a game.

Defeating a Cultivator of Blades requires a strategy to minimize its impact before it can enhance your opponent’s attacking force. Spot removal spells are key to eliminating Cultivator of Blades before it can activate its ability or declare an attack. Cards such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile work well in this scenario. Board wipes are also effective, as they can clear out both the Cultivator and the potentially numerous Servo tokens. Furthermore, countermeasures like Essence Scatter can stop the Cultivator from hitting the field in the first place. Always be prepared to deal with it swiftly, as an unchecked Cultivator of Blades can lead to an overwhelming attack difficult to recover from.

Ultimately, staying one step ahead of the card’s fabricate ability and aggressive potential is critical for maintaining control of the game against this potent threat.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’ve delved into the pros and cons of Cultivator of Blades, you know it’s a card that can turn the tide of a game. With its fabricate choice, you can spawn additional creatures or beef up your force, crucial in MTG’s dynamic combat. Understanding its strategic uses is key, especially when considering its place in your deck amidst the specific mana needs and its five mana cost. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting, exploring the potential combos and the impact of Cultivator of Blades on your gameplay is worthwhile. Dive deeper with us as we unwrap the mysteries and tactics of using this versatile card to its full extent.


Cards like Cultivator of Blades

The Cultivator of Blades offers a unique blend of abilities for players looking to bolster their forces. Comparable to Juniper Order Ranger, which provides a +1/+1 counter on another target creature whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, the Cultivator of Blades’ fabricate ability pairs well with its innate ability to empower other creatures you control during an assault. Unlike the ranger, however, it provides a more immediate and widespread impact the moment it attacks.

Analogous to the value of the Cultivator of Blades is Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter. Both cards thrive in a creature-heavy setup, with Oviya Pashiri’s ability to create creature tokens scaling with your creature count. However, the Cultivator surpasses Oviya in directly amplifying an army’s threat during combat. Elvish Promenade shares the token generation theme yet does not offer the same versatile choice between enhancing creatures’ size or numbers directly on the battlefield as the Cultivator of Blades does.

To encapsulate, when evaluated against similar options, Cultivator of Blades stands out for providing flexibility and potential game-changing attack phases, making it an impressive inclusion in decks that favor creature strategies and a momentum shift during the heat of battle.

Juniper Order Ranger - MTG Card versions
Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter - MTG Card versions
Elvish Promenade - MTG Card versions
Juniper Order Ranger - MTG Card versions
Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter - MTG Card versions
Elvish Promenade - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cultivator of Blades MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Kaladesh 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 Cultivator of Blades and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cultivator of Blades Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 622192015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
22016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 151s2015NormalBlackBastien L. Deharme
32016-09-30Kaladesh PromosPKLD 1512015NormalBlackJosu Hernaiz
42016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1512015NormalBlackBastien L. Deharme
52021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 552015NormalBlackBastien L. Deharme

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cultivator of Blades has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cultivator of Blades card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-09-20 Fabricate doesn't cause the creature with the ability to enter the battlefield with +1/+1 counters already on it. For example, Weaponcraft Enthusiast will enter the battlefield as a 0/1 creature, then its fabricate ability goes on the stack. Players may take actions (such as casting instants) while the ability is waiting to resolve.
2016-09-20 If you can't put +1/+1 counters on the creature for any reason as fabricate resolves (for instance, if it's no longer on the battlefield), you just create Servo tokens.
2016-09-20 The value of X is determined as Cultivator of Blades's last ability resolves. It won't change later, even if its power changes. If Cultivator of Blades is no longer on the battlefield, use its power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine the value of X.
2016-09-20 You choose whether or not to have your other attacking creatures get +X/+X as Cultivator of Blades's triggered ability resolves, not as you put it onto the stack.
2016-09-20 You choose whether to put +1/+1 counters on the creature or create Servo tokens as the fabricate ability is resolving. No player may take actions between the time you choose and the time that counters are added or tokens are created.
2017-07-14 If this creature's power is negative as its ability resolves, X is considered to be 0. (This is a change from previous rulings.)

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