Rootless Yew MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Treefolk |
| Released | 2021-02-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kaldheim |
| Set code | KHM |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 189 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Nicholas Gregory |
Key Takeaways
- Serves as a creature and a resource for fetching higher-cost cards after it dies, aiding in-game momentum.
- Acts at instant-speed upon death, enabling strategic surprise plays by immediately replacing itself with a pivotal creature.
- The mana and card requirements for activating abilities might constrain deck building and hand-resource management.
Text of card
When Rootless Yew dies, search your library for a creature card with power or toughness 6 or greater, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.
"We are bound to wander this forest forever. Sometimes I think it wanders with us." —Ogni, Kannah scout
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rootless Yew’s ability to fetch a creature card from your deck once it dies can ensure that you maintain card flow and field presence, essentially replacing itself and keeping your hand rich with options.
Resource Acceleration: Not only does Rootless Yew serve as a resilient creature on the battlefield, but its ability to search for a higher-cost creature card after it dies can effectively accelerate your resource curve, setting the stage for more impactful plays sooner than your opponent might anticipate.
Instant Speed: While Rootless Yew itself may not operate at instant speed, its death-triggered ability allows for an instant-like response. When the Yew is removed, you can immediately replace it with a key creature from your deck, adapting on the fly to the state of the game and potentially surprising your opponent with an unexpected threat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Rootless Yew necessitates the removal of a card from your hand as part of its ability activation, potentially depleting your hand when you might need to retain options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card commands a precise mana combination to cast, which can potentially hinder its inclusion in multi-colored decks that are not focused on its green mana alignment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that sits on the higher end for its creature category, the Rootless Yew might be overshadowed by lower-cost cards that present quicker gameplay advantages.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Rootless Yew is versatile, seamlessly integrating into various green decks due to its ability to fetch creatures from your library upon death. This utility makes it a fine inclusion in decks that thrive on consistently putting key creatures into play.
Combo Potential: The card exhibits remarkable combo potential in synergy-based strategies. It can be a part of combos that revolve around creature-based mechanics, acting as a catalyst for pulling off game-winning sequences by retrieving crucial creatures at opportune moments.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s focused on creature-based strategies, Rootless Yew holds its ground as a valuable asset. Its ability to keep your hand supplied with pivotal creatures can give you the resilience needed to outlast your opponents, keeping you relevant in evolving metagames.
How to Beat Rootless Yew
Rootless Yew is a resilient creature card that can pose quite the challenge on the battlefield. This green creature from Magic: The Gathering is not just formidable because of its ability to bring another creature from your deck when it dies. One might draw parallels with other cards that have similar on-death triggers, but what makes Rootless Yew unique is its ability to tutor for a creature card directly into the field. It essentially skips the hand, cheating conventional casting requirements in a way that can quickly turn the tides of a game.
To effectively counter Rootless Yew, it’s important to consider removal strategies that exile rather than destroy. Cards such as Path to Exile or Ashes to Ashes can remove Rootless Yew without triggering its sought-after death ability. Additionally, employing graveyard hate strategies, like those enabled by Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void, can suppress Rootless Yew’s capabilities and prevent the chosen creature from ultimately reaching the battlefield.
In summary, dealing with Rootless Yew requires careful planning and a keen understanding of removal options. Exile-based removal or disruption of graveyard mechanics can help mitigate the potential tempo swing this card presents, keeping your strategy ahead of this sturdy green contender.
Cards like Rootless Yew
Rootless Yew has planted itself within the ecosystem of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It bears a certain resemblance to cards such as Wall of Blossoms, which provides card advantage through its enter-the-battlefield ability. However, Rootless Yew distinguishes itself with a death-triggered ability that allows you to search your library for a creature card with power or toughness 6 or greater and put it into your hand, guaranteeing a high-impact follow-up.
Looking at Evergreen Sentry, we see another creature that fetches from the library post-mortem, yet the similarity ends there as the Sentry limits its searches to creatures with a mana value of 3 or less. On the costlier side, there is Protean Behemoth, providing not just a card advantage but also a vast body on the battlefield; however, its effect only triggers if it is dealt damage, which is not as reliable as the assured library search Rootless Yew offers upon death.
All things considered, Rootless Yew demonstrates a robust versatility in creature searching mechanisms, providing both a defensive front and an ensuing offensive advantage, making it a card that holds its ground in Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature options.
Cards similar to Rootless Yew by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rootless Yew MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Rootless Yew 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 Rootless Yew has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
