Rootgrapple MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Tribal Instant — Treefolk |
| Released | 2007-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Lorwyn |
| Set code | LRW |
| Number | 234 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Alan Pollack |
Key Takeaways
- Rootgrapple can disrupt opponents while replenishing your hand, offering both offensive and defensive benefits.
- Instant speed allows for strategic flexibility, letting you act on opponent’s moves and maintain tempo.
- Trade-offs include a discard requirement and a mana cost that could hinder swift deck operations.
Text of card
Destroy target noncreature permanent. If you control a Treefolk, draw a card.
"All the sylvan secrets of this world are etched between my rings. The skinfolk's metal aberrations can rot between my roots." —Colfenor, the Last Yew
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rootgrapple provides a distinct edge by letting you draw a card upon its resolution. This aspect not only disrupts your opponent’s board but also keeps your hand replenished, maintaining pressure and pace in the match.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly accelerating resources, this MTG card effectively sets back your opponent by targeting their significant noncreature permanent. This action can indirectly accelerate your position by causing them to lose momentum.
Instant Speed: The capacity to cast Rootgrapple at instant speed grants you the flexibility to respond adeptly to your opponent’s moves. It enables strategic planning and reactive gameplay, letting you wait for the most opportune moment to disrupt their strategy without sacrificing the tempo of your own game plan.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One downside of the Rootgrapple card is its discard requirement. When you play Rootgrapple, you must sift through your hand and choose a card to get rid of, and this can often mean parting with a crucial component of your strategy at an inopportune moment.
Specific Mana Cost: Rootgrapple necessitates a specific blend of mana types to cast: one green and four mana of any color. This can prove restrictive and could potentially interfere with the fluidity of your gameplay, particularly if you’re not running a deck that heavily favors green mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Rootgrapple does offer the ability to destroy target noncreature permanent and the bonus of potentially drawing a card, its five total mana cost is on the higher side. This means it arrives later in the game and competes with other high-impact plays, which may offer more immediate or versatile advantages.
Reasons to Include Rootgrapple in Your Collection
Versatility: Rootgrapple offers the flexibility to target not only troublesome noncreature permanents but also provides the additional benefit of card draw if you control a Treefolk, making it a valuable inclusion in decks that can take advantage of both aspects.
Combo Potential: This card works well in synergy with decks that revolve around Treefolk or those that utilize the graveyard, as it can help cycle through your deck while controlling the board.
Meta-Relevance: In game formats where enchantments, artifacts, or lands with powerful abilities are prevalent, Rootgrapple can serve as a key piece of disruption, offering a strategic advantage against decks that rely heavily on specific noncreature permanents.
How to beat Rootgrapple
Rootgrapple, though not as prevalent in the current MTG meta, presents a unique challenge with its ability to target not only noncreature permanents but also providing the card draw when a Treefolk is controlled. Thwarting this utility necessitates a strategic approach, focusing on flexibility and timing. The first step in mitigating the impact of Rootgrapple is maintaining a diversified board state. By not overly relying on key noncreature permanents, the potential setback from its targeted destruction is lessened.
Spell counters are also effective in neutralizing Rootgrapple before it can exert its influence. Using spells like Negate or Disallow can prevent it from disrupting your game plan. Additionally, since Rootgrapple is a sorcery, it can only be played during the caster’s main phases, allowing opponents to plan their moves and keep mana open for countering appropriately. Lastly, minimizing the occurrence of Treefolk on the opponent’s side diminishes Rootgrapple’s secondary benefit and keeps the card from being more than a simple removal spell.
Through mindful play and a counteractive sideboard strategy, the challenges posed by Rootgrapple can be managed, ensuring it doesn’t interfere significantly with the progression of your deck’s gameplan in MTG.
Cards like Rootgrapple
Rootgrapple finds its niche in the realm of Magic: The Gathering as a removal option for players aiming to deal with noncreature permanents. A close cousin in this landscape is Naturalize, allowing players to destroy artifacts or enchantments at a lower cost. While Rootgrapple provides the flexibility to target any noncreature permanent, it requires a higher mana investment and adds card draw with Treefolk or Forest synergy.
Another analog is Creeping Mold, which demands a higher mana investment much like Rootgrapple, yet provides the chance to destroy any land, artifact, or enchantment. This versatility mirrors Rootgrapple’s flexibility but lacks the specific tribal or land synergy. Appetite for the Unnatural is also a noteworthy comparison that, although more restrictive since it only targets artifacts or enchantments, offers life gain—an added benefit Rootgrapple doesn’t have.
Ultimately, each alternative has its own strategic uses depending on the deck and game circumstance. While other cards may be more efficient or have different advantages, Rootgrapple appeals to those who value the card draw offered when playing with Treefolk or Forests, positioning itself as a utility card in MTG with a particular set of tactical applications.
Cards similar to Rootgrapple by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rootgrapple MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Rootgrapple 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 Rootgrapple has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
