Wall of Roots MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Plant Wall
Abilities Defender
Power 0
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Offers card efficiency as a dependable blocker that also enhances your mana pool without board sacrifice.
  2. Can be activated at instant speed for strategic mana acceleration and flexible in-game responses.
  3. Limited lifespan through usage and specific deck inclusion pose challenges to its long-term utility.

Text of card

Put a -0/-1 counter on Wall of Roots: Add o G to your mana pool. Play this ability as a mana source. Use this ability only once each turn.

Sometimes the wise ones wove their magic into living plants; as the plant grew, so grew the magic.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Wall of Roots doesn’t enable you to draw more cards, it contributes to card efficiency by providing a dependable blocker that can repeatedly contribute to your mana pool without sacrificing card position on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Delivers immediate resource acceleration by allowing you to put a -0/-1 counter on it to add one green mana to your mana pool. This ability can be utilized the moment it enters the battlefield, providing an extra mana surge for deploying other spells earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: Wall of Roots can effectively be treated as having a form of “instant speed” utility. Although not an instant itself, its mana ability can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility means it can be used as a mana source during either player’s turn, offering the capacity to respond quickly to your opponent’s actions or further your own strategies without delay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Wall of Roots does not directly require you to discard a card, its ability to provide mana is finite. The card places a -0/-1 counter each time it’s used for mana, ultimately leading to its own demise. This can be seen as a ‘discard’ of the card itself over time.

Specific Mana Cost: Wall of Roots has a mana cost that includes green, making it exclusive to decks that run forests or have access to green mana. This can restrict the card’s versatility in multi-color decks that might not prioritize green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of two, there might be other mana dorks or acceleration options available that are more cost-effective. In the competitive landscape where efficiency is key, Wall of Roots may be overlooked for cards that offer immediate mana without the depletion aspect.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wall of Roots functions well in numerous deck archetypes due to its ability to both defend against early aggression and generate mana. It provides a defensive buffer while simultaneously accelerating your game plan, making it a flexible addition to any collection.

Combo Potential: This card has been historically used in various combos thanks to its ability to produce mana the moment it comes into play. In decks focusing on summoning powerful creatures or executing game-winning spells ahead of schedule, Wall of Roots is a practical, reliable enabler.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where quick starts are crucial, Wall of Roots can provide an important edge. It’s particularly useful when facing decks that pressure your life total early on, allowing you to stabilize the board while continuing to develop your resources.


How to beat

Wall of Roots is a unique card within MTG that serves as both a reliable defender on the battlefield and a resourceful mana accelerator. Its ability to add green mana while simultaneously acting as a blocker makes it a dual-threat, especially in the early game. To effectively combat Wall of Roots, it is wise to employ removal spells that can bypass its toughness. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push offer direct answers, eliminating it without the need for combat.

Strategic play also involves limiting the advantage Wall of Roots provides. Counteracting the mana acceleration is key. Cards that restrict mana abilities, such as Damping Sphere, or removing the Wall before it can be tapped for mana can effectively neutralize its benefits. Additionally, since Wall of Roots can only add mana once each turn, applying pressure through aggressive plays can force your opponent to make tough decisions between defense and development.

Ultimately, recognizing the flexibility of Wall of Roots and putting in the necessary measures to neutralize it early on, will place you in a better position to dictate the pace of the game and emerge victorious against decks that rely on this staple green defender.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Wall of Roots in your arsenal, you fortify your position in MTG with a versatile card that thrives on both defense and resource management. Enhancing your deck with its unique abilities positions you to take control early in the game. Whether you’re seeking to add strategic depth, fortify defenses, or simply accelerate your ability to cast impactful spells, Wall of Roots is an exceptional choice. To maximize your gameplay experience and unearth more strategies that complement Wall of Roots, we invite you to continue exploring with us. Dive deeper into the MTG world and discover how to seamlessly integrate Wall of Roots into your deck for a more commanding presence at the table.


Cards like Wall of Roots

Wall of Roots stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique mana-producing defender. Distinguished by its capacity to generate green mana while it’s on the battlefield, it’s likened to Overgrown Battlement, which also taps to produce mana based on the number of defenders you control. Still, Wall of Roots has the flexibility to produce mana the moment it enters the battlefield without the need to tap, giving it a slight edge in speed.

Another comparable card is Arbor Elf, which untaps forests for mana acceleration. Though Arbor Elf is swift, it relies on the presence of forest lands to function, while Wall of Roots can be more consistent in decks that may not have a forest available. Also in the conversation is Sylvan Caryatid, which provides mana fixing and has hexproof, making it a sturdier option, but it doesn’t offer the same immediate mana ability as Wall of Roots.

Analyzing the role of these mana accelerators, Wall of Roots is valued for its instant mana generation and serves as a defensive asset within the game, carving its niche among Magic: The Gathering’s diverse array of mana dorks and defenders.

Overgrown Battlement - MTG Card versions
Arbor Elf - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions
Overgrown Battlement - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Arbor Elf - Worldwake (WWK)
Sylvan Caryatid - Theros Promos (PTHS)

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Wyluli Wolf - Arabian Nights (ARN)
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Albino Troll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Silverglade Pathfinder - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Quirion Elves - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
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Llanowar Loamspeaker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Genesis Hydra - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Scavenging Ooze - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Heir of the Wilds - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wren's Run Vanquisher - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Muscle Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Utopia Tree - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bloodline Shaman - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior APAC Series (PJAS)
Stonewood Invoker - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Oran-Rief Survivalist - Zendikar (ZEN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wall of Roots MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Wall of Roots and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wall of Roots Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 2531997normalblackJohn Matson
21998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 bs2531997normalgoldJohn Matson
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 351142003normalblackMatt Stewart
42006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 891997normalblackJohn Matson
52010-06-18ArchenemyARC 732003normalblackJohn Matson
62017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 1902015normalblackMatt Stewart
72022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3192015normalblackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wall of Roots has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-11-17 If you must sacrifice a creature to pay a casting or activation cost that also includes mana, such as that of Bubbling Cauldron's abilities, you may put a -0/-1 counter on Wall of Roots to make its toughness 0 and then sacrifice it to pay that cost.

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