Rootborn Defenses MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Populate

Key Takeaways

  1. Rootborn Defenses facilitates card advantage through creature protection and populating, enhancing battleground presence.
  2. Instant speed enables strategic plays, offering surprise blocks or thwarting board wipes when least expected.
  3. Despite its benefits, the card’s specificity to white mana decks and its higher mana cost can limit its versatility.

Text of card

Populate. Creatures you control are indestructible this turn. (To populate, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of a creature token you control. Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy indestructible creatures.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The card Rootborn Defenses not only protects your creatures from a single threat, but it also gives you a leg up by populating. This means you can put another token creature onto the battlefield that’s a copy of a creature token you already control, effectively padding your forces and maintaining an edge in numbers.

Resource Acceleration: While Rootborn Defenses itself doesn’t directly ramp your mana resources, the act of populating can accelerate your board presence. This in turn may generate additional benefits from other cards that trigger off the number of creatures you control or the act of creating tokens.

Instant Speed: The beauty of Rootborn Defenses lies in its ability to be cast at instant speed. This flexibility allows for strategic responses to your opponent’s plays. It means that during your opponent’s turn, or even in the midst of combat, you can create a surprise blocker or save your entire squad from a detrimental board wipe, often turning the tide of the game in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Rootborn Defenses requires a card slot that could have been used for other pivotal cards, potentially diluting your deck’s main strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Rootborn Defenses’ mana cost necessitates white mana, meaning decks without white may not benefit from its inclusion, reducing its overall flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana to cast, Rootborn Defenses has a higher cost for its effect when compared to other instant spells that might provide immediate board impact or protection at a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Rootborn Defenses in Your Collection

Versatility: Rootborn Defenses offers a multifaceted approach to gameplay, providing a defensive boost by granting your creatures indestructible at a critical moment. Its inclusion in token-based strategies amplifies its utility, protecting a wide board presence with a single card.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from creature tokens, Rootborn Defenses not only saves your army but adds an additional token into play, enabling numerous synergistic plays and combo interactions in decks built around tokens.

Meta-Relevance: With sweepers and destructive spells often shaping the competitive scene, Rootborn Defenses enables you to navigate through these potential setbacks by safeguarding your creatures, making it a relevant addition in environments where board wipes are prevalent.


How to beat

Rootborn Defenses presents a unique challenge in MTG with its potent blend of creature protection and token creation. This instant card allows players to not only make their creatures indestructible for a turn but also populates—creating a copy of a token you control. This combination can swiftly turn the tide of combat in your opponent’s favor or foil your plans to clear the board with a well-timed sweep.

To circumvent the strength of Rootborn Defenses, timing is crucial. Cast your removal spells on your opponent’s turn, preferably at the end of it, to bait out the defense. This tactic forces the use of Rootborn Defenses early, and with it out of the way, you have an open window on your turn to execute a board wipe or targeted removals without the threat of indestructibility. Moreover, countering Rootborn Defenses directly with a counterspell or strip it from their hand with a discard spell before they have a chance to utilize it is another effective method.

Managing the battlefield complexities Rootborn Defenses introduces requires thoughtful play and a strategic arsenal. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to navigate the challenges posed by this multifaceted card, maintaining control of the game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is about more than just collecting powerful spells; it’s understanding how to leverage them. Rootborn Defenses is a prime example of a card that can catapult your game to new heights with its ability to both protect and populate. Whether you’re contending with sweepers or building token strategies, understand that every card can become a cornerstone of victory with the right tactics. Curious about refining your strategy or discovering how to optimize your deck with cards like Rootborn Defenses? Dive deeper with us, and let’s uncover the keys to your next commanding win.


Cards like Rootborn Defenses

Rootborn Defenses brings a unique blend of defense and utility to the Magic: The Gathering battlefield, akin to other populate cards. It shares similarities with Druid’s Deliverance, which prevents damage to you from creatures for that turn, also allowing you to populate. However, Rootborn Defenses ups the ante by giving your creatures indestructible until end of turn. This can be a game-changer during combat or when up against board wipes.

Comparatively, Sundering Growth also fits into the populate category, with the added benefit of artifact or enchantment destruction. While Rootborn Defenses does not provide this removal capability, its protective aspect applies to the entire creature board, making it broader in defensive scope. On the higher end, Trostani’s Judgment offers both exile of target creature and populate, although at a higher mana cost and slower pace as a six-mana spell.

When it comes to sound defensive strategies, Rootborn Defenses holds its ground pretty well. It provides not only an unexpected fortification of your creatures but also replicates your most formidable tokens, thus enriching your army on the battlefield while nullifying your opponent’s efforts to wipe them out even for only a turn.

Druid's Deliverance - MTG Card versions
Sundering Growth - MTG Card versions
Trostani's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Druid's Deliverance - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Sundering Growth - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Trostani's Judgment - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Cards similar to Rootborn Defenses by color, type and mana cost

Reverse Damage - MTG Card versions
Army of Allah - MTG Card versions
Holy Light - MTG Card versions
Blood of the Martyr - MTG Card versions
Piety - MTG Card versions
Martyrdom - MTG Card versions
Harsh Justice - MTG Card versions
Kor Chant - MTG Card versions
Just Fate - MTG Card versions
Waylay - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Honor - MTG Card versions
Radiant's Judgment - MTG Card versions
Abolish - MTG Card versions
Restrain - MTG Card versions
Prismatic Strands - MTG Card versions
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Protection - MTG Card versions
Oblation - MTG Card versions
Wing Shards - MTG Card versions
Armed Response - MTG Card versions
Reverse Damage - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Army of Allah - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Holy Light - Masters Edition (ME1)
Blood of the Martyr - Chronicles (CHR)
Piety - Renaissance (REN)
Martyrdom - Alliances (ALL)
Harsh Justice - Portal (POR)
Kor Chant - The List (PLST)
Just Fate - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Waylay - Urza's Saga (USG)
Warrior's Honor - Anthologies (ATH)
Radiant's Judgment - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Abolish - Prophecy (PCY)
Restrain - Invasion (INV)
Prismatic Strands - Commander 2019 (C19)
Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Teferi's Protection - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Oblation - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Wing Shards - Commander 2017 (C17)
Armed Response - Fifth Dawn (5DN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rootborn Defenses MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Rootborn Defenses and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rootborn Defenses Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Mark Zug.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 192003normalblackMark Zug
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 212015normalblackMark Zug
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 742015normalblackMark Zug
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 2142015normalblackMark Zug
52020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-212015normalblackMark Zug
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 262015normalblackMark Zug
72024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 712015normalblackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rootborn Defenses has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-04-15 Any “as
-his creature] enters the battlefield” or “
-his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the new token will work.
2013-04-15 If you choose to copy a creature token that’s a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying.
2013-04-15 If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen.
2013-04-15 The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that put the original token onto the battlefield.
2013-04-15 The new token doesn’t copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on.
2013-04-15 You can choose any creature token you control for populate. If a spell or ability puts a token onto the battlefield under your control and then instructs you to populate (as Coursers’ Accord does), you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control.
2017-03-14 Rootborn Defenses affects only creatures you control after populating at the time it resolves. The creature token you create will gain indestructible, but creatures you begin to control later in the turn will not.

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