Nantuko Cultivator MTG Card
2002-02-04 - Number 133
2019-06-14 - Number 173
2021-08-26 - Number 607
2022-12-02 - Number 694
2024-04-19 - Number 198
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Insect Druid |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
When Nantuko Cultivator comes into play, you may discard any number of land cards from your hand. Put that many +1/+1 counters on Nantuko Cultivator and draw that many cards.
Cards like Nantuko Cultivator
Nantuko Cultivator embodies a unique blend within Magic: The Gathering’s realm of creature cards that directly influence hand dynamics. This beast mirrors some of the capabilities of “Tilling Treefolk” which also plays with the graveyard by enabling the return of land cards to your hand. Yet, Nantuko Cultivator surpasses it with the potential for a massive power boost upon discarding lands, thereby thinning your deck and enhancing landfall triggers.
Another analogous card is “Life from the Loam,” offering the dredge mechanic allowing the retrieval of lands at a more consistent pace, but it doesn’t provide the creature aspect that Cultivator does. A creature such as “Hermit Druid” aims for a similar strategy, interacting with the top of your library and your graveyard for land cards, but it lacks the immediate board impact of the Cultivator. “Satyr Wayfinder” also fills a related role by digging out lands and populating the graveyard. Yet, the sheer size the Cultivator can achieve makes it a stronger individual threat.
Aligning these options, Nantuko Cultivator holds its ground as a solid choice for players valuing rapid power growth and graveyard utility, demonstrating its prowess in decks that can capitalize on both creature strength and land manipulation.
Cards similar to Nantuko Cultivator by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Nantuko Cultivator delivers card advantage by enabling you to cycle through your hand and land cards. The act of discarding land cards to improve your late-game draws ensures consistent access to impactful spells when they’re needed most.
Resource Acceleration: Upon entering the battlefield, the Nantuko Cultivator allows you to discard any number of land cards, then draw that many cards. This sets the stage for potential massive resource acceleration, especially important in decks that seek to utilize the graveyard or benefit from land cards in play.
Instant Speed: Although the Nantuko Cultivator is not an instant-speed spell itself, its effect can complement instant speed strategies. Post-discard, the freed-up hand space allows you to keep mana open for instant speed interactions, ensuring you can react to opponents’ threats while advancing your board position.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Nantuko Cultivator demands that you discard multiple cards upon activation. This can be costly in terms of card advantage, especially if you’re not utilizing a graveyard synergy strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card has a green-specific mana cost, making it less flexible and potentially difficult to cast on curve in multicolored decks that don’t prioritize green mana sources.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost requiring two green mana and two other mana types, Nantuko Cultivator might not be the optimal play for its mana bracket, considering that other four-mana cards in the game might provide immediate impact without a discard downside.
Reasons to Include Nantuko Cultivator in Your Collection
Versatility: Nantuko Cultivator is a multifaceted card that can be a boon for decks focusing on land interaction. Whether you’re using it for landfall triggers or simply as a way to cycle through your deck for better cards, it adds significant flexibility to your game plan.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that revolve around discarding or graveyard interaction. With the ability to discard multiple cards, it pairs nicely with dredge mechanics or reanimation tactics, offering potential for powerful play sequences.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that prioritizes resource management and graveyard strategy, Nantuko Cultivator can become a key card. It’s particularly useful in matches where the battlefield is often in a stalemate, providing card advantage and a potential shift in board presence.
How to beat
Nantuko Cultivator is a card that, at surface level, seems to offer substantial benefits in the realm of land and hand management in MTG. This creature card allows a player to discard any number of land cards for the dual benefit of drawing cards and getting +1/+1 counters. While it may initially appear to be a powerhouse, there are strategic maneuvers to keep in mind for taking it down.
One effective tactic is to limit the player’s access to lands. This can be achieved using land destruction or counterplay cards which reduces the effectiveness of the Cultivator’s ability. Furthermore, employing graveyard disruption can stymie a player’s attempt to capitalize on discarding lands for advantage, turning the Cultivator’s strength into a potential liability.
Another angle is to focus on creature removal before the Cultivator can become too powerful. Since it requires setup time, getting rid of it via direct removal spells or waiting to counter it when cast can prevent your opponent from leveraging its abilities. Keeping these strategies in mind is key when facing a deck that utilizes the Nantuko Cultivator, ensuring that it doesn’t become the linchpin of your opponent’s game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Nantuko Cultivator MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Modern Horizons, 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 Nantuko Cultivator and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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
Printings
The Nantuko Cultivator Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-02-04 | Torment | TOR | 133 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Darrell Riche | |
| 2 | 2019-06-14 | Modern Horizons | MH1 | 173 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
| 3 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 607 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
| 4 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 694 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo | |
| 5 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 198 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jehan Choo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Nantuko Cultivator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Nantuko Cultivator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-06-14 | If an effect modifies how many +1/+1 counters you put on Nantuko Cultivator, the number of cards you draw isn’t modified. Likewise, if an effect modifies how many cards you draw, the number of +1/+1 counters you put on Nantuko Cultivator won’t be modified. |
| 2019-06-14 | You discard, put counters, and draw all while Nantuko Cultivator’s ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the three, and no player may choose to take actions. |