Old-Growth Troll MTG Card
2021-02-05 - Number 185
2021-02-05 - Number 365
2021-02-06 - Number 185p
2021-02-06 - Number 185s
2002-06-24 - Number 88338
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Troll Warrior |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Trample When Old-Growth Troll dies, if it was a creature, return it to the battlefield. It's an Aura enchantment with enchant Forest you control and "Enchanted Forest has ': Add ' and ', , Sacrifice this land: Create a tapped 4/4 green Troll Warrior creature token with trample.'"
Cards like Old-Growth Troll
Old-Growth Troll thrives in MTG decks that capitalize on green’s formidable creature presence and land manipulation. This triple green creature echoes the strength of other green powerhouses like Lovestruck Beast. Both creatures boast substantial bodies for their mana cost but with Old-Growth Troll you get an extra bit of tenacity. Upon death, it’s not gone for good; instead, it infuses a land with its spirit, ready to fight once more.
Likening it to Troll Ascetic, another resilient green troll, Old-Growth Troll offers a more aggressive mana value with an enchant land ability, leaving a lasting impact even if removed from play. In contrast, Troll Ascetic simply carries a traditional hexproof ability. Verdurous Gearhulk is yet another analogous card, offering the ability to distribute +1/+1 counters, but lacking the land-enchanting afterlife of Old-Growth Troll.
In essence, while several MTG creatures mimic the Old-Growth Troll’s robustness and durability, its unique post-mortem land enhancement sets it apart, giving green decks an edge in resource utility and consistent board presence.
Cards similar to Old-Growth Troll by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Old-Growth Troll. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nykthos Ramp | Pioneer | Nykthos Ramp | Pioneer League 2024-04-22 |
 | Mono Green Devotion | Pioneer | Nykthos Ramp | Titan Games RCQ Season 3 #1 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Old-Growth Troll creates additional value as it remains a useful asset even after being removed from the battlefield. Upon its death, if it was enchanted on a Forest, that land transforms into a creature with the potential to become a significant threat, keeping you ahead in resources.
Resource Acceleration: By enchanting your own Forest when the Old-Growth Troll dies, you’re given a land that can tap for an additional green mana. This accelerates your mana production, allowing you to play bigger threats or multiple spells sooner than you normally could.
Instant Speed: While Old-Growth Troll itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the activated ability of the enchanted land can be used at instant speed. This allows you to create a 4/4 green Troll Warrior creature token during your opponent’s end step, catching them off guard and maximizing the element of surprise and flexibility in your strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Old-Growth Troll demands you sacrifice a Forest when it dies to return it transformed, a requisite that can hinder your land development and set back your board presence, restricting your play options.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Old-Growth Troll is highly specific, requiring three green mana, which can be restrictive and not easily splashed into multi-color decks that may not have consistent access to triple green mana sources early in the game.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of three green mana, Old-Growth Troll comes at a notably high price compared to other creatures in its class. While it provides a powerful body and potential late-game value, its upfront cost may be too steep for formats where speed is critical.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Old-Growth Troll excels in green-heavy decks or those focusing on trample strategies. Its ability to generate additional mana when it becomes a land offers flexibility in both aggressive and ramp-focused game plans.
Combo Potential: When Old-Growth Troll is in your graveyard, it gives you an opportunity to transform a Forest into a powerful asset. This interaction works well with land-centric decks that capitalize on enhancing and utilizing lands in various combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive green strategies are prevalent, Old-Growth Troll’s resilience and its ability to become a recurring threat make it an important contender. Its sturdy stats for its mana cost ensure it remains impactful, especially in matchups that favor board presence and continuous pressure.
How to beat
The Old-Growth Troll has quickly become a staple for players fond of Green decks in Magic: The Gathering, known for its formidable presence on the battlefield and unique ability to amplify land utility upon its demise. Boasting a substantial power and toughness, it requires a specific strategy to outmaneuver. A reliable method to subdue this creature is by utilizing exile effects, as they can deal with it permanently by bypassing the death-triggered ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone can accomplish this cleanly.
Another tactic is to employ flying creatures, which can evade the Troll’s terrestrial might. Overcoming this massive forest-dweller can be also achieved by taking control of the battle’s tempo. Setting up potentially unfavorable trades for the Troll with high-value, low-cost creatures, or leaning on instant-speed removal to disrupt your opponent’s plans before the Troll can create a significant impact, can turn the game in your favor. Moreover, one should always bear in mind the necessity to manage the lands enchanted by the Troll’s afterlife effect, often resolved through a strategic land destruction or pacification.
Ultimately, defeating the Old-Growth Troll in MTG demands anticipating its arrival and retaining card options in your deck that can counteract the Troll’s strengths, balancing out its early dominance with your late-game strategies.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Old-Growth Troll MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and 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 Old-Growth Troll and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
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- Card Market
- Star City Games
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- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Old-Growth Troll Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-02-05 and 2021-02-06. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 88338 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 2 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 185 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 3 | 2021-02-05 | Kaldheim | KHM | 365 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 4 | 2021-02-06 | Kaldheim Promos | PKHM | 185p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 5 | 2021-02-06 | Kaldheim Promos | PKHM | 185s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Old-Growth Troll has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Old-Growth Troll card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-02-05 | If a nontoken permanent that's a copy of Old-Growth Troll dies while it is a creature, it will return to the battlefield as an Aura with both its own normal abilities and the two new abilities granted by old-Growth Troll. The resulting permanent will also retain its name, colors, and supertypes, but it will be an Aura enchantment with no other types or subtypes. |
| 2021-02-05 | If a token is a copy of Old-Growth Troll, it won’t return from its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2021-02-05 | If there’s nothing for Old-Growth Troll to legally enchant, it remains in its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2021-02-05 | If you control but don’t own Old-Growth Troll, you (not its owner) will return it to the battlefield when it dies. You’ll choose which Forest you control it will enchant as it returns to the battlefield. |