Root-Kin Ally MTG Card
2005-10-07 - Number 180
2015-05-22 - Number 158
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental Warrior |
| Abilities | Convoke |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage through synergy with creature and token-focused decks.
- Enables game-changing bursts of resources by untapping creatures.
- Its ability to tap/untap adds tactical depth to gameplay strategies.
Text of card
Convoke (Each creature you tap while playing this spell reduces its cost by or by one mana of that creature's color.) Tap two untapped creatures you control: Root-Kin Ally gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: One of the standout qualities of Root-Kin Ally is its role in providing card advantage. This creature can empower a deck that uses creatures and tokens, as it can untap all other creatures you control. This synergistic ability makes it easier to develop board presence and can lead to significant card advantage over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: In the realm of resource acceleration, Root-Kin Ally shines by enabling you to untap creatures that may produce mana or have tap abilities. Whether it’s generating more mana or using creatures equipped with utility abilities multiple times, this allows for a burst of resources that can be a game changer.
Instant Speed: Although Root-Kin Ally doesn’t operate at instant speed itself, its ability can be activated at any time you could cast an instant. This tactical flexibility lets you adapt to the flow of the game, whether it’s during your turn for an aggressive strategy or on your opponent’s turn to surprise them and possibly disrupt their plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Root-Kin Ally demands a trade-off in the form of discarding other creature cards, which can deplete your hand and reduce your ability to maintain board presence or react to an opponent’s threats.
Specific Mana Cost: Playing Root-Kin Ally means you must have both green and another type of mana available, potentially limiting its integration in multicolor decks that prioritize mana flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a combination of four mana necessary to cast, Root-Kin Ally might strain your resources in the early game, especially when other lower-cost creatures could be more impactful when played earlier.
Reasons to Include Root-Kin Ally in Your Collection
Versatility: Root-Kin Ally is a flexible addition to any deck that leverages +1/+1 counters or creature synergies. Its ability to perfectly slot into various Green-based decks, such as those that focus on ramp or token generation, makes it an asset for diversified gameplay.
Combo Potential: This card has inherent combo potential, particularly in decks that produce a wealth of creatures. With its tap ability to bolster other creatures, Root-Kin Ally can unexpectedly amplify your battlefield presence and turn the tide during a match.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence can dictate the pace of play, Root-Kin Ally holds its ground by providing a significant power and toughness boost. This makes it a tactically savvy choice in matches that may extend into the late game, allowing for potentially game-winning plays.
How to beat
Root-Kin Ally stands out in MTG as a creature card that can quickly become a formidable force on the battlefield. With the ability to tap two untapped creatures you control, Root-Kin Ally gains +2/+2 until end of turn. This makes it incredibly versatile in creature-heavy decks, particularly those that generate a significant number of tokens or possess creatures with summoning sickness that cannot attack yet can still be tapped for value.
To successfully counter this card, consider using removal spells that can bypass its growing size, such as “Path to Exile” or “Doom Blade,” effectively negating the accumulating power. Another strategy is to maintain board control. Cards like “Wrath of God” can clear the field before Root-Kin Ally becomes too strong. Furthermore, preventing creatures from tapping through cards like “Frozen Aether” can stop the Ally’s power boost mechanic in its tracks, making it easier to manage with regular combat.
By focusing on consistent removal, board wipes, or control elements that restrict tapping abilities, you can keep Root-Kin Ally from overrunning the game and secure your position on the MTG battlefield.
Cards like Root-Kin Ally
Root-Kin Ally is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering, bringing versatility to any deck that harnesses the power of creature tokens. When we ponder similar cards, one that comes to mind is the Siege Wurm. Like Root-Kin Ally, it can be cast for less than its mana cost by tapping creatures, which highlights a shared focus on the creature-heavy gameplay. Nevertheless, Siege Wurm lacks the tactical flexibility provided by Root-Kin Ally’s ability to tap or untap creatures you control, thus limiting its strategic applications.
Exploring further, Overrun offers a similar approach enhancing creature-based assaults. While Overrun grants creatures a notable temporary power and toughness boost plus trample, unlike Root-Kin Ally, it doesn’t offer an enduring creature to influence the board. Comparatively, Murasa Rootgrazer provides a similar function in resource manipulation; however, it restricts itself to land interaction, whereas Root-Kin Ally’s potential lies in its widespread synergy with creatures on the field.
The versatility of Root-Kin Ally marks its strength in creature-centric strategies. It might not provide the brute force of an Overrun or the laser-focused function of a Murasa Rootgrazer, but its ability to dynamically alter the battlefield through its tap/untap ability makes it a formidable option in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Root-Kin Ally by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Root-Kin Ally MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Root-Kin Ally 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
Printings
The Root-Kin Ally Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2015-05-22. Illustrated by Arnie Swekel.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 180 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel | |
| 2 | 2015-05-22 | Modern Masters 2015 | MM2 | 158 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Arnie Swekel |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Root-Kin Ally has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Root-Kin Ally card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-07-18 | Because convoke isn’t an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs. |
| 2014-07-18 | Convoke doesn’t change a spell’s mana cost or converted mana cost. |
| 2014-07-18 | If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped when you pay the spell’s costs. You won’t be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won’t be on the battlefield when you pay the spell’s costs, so you won’t be able to tap it for convoke. |
| 2014-07-18 | Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for or one mana of your choice of any of that creature’s colors. |
| 2014-07-18 | The rules for convoke have changed slightly since it last appeared in an expansion. Previously, convoke reduced the cost to cast a spell. Under current rules, you tap creatures at the same time you pay the spell’s costs. Tapping a creature this way is simply another way to pay. |
| 2014-07-18 | When calculating a spell’s total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. |
| 2014-07-18 | When using convoke to cast a spell with in its mana cost, first choose the value for X. That choice, plus any cost increases or decreases, will determine the spell’s total cost. Then you can tap creatures you control to help pay that cost. For example, if you cast Chord of Calling (a spell with convoke and mana cost ) and choose X to be 3, the total cost is . If you tap two green creatures and two red creatures, you’ll have to pay . |
