Roc Egg MTG Card
2010-07-16 - Number 25
2011-07-15 - Number 32
2019-08-23 - Number 73
2021-08-26 - Number 120
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Bird Egg |
| Abilities | Defender |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Defender (This creature can't attack.) When Roc Egg is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a 3/3 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Cards like Roc Egg
Roc Egg stands out in MTG as a unique defensive card with a potential for aggressive board presence. This creature card embeds itself well within decks that capitalize on creature death triggers. When comparing Roc Egg to other cards, Black Carriage surfaces as an interesting contender. While it doesn’t have the same resurrection ability, it also provides a creature that can block multiple attacks. Roc Egg sets itself apart by creating a 3/3 Bird creature token with flying when it dies, offering aerial defense and offense.
Another card worth mentioning is Mitotic Slime, which upon death, splits into smaller creatures, much like Roc Egg’s transformation. However, the Slime offers more creatures albeit without flying, presenting a slightly different strategic advantage. Then there’s Hornet Nest, a card that yields flying insect tokens with deathtouch when damaged, potentially providing more immediate board control than Roc Egg, which needs to be killed to trigger its effect.
Overall, Roc Egg holds its position as a valuable card for players who aim to leverage death triggers, offering a worthwhile payload when sent to the graveyard. Its ability to morph into a flying threat distinguishes it in the lineup of MTG cards that share this transformative nature.
Cards similar to Roc Egg by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Roc Egg adds a strategic layer to your gameplay by potentially providing a 3/3 flying creature when the egg is destroyed. This replacement effect keeps your board presence intact without costing you extra cards from your hand, thereby maintaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting your mana pool, having a creature that can deter opponents from attacking can indirectly accelerate your game plan by protecting your valuable assets, giving you more time to execute your strategy without the need for additional defensive spells.
Instant Speed: Although Roc Egg does not operate at instant speed itself, the ability to generate a formidable creature as a result of instant-speed removal or block interactions on the opponent’s turn can catch an adversary off-guard and quickly shift the tempo in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Roc Egg doesn’t directly require a discard, the card itself becomes inert if there’s no mechanism to sacrifice or destroy it within your own strategy, leading to a potential dead card situation.
Specific Mana Cost: Roc Egg demands a dedicated color commitment with its white mana cost. This specificity may not synergize well with multicolor decks less focused on white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that does not impact the board immediately, the three mana investment needed to bring Roc Egg into play could be considered steep, especially since it requires additional setup to reap its benefits.
Reasons to Include Roc Egg in Your Collection
Versatility: Roc Egg fits well into decks that capitalize on creatures dying. Whether you’re fortifying a defensive strategy or setting up for bigger plays, its ability to replace itself with a flying creature upon death makes it a solid inclusion.
Combo Potential: When paired with mechanics that trigger on creature death or when a new creature enters the battlefield, Roc Egg can be part of potent combos. Its synergy with sacrifice outlets or enchantments that buff token creatures is noteworthy.
Meta-Relevance: As metas that favor aggressive creature-based strategies emerge, Roc Egg serves as a deterrent to attackers while promising a valuable trade-off in the form of a 3/3 Bird creature with flying when destroyed.
How to beat
Roc Egg is a unique card in the MTG universe that introduces a strategic layer to the game by spawning a powerful roc token upon its destruction. To outmaneuver Roc Egg, it’s essential to either avoid engaging it directly or to employ methods that can bypass its death-triggered effect entirely. Unlike dealing direct damage or engaging in combat, using cards that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures or that exile cards from the battlefield can effectively neutralize Roc Egg without triggering its ability.
Card effects that alter battlefield conditions, such as those that prevent creature abilities from activating or that change a creature’s base power and toughness, can also be resourceful tactics. For instance, cards giving creatures -1/-1 until end of turn can reduce the egg’s toughness without technically destroying it, thus not hatching the roc. Players can also gain control of Roc Egg, leveraging its ability for themselves. Utilizing these strategies effectively will help players navigate around the potential aerial threat that Roc Egg could introduce to the battlefield.
In essence, adapting to the presence of the Roc Egg demands a tactical shift in gameplay. The key is to carefully calculate the sequence of plays, ensuring that you maintain control of the game flow without letting the Roc Egg tip the scales in favor of your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Roc Egg MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2011 and Magic 2012, 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 Roc Egg and other MTG cards:
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- 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 Roc Egg Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2010-07-16 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Paul Bonner.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 25 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 2 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 32 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 3 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 73 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner | |
| 4 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 120 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Paul Bonner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Roc Egg has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |