Roots MTG Card
1995-10-01 - Number 95
2007-09-10 - Number 127
2016-06-10 - Number 183
2019-11-07 - Number 1318
2020-09-26 - Number EMA-183
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Tap target creature without flying. That creature does not untap during its controller's untap phase.
"That which nourishes can also bind." —Gemma, Willow Priestess
Cards like Roots
When it comes to mana fixing and creature control in Magic: The Gathering, Roots is a unique option. It shares its creature tapping functionality with cards like Claustrophobia, which similarly restricts an opponent’s creature, albeit with a permanent effect. Roots, instead, offers a temporary lockdown with its ability to tap a creature with flying until the next untap step without the permanence that comes with enchantment-based control.
Exploring further, there’s Frost Breath, known for its impact on multiple creatures, yet it lacks the pinpoint precision of Roots that targets flyers specifically. While Frost Breath impacts the board more broadly, Roots provides a more tactical advantage against flying, a common evasion ability in MTG. Then there’s the classic Pacifism, another parallel. It prevents selected creatures from attacking or blocking, a close kin in terms of restricting enemy forces. Though it doesn’t tap creatures, its lasting effect can be a game-changer.
Therefore, Roots carves out its niche as a go-to choice for players looking to strategically manage flying threats. Its efficiency in specific scenarios adds a layer of complexity and choice for deck builders contemplating control elements.
Cards similar to Roots by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When Roots is activated, it effectively removes a creature from combat and prevents further damage or negative effects that it could cause to your side of the field. This shift in the board state can provide an advantageous position for you to capitalize on the subsequent turns.
Resource Acceleration: By neutralizing an opposing creature, Roots indirectly contributes to resource acceleration by saving mana that would have been spent on more expensive removal spells, allowing for a more efficient use of mana in follow-up turns.
Instant Speed: As an instant, Roots can be cast in response to enemy maneuvers, offering the ability to react swiftly to your opponent’s actions before damage is assigned or other abilities are resolved during the combat phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Roots is that it necessitates the discard of another card to be played. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted, forcing you to make difficult decisions about which resources to sacrifice.
Specific Mana Cost: Roots demands a very specific mana alignment to cast effectively. Requiring both green and white mana, this card can be a challenge to play outside of multicolored decks that support these colors, potentially limiting its versatility in monochromatic or color-restricted builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its effect, Roots may not always be the most mana-efficient option available. Players often weigh the cost against the actual benefit received from the card, and there may be alternative enchantments or spells that offer similar—or even better—utility for the same or lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Roots is a valuable addition to decks that emphasize control and tempo, fitting comfortably into strategies focused on stalling opponents and setting up critical plays.
Combo Potential: As an enchantment that can tap down potential attackers or blockers, Roots works well to enable combos by restricting opponent’s resources and paving the way for your own creatures to swing in unhindered.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where aggressive creature-based decks are prevalent, Roots serves as an effective tool to slow down your adversaries, giving you the upper hand by impeding their offensive momentum.
How to beat Roots MTG Card
Roots is an enchantment card that can potentially disrupt your creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It provides a way for opponents to lock down your attacking creatures, preventing them from joining the fray again. To effectively navigate around this challenge, shifting your focus to non-creature-based tactics can be helpful. Consider incorporating direct damage spells, enchantment removal, or even employing creatures with hexproof to sidestep Roots’ restrictive grasp.
Adding cards like Naturalize or Disenchant to your deck gives you a direct way to remove troublesome enchantments like Roots. On the other hand, creatures with abilities such as shroud or hexproof are innately resistant to being targeted by such spells. Furthermore, using creatures with vigilance can also prove advantageous, as they won’t be tapped when attacking, consequently dodging Roots’ activation condition. Managing your resources and recognizing the opportune moment to deploy these countermeasures can drastically reduce the impact of this controlling card, keeping your creatures free to attack and providing you with the upper hand in your matches.
Ultimately, understanding and preparing for the control elements present in the game is vital for any MTG player. With strategic foresight and well-rounded deck building, overcoming obstacles such as Roots becomes a maneuverable aspect of gameplay, accentuating the depth and skill involved in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Roots MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Masters Edition, 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 Roots 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 Roots Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995-10-01 | Homelands | HML | 95 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Nicola Leonard | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 127 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Nicola Leonard | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 4 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1318 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | EMA-183 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Scott Murphy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Roots has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |