Rushwood Legate MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Dryad |
| Released | 1999-10-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mercadian Masques |
| Set code | MMQ |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 266 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Mark Romanoski |
Text of card
If an opponent controls an island and you control a forest, you may play Rushwood Legate without paying its mana cost.
Cards like Rushwood Legate
Rushwood Legate has a specialized niche among green creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its affinity for forests allows it to be played for a mere single green mana if the opponent controls an island. This is reminiscent of cards like Elvish Pioneer, which also benefits from playing with forests, though with a different ability, as it allows you to put an extra land into play.
In the realm of creatures that can cost less under certain conditions, we find Thornscape Familiar. While its cost reduction applies to spells of certain colors rather than the creature itself, it shares the Legate’s theme of being conditionally more efficient. Comparatively, Rushwood Legate provides direct creature board impact for a potentially lower cost, an advantage in green decks that value speed and efficiency.
Reflecting on green creatures designed to exploit land types, the Rushwood Legate proves to be a strategic asset in matches against blue-heavy decks, capable of early game presence. Whether rushing for victory or serving as an economical defender, its conditional cost reduction remains a clever asset in MTG’s vast roster of cards.
Cards similar to Rushwood Legate by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rushwood Legate can be a subtle yet effective tool for gaining card advantage over an opponent. Normally played in a green-based deck, it can pave the way for larger threats by forcing the opponent to use up removal spells early on.
Resource Acceleration: In a deck built to maximize forest cards, Rushwood Legate becomes a resource acceleration mechanism by allowing you to deploy threats ahead of schedule. Its low mana cost paired with the right conditions can lead to a quicker, more overwhelming board presence.
Instant Speed: Although Rushwood Legate is not an instant, it benefits from being able to be played as though it had flash under specific conditions, allowing for surprise blocks or end-of-turn plays that can keep your adversaries on their toes.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Rushwood Legate requires you to control a Forest to play it without its discard cost. Without a Forest, discarding becomes a necessity, potentially causing you to lose critical hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Designed to synergize with green mana sources and Forests, this card demands a specific mana setup, potentially limiting its integration into multi-color decks that can’t reliably meet the requirement.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not steep, the Legate’s mana cost for its power level may be on the higher side when compared to other creatures in the meta. This can affect the pace at which you establish your board presence.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Rushwood Legate boasts the ability to consistently bypass your opponent’s barriers when facing a green deck, aligning well with aggressive strategies that aim at unrelenting attacks.
Combo Potential: This card is a prime choice for synergy-focused decks. Its condition for casting at a reduced mana cost makes it an ideal candidate for combo chains, significantly aiding momentum in a match.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment densely populated by green decks, the Legate’s conditional cost efficiency provides a strategic edge, allowing for swift and impactful plays that could disrupt your opponent’s defenses.
How to beat
Rushwood Legate from Magic: The Gathering enters as a unique card with the capacity to be unblockable in certain conditions. Its ability to become unblockable when facing an opponent with non-green lands is quite distinctive, presenting a challenge to the rival. Factor in its synergy with green-focused decks, and there’s a clear advantage in using it to bypass enemy defenses.
To effectively counter the Rushwood Legate, it is critical to craft a strategy that isn’t overly reliant on non-green lands. Furthermore, deploying swift removal spells can help deal with the Legate before it becomes a major threat. Keep a good mix of instant-speed interaction in your deck to ensure you can manage the Legate at any moment. Cards that hamper your opponent’s creatures without targeting, such as those imposing global effects, can also be highly effective, as this can bypass the protections provided by its inherent abilities.
Ultimately, overcoming Rushwood Legate is a matter of preparedness and deck composition. Ensuring you have the right cards at the right moment will make Rushwood Legate far less intimidating, consolidating your defense against such stealthy attackers.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rushwood Legate MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques, 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 Rushwood Legate 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rushwood Legate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |