Seed Guardian MTG Card

Seed Guardian enables card advantage by generating a creature token reflective of graveyard contents. Enhances game strategy with its substantial after-death presence and graveyard synergy. Requires smart deck construction and play to maximize its unique defensive capabilities.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Reach
Released	2016-01-22
Set symbol
Set name	Oath of the Gatewatch
Set code	OGW
Power	3
Toughness	4
Number	143
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Vincent Proce

Text of card

Reach When Seed Guardian dies, put an X/X green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield, where X is the number of creature cards in your graveyard.

It is a reminder that spring will always follow winter.

Cards like Seed Guardian

Seed Guardian stands out in the green creature landscape of Magic: The Gathering. This card presents a unique duality of defense and growth, anchoring itself in decks that value resilience. Its ability to leave behind a number of 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens equal to its power when it dies is reminiscent of cards like Mitotic Slime. However, Seed Guardian’s static power gives it an edge in predictability over the Slime’s varying token generation upon death.

Looking further, we find Tukatongue Thallid, another card that echoes this theme of creating Saprolings. Despite the Thallid’s lower cost and similar death-triggered ability, Seed Guardian provides a larger potential creature swing, making it a formidable late-game selection. Additionally, we encounter Death’s Presence, an enchantment that transfers power in the form of +1/+1 counters. While this card offers a more permanent power boost, Seed Guardian’s immediate token creation can be crucial in the heat of battle.

Assessing these alternatives, Seed Guardian holds its ground as a robust choice within MTG, especially for players looking to capitalize on death triggers and token strategies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Seed Guardian provides an efficient way to create card advantage on the battlefield by leaving behind a creature token upon its death. The token’s power and toughness reflect the number of creatures in your graveyard, potentially turning a single card into a formidable presence on the board.

Resource Acceleration: Although Seed Guardian itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the substantial creature token it generates can act as an effective blocker or attacker, assisting to preserve your life total and maintain mana for pivotal plays.

Instant Speed: While not an instant, Seed Guardian interacts well with cards that operate at instant speed. Spells or abilities that return creatures to your hand can be used in response to removal, ensuring that you gain both the creature token from Seed Guardian and retain the creature card for later use.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the initial drawbacks of the Seed Guardian in MTG is that it demands a specific set of cards already in the graveyard to fully utilize its ability. This requirement can limit its efficacy, especially in the early game where you may not have enough creatures in the graveyard to create a substantial defensive presence.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes both green mana and generic mana, Seed Guardian demands a committed mana base. This can potentially restrict deck-building choices, posing a challenge for players who wish to incorporate it into multi-color decks without a strong green mana foundation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at four mana, Seed Guardian is competing for a slot against other mid-game threats and utility creatures. Considering its cost, some players might prefer alternatives that provide immediate impact on the board or have lower casting costs, allowing for a more flexible response to the evolving game state.

Reasons to Include Seed Guardian in Your Collection

Versatility: Seed Guardian offers a unique blend of defense and creature generation. Its place in decks that value creature presence upon death is prominent, allowing it to act as a deterrent against opponents aiming to clear the board.

Combo Potential: The elemental’s ability to create a creature token upon death based on the number of lands in your graveyard pairs well with graveyard-focused strategies, ensuring you gain value even after it’s gone.

Meta-Relevance: In metas heavy with creature combat, Seed Guardian could shine by holding the line defensively while setting up for substantial board presence in later turns. It’s an asset in games that reach late stages where accumulated land cards in the graveyard translate to a large payoff.

How to beat Seed Guardian

Seed Guardian stands as a unique creature in the world of MTG, combining defensive might with its death-triggered ability to create a sizeable elemental creature token. With its implications on board presence and graveyard synergy, strategizing against Seed Guardian is key to maintaining control of the game.

When facing this formidable card, priority should be given to exile effects or graveyard manipulation strategies. Cards such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can render the Seed Guardian’s passive ability ineffective by removing the potential for the graveyard to fuel the creation of a large elemental token. Additionally, utilizing instant-speed removal spells that exile, bypassing the graveyard, can neutralize the threat without triggering Seed Guardian’s ability. A card like Path to Exile, for instance, ensures that the Seed Guardian’s last stand is thwarted.

In essence, overcoming the Seed Guardian requires disruption of its synergistic playstyle. A focused approach on limiting graveyard interactions, along with precise timing for removal, often makes the difference between being overwhelmed and coming out ahead in a match involving this persistent plant elemental.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Seed Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Seed Guardian and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Seed Guardian has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Seed Guardian card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2016-01-22	Once the Elemental is created, the number of creature cards in your graveyard changing won’t cause the Elemental’s power or toughness to change.
2016-01-22	Use the number of creature cards in your graveyard as the ability resolves to determine the value of X. Seed Guardian will count toward this number as long as it’s still in your graveyard at that time.