Rootwater Hunter MTG Card
1997-10-14 - Number 82
2015-05-06 - Number 63
2017-10-24 - Number 16
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Merfolk |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Pinpoint removal with Rootwater Hunter can shift game balance, enabling board control and strategy disruption.
- Its instant speed activated ability offers strategic flexibility to respond to opponents during their turn.
- Despite mana and cost considerations, its value in control-oriented and Merfolk decks justifies inclusion.
Text of card
oc T: Rootwater Hunter deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
"Bitter water vicious wave Shadow-cold shallows root-made maze Home's angry embrace." —*Rootwater Saga*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rootwater Hunter enables targeted removal of problematic creatures, potentially disrupting the opponent’s strategy and shifting the balance to your favor. This kind of pinpoint removal can equate to indirect card advantage, as it helps maintain control of the board.
Resource Acceleration: While Rootwater Hunter itself doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration, its ability to repeatedly deal damage allows for strategic plays that can preserve your other resources. You can use Hunter’s tap ability instead of spending cards in hand, thereby saving those resources for crucial moments in the gameplay.
Instant Speed: The activated ability of Rootwater Hunter can be used at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn. This immediate interaction enables you to make decisions with the utmost relevance to the state of the game, making it a versatile tool in both offense and defense.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This card doesn’t force you to discard cards, but it’s worth noting in a general sense that discarding can deplete your hand, putting you at a disadvantage, especially if you can’t capitalize on the discard.
Specific Mana Cost: Rootwater Hunter requires both blue and generic mana, making it a less flexible choice for decks that run on a tight mana curve or those not aligned with blue’s strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the ability to deal just one damage to a creature or player, investing a total of three mana might be steep, especially when there are other options that provide more board presence or versatility for a similar cost.
Reasons to Include Rootwater Hunter in Your Collection
Versatility: Rootwater Hunter may appear modest, but its ability to deal damage directly can be seamlessly integrated into decks that aim to control the board or require a direct removal effect, making it a flexible choice for players.
Combo Potential: With cards that increase damage output or provide untap effects, Rootwater Hunter can become a key component in strategies designed to whittle down opponents’ creatures or life totals, demonstrating substantial synergy within certain deck archetypes.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where small utility creatures reign or where the battlefield is crowded with pesky blockers, Rootwater Hunter’s targeted damage ability allows it to stand out as a tactical asset in overcoming common obstacles faced in gameplay.
How to beat
Rootwater Hunter, a creature card in Magic: The Gathering, can present unique challenges on the battlefield. This merfolk sniper allows a player to pick off creatures or chip away at an opponent’s health. One of the keys to countering Rootwater Hunter is to remove it quickly. Due to its low toughness, it’s susceptible to cheap removal spells or can be traded off against a more robust creature during combat.
Moreover, keeping your creatures out of its reach is wise, especially those with just one toughness. Utilizing instant-speed spells or abilities to buff your creatures’ toughness in response to Rootwater Hunter’s activated ability can effectively neutralize its threat. Cards with hexproof also provide a reliable shield against Rootwater Hunter’s targeted ability, as they prevent it from even selecting them as targets. Implementing these strategies diminishes the impact of Rootwater Hunter on the game, allowing you to maintain board presence and momentum.
Ultimately, Rootwater Hunter’s effectiveness is highly situational. Knowing when to bypass it and when to address it directly is crucial in taking control of the match and securing victory.
Cards like Rootwater Hunter
Rootwater Hunter has established its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a creature card adept at dealing direct damage. A comparison with creature cards like Prodigal Sorcerer demonstrates the subtle differences in their utility. Both Rootwater Hunter and Prodigal Sorcerer possess the tap ability to deal one damage to any target, making them flexible choices in controlling opponent strategies. However, Rootwater Hunter shines with its thematic alignment in Merfolk decks, where it often provides synergistic benefits.
Moving to other similar cards, Tim, the Prodigal Sorcerer, serves as another analog, sharing the same pivotal tap ability. Yet, Rootwater Hunter remains distinct with its Merfolk creature type, which can be leveraged in tribal decks for potent combinations. Not to be overlooked, Vithian Stinger provides a comparable function, though it’s situated in the red color pie and requires an unearthing fee to return from the graveyard.
As one assesses the strategic adaptability of Rootwater Hunter, it becomes clear that while other cards provide similar tap-to-damage functionalities, Rootwater Hunter’s Merfolk lineage and seamless integration into tribal decks offer unique and valuable dynamics in gameplay.
Cards similar to Rootwater Hunter by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rootwater Hunter MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and Tempest Remastered, 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 Rootwater Hunter 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 Rootwater Hunter Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2017-10-24. Illustrated by Brom.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-10-14 | Tempest | TMP | 82 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Brom | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 63 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brom | |
| 3 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 16 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Brom |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rootwater Hunter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
