Treebeard, Gracious Host MTG Card
2023-06-23 - Number 73
2023-06-23 - Number 483
2023-06-23 - Number 153
2023-06-23 - Number 67
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Treefolk |
| Abilities | Food,Trample,Ward |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Trample, ward When Treebeard, Gracious Host enters the battlefield, create two Food tokens. Whenever you gain life, put that many +1/+1 counters on target Halfling or Treefolk.
"I go my own way, but your way may go along with mine for a while."
Cards like Treebeard, Gracious Host
Treebeard, Gracious Host is a unique addition to the lineup of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It offers a comparability to other creature cards that provide board presence and value. For instance, consider Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice, which like Treebeard, offers the ability to populate the battlefield with token creatures. However, Trostani’s impact comes from its ability to populate upon the casting of another creature, which can make it a bit more restrictive compared to Treebeard’s broader scope of creating token creatures.
When looking at Tendershoot Dryad, another similar card, we see a significant synergy with Saproling tokens, much like Treebeard’s token generation. Nevertheless, Tendershoot Dryad obligates you to have the city’s blessing to maximize its potential. Treebeard doesn’t bear such prerequisites, making it more versatile in various gameplay scenarios. Additionally, Verdant Force stands out for its ability to create tokens during each upkeep, yet Treebeard’s flexibility in token creation timing could offer a more strategic edge in certain situations.
Ultimately, in analyzing resemblances and differences, Treebeard, Gracious Host can certainly hold its own among other Magic: The Gathering creature cards that excel in generating creature tokens and enhancing board state through consistent value.
Cards similar to Treebeard, Gracious Host by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Treebeard, Gracious Host enables players to gain substantial card advantage by allowing them to play additional land cards. This trait is not only beneficial for increasing the number of cards in play, but it also helps to thin out the deck, making it more likely to draw into non-land cards in subsequent turns.
Resource Acceleration: This card also excels in resource acceleration. By permitting an additional land drop each turn, Treebeard, Gracious Host accelerates a player’s mana development, allowing them to cast more expensive spells ahead of the curve. This can be game-changing, especially in formats that value quick board development.
Instant Speed: While Treebeard, Gracious Host itself is not an instant, its ability to untap two lands during each player’s upkeep can essentially give the user instant-speed potential. This means they can keep mana available to respond to opponents’ actions, all the while enjoying the benefits of Treebeard’s land untapping ability.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Treebeard, Gracious Host requires a strategic hand management, as it asks players to discard another creature card to benefit from its abilities. This can be a setback in situations where your hand is already dwindling or if you’re forced to discard a high-value creature you’d prefer to keep.
Specific Mana Cost: Treebeard, Gracious Host comes with a demand for specific mana colors in its casting cost, making it a potentially challenging fit for decks that aren’t centered around those colors. Players have to ensure that their mana base can accommodate the casting cost without disrupting the overall flow and consistency of their deck.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost than some other options in its category, Treebeard, Gracious Host may not always be the most mana-efficient choice. Players might find themselves weighing the benefits of summoning Treebeard against other creatures or spells that could offer similar advantages for less mana, allowing them to maintain tempo and pressure on their opponents.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Treebeard, Gracious Host offers a unique advantage as it can serve multiple roles in your deck. With its ability to produce mana or become a formidable creature, it seamlessly adapts to various game states, making it a versatile pick for any collection.
Combo Potential: This card shines in decks designed to exploit enters-the-battlefield effects or those that revolve around creature and mana abilities. Treebeard’s flexibility can initiate powerful combos, giving you an upper hand in developing complex board positions.
Meta-Relevance: Treebeard, Gracious Host aligns well with current gameplay strategies that emphasize enduring board presence and resource acceleration. Its adaptability makes it relevant in a wide array of metagames, enhancing its utility and staying power in a player’s arsenal.
How to beat
Treebeard, Gracious Host presents a unique challenge in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to generate a consistent stream of token creatures. Dealing with this card effectively requires a strategy that can either prevent these tokens from accumulating or can handle multiple creatures at once. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation are particularly effective as they can clear the tokens along with Treebeard itself without having to target it directly, circumventing any potential protection it might have. Targeted removals are less effective against Treebeard due to its token generation capability.
Additionally, employing graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Tormod’s Crypt can be a smart move to inhibit the treefolk card’s value over the long game. Cards that limit the number of creatures that can attack or block, like Ensnaring Bridge, can also mitigate the advantage that Treebeard aims to create. Finally, including cards that benefit from creature tokens entering the battlefield under an opponent’s control, such as Illness in the Ranks or Virulent Plague, can turn Treebeard’s strength into a drawback.
Ultimately, the key to overcoming Treebeard lies in maintaining control over the board state and preparing for the influx of tokens it generates. Smart deck-building and strategic play are essential in ensuring this mighty treefolk does not overwhelm your defenses.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Treebeard, Gracious Host MTG card by a specific set like Tales of Middle-earth Commander and Tales of Middle-earth Commander, 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 Treebeard, Gracious Host 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
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Printings
The Treebeard, Gracious Host Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Campbell White.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 73 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White | |
| 2 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 483 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White | |
| 3 | Tales of Middle-earth Art Series | ALTR | 67 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Campbell White | ||
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 153 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Campbell White |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Treebeard, Gracious Host has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Treebeard, Gracious Host card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-06-16 | Do not eat the delicious cards. No, not even for second breakfast. |
| 2023-06-16 | Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures in other sets, it's never a creature type. |
| 2023-06-16 | If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Lembas, an artifact card with the Food subtype, to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |
| 2023-06-16 | Some spells and abilities that create Food tokens may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Food tokens. |
| 2023-06-16 | You can't sacrifice a Food token to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate the last ability of Bill the Pony. |