Undergrowth Recon MTG Card
2024-02-09 - Number 181
2024-02-09 - Number 411
2024-02-10 - Number 181s
2024-02-10 - Number 181p
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
"I want eyes on the scene of the crime, day and night. I have a feeling our killer won't be able to resist coming back." —Thare of the Foundway Associates
Cards like Undergrowth Recon
Undergrowth Recon brings a unique dynamic to creature cards in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. It’s conceptually aligned with other cards that capitalize on the undergrowth mechanic, like Kraul Harpooner. Both cards harness graveyard-based synergy, but Undergrowth Recon diverges with its ability to potentially grow stronger each turn as more creatures are funneled into the graveyard.
Necrotic Wound is another spell that taps into undergrowth. While it’s not a creature, its strength intensifies with the number of creature cards in your graveyard, offering removal capabilities. Compared to the growth potential of Undergrowth Recon, Necrotic Wound provides instant utility, embodying the adaptability of the undergrowth theme in a different form. Then there’s Molderhulk, a large creature that thrives on the undergrowth ability to cheat mana cost. It trades Undergrowth Recon’s incremental strength for an immediate board presence, which can be a game-changer.
Ultimately, Undergrowth Recon is a card that rewards strategic graveyard play and evolves over the course of a match. Its kinship with other undergrowth cards highlights varied strategic approaches within this powerful mechanic, giving players multiple avenues to exploit their graveyard for in-game advantages.
Cards similar to Undergrowth Recon by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Undergrowth Recon. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Selesnya Cloudpost | Legacy | Green Cloudpost | Legacy Showcase Challenge 2024-03-17 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Undergrowth Recon is adept at developing card advantage as it allows you to potentially reveal multiple creatures from your library, placing them into your hand. This fuels your strategy and keeps your options open during the game.
Resource Acceleration: With every attack, Undergrowth Recon can help churn through your deck to find essential land cards, boosting your resource acceleration. This can be pivotal in ramping up your mana availability for casting high-cost spells sooner than your opponent expects.
Instant Speed: This card’s ability to peek at the top card of your library at instant speed can be game-changing. It lets you adapt during the heat of battle, effectively planning your next move with the information gleaned right before the combat damage step. This instant-speed insight can help dictate your tactics and outmaneuver your opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Undergrowth Recon necessitates sacrificing your own creatures. Each creature card thrown to the graveyard is subtracted from your potential battlefield presence, potentially setting you back against opponents.
Specific Mana Cost: Casting Undergrowth Recon requires a dedicated commitment to black and green mana sources, which might strain your deck’s mana base if it isn’t aligned with Golgari colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Given its mana value of five, Undergrowth Recon enters the fray later than many other impactful cards, potentially leaving you trailing in the early to mid-game where pacing is crucial.
Reasons to Include Undergrowth Recon in Your Collection
Versatility: Undergrowth Recon can be a key piece in any deck that leverages creature counts, especially in a Commander format where creatures often fill the graveyard. Its ability to draw cards whenever a creature you control explores ensures a steady flow of resources, making it flexible enough for various deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: This card shines in synergy with mechanics like dredge or scavenge, potentially creating powerful combos. By pairing it with cards that put creatures into your graveyard, you can harness Undergrowth Recon’s draw potential to gain a significant card advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors graveyard play or against opponents using milling strategies, Undergrowth Recon can become an unexpected asset. It helps to refill your hand as your graveyard grows, turning a potential vulnerability into an offensive advantage.
How to beat
Undergrowth Recon is an intriguing card that brings a tactical advantage to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Besting this card requires a clear strategy, given its ability to strengthen creatures by leveraging the graveyard contents. Unlike other cards that may provide a static boost, Undergrowth Recon’s power fluctuates, making it a variable threat depending on the graveyard’s size.
To outmaneuver an opponent utilizing Undergrowth Recon, one must focus on graveyard management. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt offer a proactive approach, allowing you to wipe the graveyard clean and effectively neutralize the power boost Undergrowth Recon provides. Similarly, cards such as Scavenging Ooze not only diminish the graveyard’s potency but also offer additional benefits by growing stronger and gaining you life in the process.
Maintaining control over the graveyards keeps Undergrowth Recon’s influence in check. While it can be tempting to rely on your own creature strengths to overpower the buffed adversaries, the wiser play often lies in dismantling the source of their power. This ensures that Undergrowth Recon loses its edge, becoming more of a dormant card than a looming threat on the board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Undergrowth Recon MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, 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 Undergrowth Recon 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
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Printings
The Undergrowth Recon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-10. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 181 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 411 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 181s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 4 | 2024-02-10 | Murders at Karlov Manor Promos | PMKM | 181p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ryan Pancoast |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Undergrowth Recon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |