Roots of All Evil MTG Card


Roots of All Evil - Archenemy Schemes
RarityCommon
TypeScheme
Released2010-06-18
Set symbol
Set nameArchenemy Schemes
Set codeOARC
Number37★
Frame2003
Layoutscheme
Borderblack
Illustred byPaul Bonner

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card economy by allowing players to draw multiple creature spells, providing a tactical edge.
  2. Enables resource acceleration and board presence through the efficient placement of multiple creatures.
  3. Demands a careful balance with its specific mana requirements and a potentially costly discard action.

Text of card

When you set this scheme in motion, put five 1/1 green Saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield.

"I assure you, these are not the kind that thrive on sunlight and water."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Roots of All Evil offers a massive boost to your deck’s card economy. This versatile card can flood your hand with creature spells, stacking the deck in your favor and providing numerous options for subsequent turns.

Resource Acceleration: This card isn’t just about adding minions to your battlefield; it’s also a source of significant resource acceleration. By deploying more creatures, you effectively expand your board presence and pave the way for game-winning strategies.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Roots of All Evil at instant speed affords you incredible flexibility. Respond in real-time to game developments, secure a stronger defense, or catch an adversary off-guard—all possible with the swift deployment of this card’s effects.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Roots of All Evil requires players to discard a card, which can be costly during a game, especially if your hand size is already depleting or the cards you hold are key to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a set combination of mana, including black, which might not always be readily available or could restrict its inclusion to specific archetypes that can accommodate such mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a steeper mana investment needed to play Roots of All Evil, players may find it’s not the most optimal card when setting up their board, particularly when there are alternatives that achieve similar effects without impacting the hand or demanding a particular mana setup.


Reasons to Include Roots of All Evil in Your Collection

Versatility: Roots of All Evil is a card that seamlessly integrates into a variety of decks that capitalize on land-based strategies or require ramping up mana. Its ability to access any color of mana makes it an excellent tool for multicolored decks looking to stabilize their mana base.

Combo Potential: This card’s latent capacity to generate tokens presents numerous synergistic opportunities. In combination with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or sacrifice mechanics, Roots of All Evil can become a cornerstone in powerful combo engines.

Meta-Relevance: Given its adaptability and the strategic depth it offers, Roots of All Evil is a card that maintains relevance in diverse metagames. Decks that can leverage ramp and token generation often position themselves advantageously against a range of competitive formats, making it a prudent addition to any player’s arsenal.


How to beat

The Roots of All Evil presents a formidable challenge with its ability to progressively overwhelm the battlefield by generating Saproling creature tokens in Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment allows players to reap a flourishing token advantage for each tapped land they control at the start of every upkeep. To tackle this steadily growing tide, swift removal spells or enchantment destruction cards are key. Efficient answers like Naturalize or Disenchant quickly dispel this ominous card before it takes root, protecting you from an impending Saproling swarm.

Another strategy is to disrupt the opponent’s land management. Cards causing lands to enter the battlefield tapped, such as Thalia, Heretic Cathar, slow down the rate at which Roots of All Evil can accelerate. Additionally, employing land destruction cards might seem drastic, yet they ensure that Roots of All Evil stays in check. Without an abundance of lands to feed its power, this enchantment loses its grasp.

Understanding the pacing of your game plan plays a crucial part in suppressing Roots of All Evil. Prioritize establishing board control early on and remain vigilant for rapid response. Preemptively managing your opponent’s capability to tap numerous lands will render this virulent enchantment far less threatening, ensuring your continued ascendancy in the match.


Cards like Roots of All Evil

Analyzing Roots of All Evil reveals its unique space in MTG among cards that revolve around generating abundant resources. Its parallel can be drawn to Verdant Force, a creature that creates Saprolings during every upkeep, which sustains board presence. Roots of All Evil, however, goes a step further by introducing Evil Roots tokens with escalating power whenever a player draws a card. This mechanic not only populates the field but also progressively strengthens your forces.

Comparably, Tendershoot Dryad is another card that floods the board with Saproling tokens, fortifying its synergy with the Saproling tribal theme. Where Roots of All Evil distinguishes itself is in its ability to transform token generation into a more offensive strategy rather than just a defensive position. Another relevant card, Mycoloth, devours your creatures to produce an abundance of tokens, a more risky proposition which grants higher token yield following a sacrificial investment.

In essence, Roots of All Evil is an archetype enabler that brings an evolving threat to the table, quite distinctly standing out from others in its category. It encourages a draw-heavy playstyle, turning each card drawn into potential for exponential growth, a quality that secures its place in the resource acceleration aspect of MTG.

Verdant Force - MTG Card versions
Tendershoot Dryad - MTG Card versions
Mycoloth - MTG Card versions
Verdant Force - Tempest (TMP)
Tendershoot Dryad - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Mycoloth - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Cards similar to Roots of All Evil by color, type and mana cost

Perhaps You've Met My Cohort - MTG Card versions
Imprison This Insolent Wretch - MTG Card versions
Your Inescapable Doom - MTG Card versions
All in Good Time - MTG Card versions
The Dead Shall Serve - MTG Card versions
Surrender Your Thoughts - MTG Card versions
Mortal Flesh Is Weak - MTG Card versions
The Iron Guardian Stirs - MTG Card versions
Ignite the Cloneforge! - MTG Card versions
I Bask in Your Silent Awe - MTG Card versions
Nature Demands an Offering - MTG Card versions
Which of You Burns Brightest? - MTG Card versions
Look Skyward and Despair - MTG Card versions
Nothing Can Stop Me Now - MTG Card versions
Plots That Span Centuries - MTG Card versions
I Know All, I See All - MTG Card versions
Rotted Ones, Lay Siege - MTG Card versions
A Display of My Dark Power - MTG Card versions
Behold the Power of Destruction - MTG Card versions
My Genius Knows No Bounds - MTG Card versions
Perhaps You've Met My Cohort - Promotional Schemes (PARC)
Imprison This Insolent Wretch - Promotional Schemes (PARC)
Your Inescapable Doom - Promotional Schemes (PARC)
All in Good Time - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
The Dead Shall Serve - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Surrender Your Thoughts - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Mortal Flesh Is Weak - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
The Iron Guardian Stirs - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Ignite the Cloneforge! - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
I Bask in Your Silent Awe - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Nature Demands an Offering - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Which of You Burns Brightest? - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Look Skyward and Despair - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Nothing Can Stop Me Now - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Plots That Span Centuries - Promotional Schemes (PARC)
I Know All, I See All - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Rotted Ones, Lay Siege - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
A Display of My Dark Power - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
Behold the Power of Destruction - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)
My Genius Knows No Bounds - Archenemy Schemes (OARC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Roots of All Evil MTG card by a specific set like Archenemy Schemes, 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 Roots of All Evil and other MTG cards:

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