Infested Roothold MTG Card


Infested Roothold - Darksteel
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wall
Abilities Defender,Protection
Released2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set nameDarksteel
Set codeDST
Power 0
Toughness 3
Number76
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byTerese Nielsen

Key Takeaways

  1. Infested Roothold offers crucial card advantage and resource acceleration, improving game tempo and hand options.
  2. Limited use due to specific mana requirements and high costs can restrict its inclusion in diverse deck builds.
  3. Generates tokens, building long-term board presence, and potentially altering the meta in prolonged matches.

Text of card

(Walls can't attack.) Protection from artifacts Whenever an opponent plays an artifact spell, you may put a 1/1 green Insect creature token into play.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Infested Roothold serves as a formidable way to draw into your deck, providing supplemental cards that can give you the upper hand. Playing this card could potentially secure a strategic advantage by thickening your hand with additional options for upcoming turns.

Resource Acceleration: With its ability to offer additional mana upon attacking, Infested Roothold can ramp up your resources, thus speeding up your gameplay. This ability can be pivotal in casting high-cost spells ahead of curve or deploying more threats to overwhelm the opponent.

Instant Speed: The flexibility offered by Instant Speed interactions can not be overstated. Infested Roothold may not be instant itself, but it may interact beneficially with other instant speed spells in your deck, allowing you to adapt to the current board state more effectively during your or even your opponent’s turn, adding a layer of unpredictability and versatility to your game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Infested Roothold demands a card to be discarded upon casting. This can be taxing when your hand is already depleted, potentially forcing you to part with valuable late-game options.

Specific Mana Cost: A mix of green and black mana is necessary to summon Infested Roothold. This locks it into specific deck archetypes, limiting its versatility across various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of five mana, Infested Roothold’s summoning cost is on the higher end. When evaluating the overall board impact, there may be alternatives that offer more immediate or impactful presence for a similar investment.


Reasons to Include Infested Roothold in Your Collection

Versatility: Infested Roothold’s ability to create creature tokens makes it a dynamic choice for decks focusing on token strategies or needing reliable blockers. Its flexibility shines in both offensive and defensive roles, adapting to the changing tide of gameplay.

Combo Potential: The card’s token-generating capability can be the cornerstone of combo decks. It synergizes with effects that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or dying, opening up numerous possibilities for creative deck builders.

Meta-Relevance: Given the right circumstances, Infested Roothold can become an essential part of a deck in metagames that favor longer, grindier matches. The persistent token generation can overwhelm opponents who are not equipped to handle multiple threats over time.


How to Beat Infested Roothold

Encountering Infested Roothold on the battlefield can indeed shift the tide of a game. This imposing green creature is both a formidable blocker and a persistent threat, thanks to its ability to generate Insect creature tokens. To successfully navigate around this arboreal defense, it’s wise to consider removal spells that can handle both the Roothold and the insects it spawns. Cards like Wrath of God and Doomskar are noteworthy as they clear the board of all creatures, ensuring that the Insect tokens won’t overrun you.

Another tactic is to bypass combat altogether. Utilizing exile-based removal such as Path to Exile or using enchantments like Pacifism to incapacitate Infested Roothold prevents it from being a blocking nuisance. For a more direct approach, turn to spell or creature-based damage that can target this verdant behemoth before it puts down too many roots. Spells like Murderous Rider or creatures with fight mechanics are excellent tools for this job.

If Infested Roothold is central to your opponent’s strategy, consider using cards that counter creature spells or use discard effects to remove it from their hand before it can impact the game. Thoughtseize and Counterspell are key options in disrupting your opponent’s plans, keeping the towering Roothold at bay.


Cards like Infested Roothold

Infested Roothold offers intriguing gameplay dynamics in Magic: The Gathering’s landscape of treefolk creatures. It shares common ground with other treefolks like Dauntless Dourbark, which gains strength and toughness based on the number of trees and forests you control. Nevertheless, Infested Roothold distinguishes itself with its ability to spawn insect creature tokens, an ability not mirrored in the otherwise formidable Dauntless Dourbark.

Exploring further parallels, Leaf-Crowned Elder stands out with its kinship ability which potentially allows you to play treefolk and shaman cards from the top of your library. Although Infested Roothold doesn’t offer this sort of deck manipulation, it compensates with its token generation, providing both defensive and offensive options.

In assessing the unique aspects of similar creature cards, Infested Roothold occupies its niche by balancing board presence with the incremental advantage of token generation. This capability makes it a valuable utility card in Magic: The Gathering for players who appreciate versatility and the long-term benefits of a growing creature army.

Dauntless Dourbark - MTG Card versions
Leaf-Crowned Elder - MTG Card versions
Dauntless Dourbark - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Leaf-Crowned Elder - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Infested Roothold by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Kavu Climber - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Ironroot Treefolk - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Llanowar Behemoth - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bramble Elemental - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Indrik Stomphowler - Commander 2015 (C15)
Golgari Grave-Troll - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Kavu Climber - Masters 25 (A25)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Infested Roothold MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 Infested Roothold and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Infested Roothold has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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