Greater Good MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Delivers card drawing power by sacrificing a creature—a core benefit for decks designed around creatures.
  2. Instant speed sacrifices offer strategic flexibility in response to opponents’ moves or battlefield events.
  3. Can be a gamble—high mana cost and creature loss might outweigh the potential for drawing cards.

Text of card

Sacrifice a creature: Draw cards equal to the sacrificed creature's power, then choose and discard three cards.

"We have more sprouts than they have hands." —Gamelen, Citanul elder


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Greater Good provides substantial card drawing power by allowing a player to sacrifice a creature and draw cards equal to its power, thus offering the potential for significant card replenishment.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be pivotal for turning creatures into new resources. Through its sacrifice mechanism, players can quickly cycle through their deck to find key spells or lands, effectively speeding up the deck’s performance.

Instant Speed: As a sacrifice outlet that can be activated at instant speed, Greater Good offers versatility, allowing players to react to battlefield changes on the fly, or in response to an opponent’s actions, thus maintaining control over the timing of abilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When using the Greater Good card, a player must sacrifice a creature, which could be a significant setback if your board presence is already weak or if you’re sacrificing a high-value creature without immediate means of recursion.

Specific Mana Cost: Greater Good’s casting cost necessitates three green mana, which can be restrictive for multi-color decks that either struggle to consistently produce the needed green mana or where the green portion of the mana base is already heavily demanded by other spells within the deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana in total, Greater Good can be considered costly for the effect it provides. Faster paced matches could find the card less viable, preferring more immediate or lower-cost alternatives that allow for quicker board development or more efficient mana usage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Greater Good connects efficiently with various playstyles, offering an exceptional fit for commanders or decks that thrive on sacrificing creatures for value. Its capability to turn any creature in play into instant card advantage makes it a catalyst for numerous strategies.

Combo Potential: This card unlocks powerful synergies by pairing with creatures that have enter the battlefield effects or die triggers. It can also be a cornerstone in loops that allow you to draw significant portions of your deck, setting up game-winning conditions.

Meta-Relevance: Whether facing off against creature-heavy decks or in need of drawing into answers, the adaptability of Greater Good ensures it remains a pertinent choice in ever-shifting player environments, always keeping you one step ahead of your opponents.


How to beat

Greater Good stands as one of the more robust sacrifice and draw engines in Magic: The Gathering, offering significant card advantage to the player who utilizes it well. The card allows you to sacrifice a creature to draw cards equal to its power and then discard three cards. This ability can quickly overwhelm you if left unchecked as your opponent converts large creatures into substantial card gains.

To counteract Greater Good, focus on strategies that limit your opponent’s ability to maintain a board presence. Engaging in creature removal or applying pressure with aggressive creatures can strain their resources, making sacrifices less beneficial. Enchantment removal like Disenchant or targeted hand disruption are also effective tactics. Additionally, cards that restrict actions during an opponent’s turn, such as Teferi, Time Raveler, can prevent the activation of Greater Good altogether or at least make it less opportunistic for your opponent.

Keep in mind, stabilizing your position through persistent control and pressure can turn the tide against Greater Good. By strategically dismantling your opponent’s ability to exploit the card’s potential, you can mitigate its impact and maintain the upper hand throughout the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the complexities of Greater Good means appreciating the delicate balance between its potential card advantage and the risks involved in its usage. For players looking to refine their MTG knowledge and optimize their decks, it’s essential to learn when and how to integrate cards like Greater Good for maximum effect. Whether you’re an experienced player aiming to incorporate Greater Good into a finely-tuned commander deck or a newcomer eager to explore its synergies, we’re here to guide you through the layers of strategy that MTG offers. Dive deeper into the world of MTG with us and discover how to enhance your playstyle with this and other influential cards.


Cards like Greater Good

Greater Good is a distinctive card in MTG that shines in the sphere of sacrifice and card draw engines. It bears a resemblance to cards like Life’s Legacy, which allows a player to sacrifice a creature to draw cards equal to its power, mirroring the basic functionality of Greater Good. However, Greater Good has the upper hand with its repeatable usage, allowing for multiple sacrifices in a single turn.

Moving beyond single-use effects, Momentous Fall illustrates another comparison. This card also dedicates to drawing and life gain based on the sacrificed creature’s stats. Nevertheless, Greater Good requires no mana at resolution and gives you the choice to sandbag your reaction until the most strategic moment, unlike the preemptive casting needed for Momentous Fall.

Considering the card dynamics, Greater Good holds its own within its niche in MTG. By providing steady card advantage while managing the board, it becomes an essential asset for decks that capitalize on high-powered creatures or the necessity to dodge targeted removal or exile effects.

Life's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Momentous Fall - MTG Card versions
Life's Legacy - Magic 2015 (M15)
Momentous Fall - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Greater Good by color, type and mana cost

Living Lands - MTG Card versions
Titania's Song - MTG Card versions
Arboria - MTG Card versions
Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Primal Order - MTG Card versions
Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Foster - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Living Lands - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Titania's Song - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Arboria - Legends (LEG)
Cyclone - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Primal Order - Homelands (HML)
Splintering Wind - Alliances (ALL)
Barbed Foliage - Mirage (MIR)
Preferred Selection - Mirage (MIR)
Aluren - Tempest (TMP)
Sporogenesis - Urza's Saga (USG)
Defense of the Heart - Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales (WOT)
Vernal Equinox - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Foster - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Overlaid Terrain - Nemesis (NEM)
Rowen - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Epic Struggle - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Court of Bounty - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Eidolon of Blossoms - Explorer Anthology 3 (EA3)
Arasta of the Endless Web - Commander Masters (CMM)
Upwelling - Scourge (SCG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Greater Good MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Magic Online Promos, 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 Greater Good and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Greater Good Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 2571997normalblackPete Venters
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 515422003normalblackMathias Kollros
32005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2452003normalwhiteDouglas Shuler
42005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 245★2003normalblackDouglas Shuler
52014-01-01Judge Gift Cards 2014J14 22003normalblackMathias Kollros
62018-06-08BattlebondBBD 2012015normalblackMathias Kollros
72019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 10872015normalblackVolta Creation
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1702015normalblackMathias Kollros
92021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 1602015normalblackMathias Kollros

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Greater Good has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Greater Good card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-08-07 If you don't have three cards in hand when instructed to discard three cards, you discard your hand.
2020-08-07 Use the sacrificed creature's power as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how many cards you draw.
2020-08-07 You draw and discard cards all while Greater Good's ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.

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