Keeper of Progenitus MTG Card


Keeper of Progenitus - Shards of Alara
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Druid
Released2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set nameShards of Alara
Set codeALA
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number135
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byKev Walker

Key Takeaways

  1. Ramps mana rapidly, enabling diverse and powerful multicolor deck strategies in MTG gaming.
  2. Does not require card sacrifices, offering a stable mana boost without trading off card resources.
  3. Comparatively high mana cost requires deck adaptation to optimize the card’s significant benefits.

Text of card

Whenever a player taps a Mountain, Forest, or Plains for mana, that player adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced.

He watches over the valley where Progenitus sleeps, culling signs from its steaming breaths.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Keeper of Progenitus allows players to derive indirect card advantage, by enabling access to more lands effectively increasing the cards put to use each turn.

Resource Acceleration: This card is adept at ramping up resources. It doubles mana from each mountain, forest, and plains, which can be a significant boost, especially in multicolored decks that can efficiently use the extra mana.

Instant Speed: While the Keeper of Progenitus itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the mana it generates can enable the use of instant-speed spells. This contributes to a flexible and unpredictable strategy, keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Keeper of Progenitus does not have a discard requirement, providing a consistent mana advantage without directly costing you card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Its casting cost is specific to green mana, necessitating a solid presence of green in your deck to play it efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and one green mana, it is quite the investment in the early game, and your deck could potentially use this mana to establish a more immediate presence on the board.


Reasons to Include Keeper of Progenitus in Your Collection

Versatility: Keeper of Progenitus offers a flexible role in many deck builds, particularly those harnessing the power of multicolored mana. Its ability to accelerate mana generation across multiple colors can be a game-changer for casting high-cost cards sooner than your opponents expect.

Combo Potential: This card is a keystone for combo decks that thrive on mana abundance. It can synergize with cards that benefit from or turn extra mana into a winning condition, amplifying the threat level of your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta dominated by fast-paced aggro or intricate control decks, Keeper of Progenitus can provide the necessary speed and resource advantage to outpace or outmaneuver opponents, making its inclusion a strategic choice for adapting to the shifting trends of gameplay.


How to beat

The Keeper of Progenitus is a unique card that amplifies mana generation, creating a strategic advantage for players adept at using all elements of Magic: The Gathering. As a player, your strategy to combat this card should focus on disruption and control. Playing cards that limit your opponent’s ability to tap lands for mana, such as Damping Sphere, can mitigate the effects of the Keeper of Progenitus. Counteractive measures could also include utilizing removal spells to directly target and dispatch this creature from the battlefield before your opponent can capitalize on its benefits.

Control decks have an edge here, with access to counterspells like Negate or mana-efficient removal like Path to Exile, providing an answer to the Keeper before it becomes too troublesome. It’s also beneficial to apply pressure on your opponent, forcing them to defend rather than capitalize on the Keeper’s abilities. Ultimately, staying adaptable and ready to interrupt your opponent’s strategy is key to prevail against a card that can potentially escalate the board state in their favor.

Remember, consistency is paramount, ensuring prompt responses to any play that involves the Keeper of Progenitus is essential for maintaining the upper hand in a Magic: The Gathering match.


Cards like Keeper of Progenitus

Keeper of Progenitus stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering with its unique ability to ramp mana for all players, but favoring those using elements of nature. Much like Heartbeat of Spring, the Keeper amplifies mana production with a focus on lands that produce green, white, red, or blue mana, bringing a cooperative dynamic to the table. Unlike Heartbeat’s unbiased approach to doubling mana output, Keeper of Progenitus specifically rewards players who lean into certain colors.

Mana Reflection is another similar enchantment that scales up your mana production, yet it doubles the output of every land and mana source you control, without the communal generosity that defines Keeper of Progenitus. Mana Reflection grants a more selfish edge to the game, providing a powerful advantage for the caster alone. Additionally, reflecting the contrast between the two, Keeper of Progenitus is a creature, offering a physical presence on the battlefield which Mana Reflection lacks.

Analyzing these alternatives, Keeper of Progenitus emerges as a distinct choice for MTG enthusiasts who enjoy group strategies and multi-colored decks. Its capability to accelerate gameplay while nudging opponents to coexist creates intriguing scenarios in multiplayer formats, showcasing its value in social and cooperative deck builds.

Heartbeat of Spring - MTG Card versions
Mana Reflection - MTG Card versions
Heartbeat of Spring - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mana Reflection - Shadowmoor (SHM)

Cards similar to Keeper of Progenitus by color, type and mana cost

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Keeper of Progenitus MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Keeper of Progenitus and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Keeper of Progenitus has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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