Rising Populace MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Human
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Scales with gameplay, becoming more powerful as creatures perish, enhancing creature-based strategies.
  2. Efficient resource usage due to its ability to grow without extra mana; a boon over time.
  3. Reacts to instant-speed events, making it a versatile threat on the ever-changing battlefield.

Text of card

Whenever another creature or planeswalker you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Rising Populace.

Grief is a crucible where resolve is tempered.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rising Populace has an ability that synergizes well with creature-based strategies, growing in power as more creatures hit the graveyard. This can swiftly turn it into a threat and potentially overwhelm opponents if left unchecked.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct source of mana acceleration, the card’s scaling nature means it becomes more effective as the game progresses without requiring additional mana investment. This allows for a more efficient use of resources over the course of the game.

Instant Speed: While Rising Populace itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it benefits from the numerous instant-speed events that occur in a game, such as combat tricks, removals, or flash creatures dying. This means it can unexpectedly become a larger blocker or attacker, reacting dynamically to the state of the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For some strategies, Rising Populace’s demand for card sacrifice when triggering its prowess can disrupt your hand’s equilibrium, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage should you encounter a card deficit situation.

Specific Mana Cost: Its mana cost, requiring white, binds it to decks with access to Plains or mana fixing. This requirement might constrict deck-building options and limit its viability across the diverse formats of the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that is on the higher side for its stat line and abilities, Rising Populace competes with other cards that can offer more immediate board presence or longer-term value, possibly relegating it to a more situational use case.


Reasons to Include Rising Populace in Your Collection

Versatility: Rising Populace is a card that seamlessly slots into a variety of white or multicolored decks. Its ability to grow whenever another creature you control dies makes it a match for strategies that involve creature sacrifice or those that face removal-heavy opponents.

Combo Potential: Partner Rising Populace with cards that produce token creatures or effects that recur creatures from the graveyard to amplify its power. Each death among your ranks makes this card a more formidable threat on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where board wipes and creature control are common, Rising Populace stands out. It thrives in such conditions, growing in strength and becoming a resilient asset to overcome adversaries who rely on removing your creatures to maintain control.


How to beat

Overcoming Rising Populace in MTG can become quite the task once it gets rolling. This creature card thrives in environments where creatures are frequently hitting the graveyard, as with each loss, it gains strength through its +1/+1 counters. Addressing this, cards that neutralize abilities or remove creatures without sending them to the graveyard are excellent counters. Think spells that exile instead of destroy or ones that bounce Rising Populace back to its owner’s hand, circumventing the triggering event that would normally bolster its power.

Strategies involving board wipes can be double-edged swords. While they clear the field, if not done carefully, they might inadvertently power up Rising Populace. Hence, cards like Path to Exile, which exiles rather than destroys, or counterspells that prevent Rising Populace from hitting the field in the first place, can be crucial. Even utilizing enchantments or artifacts that suppress or negate triggered abilities can keep the populace from ever rising. Therefore, a thoughtful strategy that includes preemptive and reactive control can effectively keep this persistent card in check.


Cards like Rising Populace

Rising Populace from Magic: The Gathering is a notable creature card that catches the eye of many deck builders for its potential in token and counter-based strategies. Standing alongside cards like Benalish Marshal, it synergizes well in decks that focus on bolstering the ranks of your forces. While Benalish Marshal offers a static boost to your creatures, Rising Populace has a unique mechanic where it grows stronger whenever another creature or planeswalker you control dies.

Another card worth mentioning in this context is Ajani’s Pridemate. This creature thrives in environments rich with life gain events, acquiring counters with each instance of health restoration. Although both cards can swell to formidable sizes, Ajani’s Pridemate may offer a faster growth rate in the right deck, while Rising Populace waits for its allies to fall.

Considering the balance between risk and reward, Rising Populace stands out as a solid addition in decks that look to benefit from every creature’s demise, not just their presence on the battlefield. Its ability to turn setbacks into power makes it a dark horse in creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Benalish Marshal - MTG Card versions
Ajani's Pridemate - MTG Card versions
Benalish Marshal - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Ajani's Pridemate - Magic 2011 (M11)

Cards similar to Rising Populace by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rising Populace MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Rising Populace and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Rising Populace Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 292015normalblackTomasz Jedruszek
22024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 252015normalblackNestor Ossandon Leal

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rising Populace has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 If Rising Populace and another creature you control die simultaneously (perhaps because they were both dealt lethal damage in combat), Rising Populace won’t be on the battlefield as its triggered ability resolves. It can’t be saved by the +1/+1 counter that would have been put on it.
2019-05-03 If a planeswalker that’s also a creature dies, Rising Populace’s ability triggers only once.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks