Pollenbright Druid MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Druid
Abilities Proliferate
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Pollenbright Druid shines in offering either a +1/+1 counter or proliferating existing counters, enhancing versatility.
  2. The card’s synergy with instant-speed spells and counter mechanics makes it a strategic asset in gameplay.
  3. Despite its benefits, Pollenbright Druid’s green mana specificity and efficiency may be challenged by alternatives.

Text of card

When Pollenbright Druid enters the battlefield, choose one — • Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. • Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pollenbright Druid’s versatility contributes to card advantage by either proliferating to enhance the strength of your permanents on the board or having the option to develop board presence by putting a +1/+1 counter on itself or another creature.

Resource Acceleration: When combined with cards that generate +1/+1 counters or tokens, Pollenbright Druid can accelerate your resource accumulation, turning a single counter into a potentially game-changing advantage across multiple permanents.

Instant Speed: Though Pollenbright Druid does not operate at instant speed itself, its enter the battlefield effect synergizes well with instant-speed spells that can protect it or enhance its impact when timed correctly, keeping the opponent guessing and strategically expanding your options on your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike the versatility welcomed in many green decks, Pollenbright Druid doesn’t have a discard feature that allows for graveyard strategy interactions or a means to enable certain abilities that trigger upon discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: While the mana cost is low, it requires a green source. This specification can restrict the card’s inclusion to green-centric or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its functionality in decks without access to green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In the context of its abilities, Pollenbright Druid’s mana cost might be seen as high. When you consider that other cards in the one-to-two mana range can also proliferate or add a +1/+1 counter, you might find Pollenbright Druid’s efficiency questioned when deck building.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pollenbright Druid offers multiple modes which enable it to adapt to various situations on the battlefield. Whether you need to bolster your creatures with a +1/+1 counter or proliferate to enhance an existing counter strategy, this card provides flexibility and can support a wide range of deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This unassuming 1/1 creature can become the linchpin in intricate combo plays, particularly in decks that revolve around +1/+1 counters or amassing loyalty counters on planeswalkers. Its proliferate option can also unexpectedly tip the scales in long-drawn-out board states.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-present counter mechanics in various metagames, Pollenbright Druid maintains relevance across multiple formats. Its low mana cost and ability to interact with different types of counters make it a fitting choice for decks looking to stay competitive and synergistic.


How to beat

Pollenbright Druid is a versatile card seen in the green creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering. Players often utilize it for the proliferate ability to increase the number of +1/+1 counters on their creatures or to add more loyalty counters to their planeswalkers. Others might tap it for its second ability to put a +1/+1 counter on a target creature when it enters the battlefield.

Countering this utility-driven creature involves strategic planning. Targeted removal spells can effectively handle the Druid before its abilities trigger, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile. In the green creature decks themselves, larger creatures could easily overpower the Druid in combat due to its modest stats. Alternatively, denying its proliferate trigger with counter spells like Dovin’s Veto or Tale’s End can nullify its impact on the game, particularly against decks that are heavily reliant on +1/+1 counter synergies. Watch out for moments when your opponent is low on mana or resources; that’s your cue to strike and keep their board presence in check.

Beyond removal and counters, simply building a board state that outpaces the growth potential of what Pollenbright Druid offers will naturally tilt the game in your favor. After all, a single Druid can only do so much against a well-established board.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of MTG involves not only knowing your cards but also understanding the synergies they bring to your deck. Pollenbright Druid can be a pivotal card in green-centric decks, enriching strategies built on counters and growth. Embrace the flexibility it offers and consider the impact it could have in evolving your gameplay. Knowledge is power in the MTG universe, so if you’re eager to refine your tactics or expand your collection with cards that offer adaptable advantages, we encourage you to explore further. Deepen your MTG expertise and ensure your arsenal is as dynamic as the game itself.


Cards like Pollenbright Druid

Pollenbright Druid offers versatility to MTG decks that focus on +1/+1 counters or creature proliferation. Its entrance effect resembles that of the Ironshell Beetle, both providing the option to place a +1/+1 counter upon casting. While Ironshell Beetle is a fairly straightforward creature with no alternative uses, Pollenbright Druid stands out by also having the ability to proliferate, increasing the number of each kind of counter on any number of permanents. This unique flexibility can be a game-changer in matches where incremental advantages build up to victory.

Another card that works within this archetype is Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter. While not a creature, this planeswalker creates a similar dynamic by turning any creature with a +1/+1 counter into a mana source. The comparison highlights Pollenbright Druid’s immediate impact on the board versus Jiang Yanggu’s ongoing advantage. Lastly, Evolution Sage brings a recurring proliferation mechanic tied to land plays, providing a consistent but slower build-up compared to Pollenbright Druid’s one-time effect.

Assessing the impact of Pollenbright Druid, it’s apparent why it’s esteemed among MTG players. Its flexibility to either escalate an existing strategy or provide a quick boost gives it a distinctive position in the context of similar cards.

Ironshell Beetle - MTG Card versions
Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter - MTG Card versions
Evolution Sage - MTG Card versions
Ironshell Beetle - MTG Card versions
Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter - MTG Card versions
Evolution Sage - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pollenbright Druid MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Jumpstart Arena Exclusives, 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 Pollenbright Druid and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pollenbright Druid Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Matt Stewart.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 1732015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
22020-07-17Jumpstart Arena ExclusivesAJMP 1732015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 3122015NormalBlackMatt Stewart

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pollenbright Druid 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 Pollenbright Druid card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-05-03 You may choose Pollenbright Druid as the target of its own ability.
2021-03-19 If a permanent has +1/+1 counters and -1/-1 counters on it, they’re removed in pairs as a state-based action so that the permanent has only one of those kinds of counters on it.
2021-03-19 Players can respond to a spell or ability whose effect includes proliferating. Once that spell or ability starts to resolve, however, and its controller chooses which permanents and players will get new counters, it’s too late for anyone to respond.
2021-03-19 To proliferate, you can choose any permanent that has a counter, including ones controlled by opponents. You can’t choose cards in any zone other than the battlefield, even if they have counters on them.
2021-03-19 You don’t have to choose every permanent or player that has a counter, only the ones you want to add another counter to. Since “any number” includes zero, you don’t have to choose any permanents at all, and you don’t have to choose any players at all.

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