Saruli Caretaker MTG Card


Saruli Caretaker - Ravnica Allegiance
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dryad
Abilities Defender
Released2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set nameRavnica Allegiance
Set codeRNA
Power 0
Toughness 3
Number139
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byHoward Lyon

Key Takeaways

  1. Saruli Caretaker offers resource acceleration and can convert creatures into mana sources early in the game.
  2. Caretaker’s instant-speed ability to tap creatures adds flexibility and surprise elements to gameplay.
  3. Though versatile, it carries limitations in mono-green decks and requires creature availability to function.

Text of card

Defender , Tap an untapped creature you control: Add one mana of any color.

"I hold the seed of our new beginning."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Saruli Caretaker itself doesn’t directly result in drawing cards, its ability to tap another creature for mana can help you deploy more of your hand faster, effectively letting you utilize your cards more efficiently. In decks built around creature synergies, this could indirectly contribute to maintaining card advantage by enabling more powerful plays sooner than your opponents can handle.

Resource Acceleration: Saruli Caretaker is excellent for resource acceleration in creature-centric decks. As a one-drop creature, it can effectively turn any of your creatures into a mana source. This is particularly beneficial in the early stages of the game when mana resources are critical for establishing board presence and outpacing your opponent’s development.

Instant Speed: Saruli Caretaker’s ability to tap another creature for mana can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves. Being able to untap a creature and use it for mana during your opponent’s turn can surprise them, disrupting their strategy and timing, especially when you’re setting up for a big play on your subsequent turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Saruli Caretaker doesn’t directly demand the discard of a card, but its tap ability necessitates having another creature to tap alongside it. This requirement could become a disadvantage when you’re short on creatures, effectively rendering the Caretaker’s ability unusable and leaving you with one less blocker.

Specific Mana Cost: Even though Saruli Caretaker only requires a single green mana to play, it’s limited to decks that include green mana. This specificity can restrict deck-building options and is less flexible compared to colorless mana cards which can fit into any deck composition.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While a low-cost card itself, Saruli Caretaker’s potential is dependent on the mana cost of the creature you wish to aid in casting. Should you aim to enable high-cost creatures, it may not be as efficient as expected since it doesn’t provide mana acceleration but simply a different way to tap for mana.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Saruli Caretaker is a card that can seamlessly slot into a myriad of green-based decks. Its ability to tap for mana by simply tapping another creature you control makes it a strong enabler for both creature-heavy and ramp strategies.

Combo Potential: The Caretaker’s skill to tap creatures for mana opens up opportunities for combo plays, allowing you to untap key creatures to activate their abilities multiple times or accelerate out powerful spells and creatures ahead of schedule.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where early board presence and quick ramping are vital, Saruli Caretaker holds its ground. It’s particularly useful for setting the pace against aggro decks or building quickly towards high-value threats that can dominate the board.


How to beat Saruli Caretaker

Saruli Caretaker stands out in MTG as a dependable defender that can also tap another creature you control with power one or greater to add one green mana to your mana pool. Unlike other mana dorks, Saruli Caretaker requires a bit of a setup to derive benefit, making it strategically different from the likes of Llanowar Elves or Birds of Paradise, which are standalone powerhouses in the ramp department.

To effectively counter Saruli Caretaker, you should aim to limit its utility by controlling the board. Removal spells that can bypass its defender attribute are the key. Since Saruli Caretaker cannot produce mana by itself, playing a removal spell on the target creature it could tap means the caretaker becomes inefficient. Board wipes are particularly potent, as they address multiple creatures, rendering the caretaker’s ability moot. A player might also consider countering the spells that benefit from the caretaker’s ramp, thus negating the advantage the player seeks to gain through it.

Overall, while Saruli Caretaker can be a useful card for establishing early mana advantage, it is vulnerable to creature control strategies and board-clearing effects, which can quickly diminish its value on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

If Saruli Caretaker’s synergy with creature-based decks and its potential for ramp has piqued your interest, consider adding this versatile card to your collection. Its unique ability to convert creatures into mana sources can set the stage for powerful plays, making it a noteworthy addition for strategists keen on optimizing their green decks. As the MTG landscape evolves, arming oneself with a diverse array of cards to maintain that competitive edge is crucial. Continue sharpening your skills and enhancing your gameplay with our insights. Delve deeper into strategy, discover more enriching content, and cultivate your ultimate deck by joining us to expand your MTG prowess.


Cards like Saruli Caretaker

In the realm of MTG, Saruli Caretaker stands out as a unique mana dork, offering a distinct way to tap for mana by using its defender ability aligned with a creature synergy strategy. When assessing Saruli Caretaker’s abilities against similar cards like Llanowar Elves or Elvish Mystic, the primary difference emerges in the activation cost. The Caretaker requires you to tap an additional creature you control, versus the straightforward tapping of Elves or Mystic to add one green mana to your mana pool without such a requirement.

Arbor Elf is another staple in the mana dork category, allowing you to untap a forest, potentially doubling the mana production if that forest produces more than one mana. Saruli Caretaker’s mechanic, on the other hand, aims to optimize creature-based strategies by turning any creature into a potential source of mana, while also protecting itself with its defender ability. Lastly, Sylvan Caryatid offers hexproof and mana fixing but comes at a higher mana cost compared to the free-to-play Saruli Caretaker.

Every card serves a strategic niche within the overarching strategy of mana ramping and acceleration in MTG. Saruli Caretaker excels within decks where tapping synergies or defender themes are key, adding nuanced tactical layers that its counterparts may not provide.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Arbor Elf - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Caryatid - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Elvish Mystic - Magic 2014 (M14)
Arbor Elf - Worldwake (WWK)
Sylvan Caryatid - Theros Promos (PTHS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Saruli Caretaker MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Saruli Caretaker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Saruli Caretaker has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-01-25 You can tap any untapped creature you control, including one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the cost of Saruli Caretaker’s activated ability. You must have controlled Saruli Caretaker continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, however.

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