Hidden Herbalists MTG Card


Hidden Herbalists - Aether Revolt
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Druid
Abilities Revolt
Released2017-01-20
Set symbol
Set nameAether Revolt
Set codeAER
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number110
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBastien L. Deharme

Key Takeaways

  1. Hidden Herbalists can efficiently support creature-focused strategies with its Revolt-triggered mana surge.
  2. Essential for tempo, it’s impactful in fast-paced green decks needing quick board development.
  3. Understanding how to enable and counter its Revolt ability is crucial for maximizing its potential.

Text of card

Revolt — When Hidden Herbalists enters the battlefield, if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, add to your mana pool.

In the cellars beneath Narnam House, a strange and deadly garden grows.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hidden Herbalists can be especially effective in decks focused on creature spells and synergies. Once its revolt ability triggers, it allows you to deploy additional creatures from your hand more efficiently, effectively increasing your board presence and potential card utility for subsequent turns.

Resource Acceleration: As a form of mana ramp, Hidden Herbalists’ ability to generate additional green mana upon entering the battlefield can be a significant boost. This can speed up your gameplay by enabling the casting of higher-cost cards earlier than usual, or allow for multiple plays in a single turn.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, the mana provided by Hidden Herbalists can potentially be used for instant-speed interactions during your opponent’s turn. This interaction creates flexibility in your strategy, as you can utilize the mana for surprise plays or quick responses, keeping opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Hidden Herbalists, while there is no discard necessary, its revolt ability requires that a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn, which can sometimes be a setback if your board state doesn’t support this condition without causing disadvantageous sacrifices.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting requires two green mana, which may not always be readily available in multicolored decks that run on a tight mana base, potentially leading to it sitting unused in your hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana seems reasonable for a 2/2 creature, the fact that you must meet the revolt condition to gain any additional value can make Hidden Herbalists less mana-efficient compared to other creatures or spells that offer similar or better benefits without such a stipulation.


Reasons to Include Hidden Herbalists in Your Collection

Versatility: Hidden Herbalists fits well in decks that capitalize on casting creatures quickly and efficiently. Thanks to its Revolt ability, it can offer an unexpected surge of mana to enable further plays, especially in green-centric or creature-heavy decks.

Combo Potential: When coupled with other cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield or additional mana, Hidden Herbalists can be part of explosive plays. It can synergistically unlock combo chains or accelerate the deployment of key cards that could change the game’s tide.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where quick board development is crucial, Hidden Herbalists shines by helping to flood the field with creatures early on. Its relevance rises in metas that favor aggressive strategies, acting as a strong support card for swarming tactics.


How to beat

Hidden Herbalists is a creature card that can have an explosive impact in Magic: The Gathering through its Revolt ability, which grants extra green mana if a permanent left the battlefield on your turn. This sets up potential for overwhelming board states early on. However, this card’s power hinges on enabling its Revolt trigger efficiently.

To counteract Hidden Herbalists, timing is key. Controlling when your opponent’s permanents leave the play can mitigate the mana advantage they gain. Removal spells should be used judiciously; instead of eliminating a creature right before your turn, consider doing it afterward to prevent fueling the Herbalists’ Revolt. Cards like Rest in Peace can neutralize graveyard strategies, indirectly stunting Revolt triggers. Plus, if you’re anticipating Hidden Herbalists, save your board wipes for after they’re played, using the element of surprise to your advantage and not providing them with additional mana beforehand.

Ultimately, countering Hidden Herbalists involves strategic play and maintaining control over the tempo of the game. If you successfully navigate around their Revolt ability, you can reduce the impact of their economy-boosting presence and keep the game within manageable parameters.


Cards like Hidden Herbalists

Hidden Herbalists is known for its Revolt ability, offering a unique angle in the world of mana acceleration in Magic: The Gathering. When this card is compared to other mana-generating creatures like Burning-Tree Emissary, we recognize a subtle difference. Burning-Tree Emissary gives mana regardless of the game state, while Hidden Herbalists requires a creature to leave the battlefield this turn to trigger its Revolt ability and produce two green mana.

Another card worth mentioning is Lotus Cobra. Although Lotus Cobra doesn’t provide a burst of mana immediately, it has the potential to generate more mana over time, responding to land drops instead of the Revolt trigger. This characteristic allows for a different strategy in deck building, focusing on land fetches and plays. Conversely, Hidden Herbalists is more situational, benefiting decks that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.

Overall, while Hidden Herbalists may not be as consistent as Burning-Tree Emissary or as potentially prolific as Lotus Cobra, it certainly has its place in decks that are designed around the Revolt mechanic, offering a significant burst of mana under the right conditions.

Burning-Tree Emissary - MTG Card versions
Lotus Cobra - MTG Card versions
Burning-Tree Emissary - Gatecrash (GTC)
Lotus Cobra - Grand Prix Promos (PGPX)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hidden Herbalists MTG card by a specific set like Aether Revolt, 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 Hidden Herbalists and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hidden Herbalists has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-02-09 All cards in the Aether Revolt set with triggered revolt abilities use an intervening “if” clause. A permanent you controlled must have left the battlefield earlier in the turn in order for these abilities to trigger; otherwise they do nothing. In other words, there’s no way to have the ability trigger if no permanent you controlled has left the battlefield that turn, even if you intend to have one do so in response to the triggered ability.
2017-02-09 Energy counters aren’t permanents. Paying won’t satisfy a revolt ability.
2017-02-09 Revolt abilities check only whether a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn or not. They don’t apply multiple times if more than one permanent you controlled left the battlefield. They don’t check whether the permanent that left the battlefield is still in the zone it moved to.
2017-02-09 Revolt abilities don’t care why the permanent left the battlefield, who caused it to move, or where it moved to. They’re equally satisfied by an artifact you sacrificed to pay a cost, a creature you controlled that was destroyed by Murder, or an enchantment you returned to your hand with Leave in the Dust.
2017-02-09 Tokens that leave the battlefield will satisfy a revolt ability.

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