Second Harvest MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Second Harvest excels in multiplying tokens, vastly improving your battlefield strength.
  2. Instant speed allows for unexpected plays, making it versatile and tactical.
  3. It demands significant token presence, limiting its use in certain strategies.

Text of card

For each token you control, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of that permanent.

"The cornfields promise a good yield this season." —Radwick, farmer of Gatstaf


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Doubling your tokens with Second Harvest can significantly outnumber your opponent’s board state, effectively becoming a force multiplier and providing a tactical edge.

Resource Acceleration: By increasing the number of tokens that produce mana or have cost-reducing abilities, Second Harvest propels you ahead by ramping up your available resources.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Second Harvest at instant speed surprises opponents, potentially turning a modest board into a lethal one right before the combat phase, or at the end of your opponent’s turn to avoid sorcery-speed removal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Second Harvest doesn’t require an actual discard, it does demand a significant presence of tokens on the battlefield. If you’re unable to amass a sufficient number of tokens, it can be the equivalent of discarding the card without any gain, as it sits in your hand awaiting the ideal board state.

Specific Mana Cost: Second Harvest’s mana cost is exclusively green, necessitating a dedicated amount of green mana sources. In multicolored decks, this may narrow the window of opportunity to play the card effectively, especially if your mana base is stretched between several colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a four mana investment, Second Harvest can be costly, particularly when you’re trying to establish board presence or if facing a strategy that limits token generation. Alternative cards at lower mana costs might provide immediate impact or set up long-term advantages, making Second Harvest a less appealing choice in fast-paced or highly interactive games.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Second Harvest is a tool that amplifies token strategies, slotting into decks that produce a variety of creature and non-creature tokens. This card offers flexibility in both casual and competitive play, capable of turning a modest board state into a formidable one with a single cast.

Combo Potential: With the ability to clone your existing tokens, Second Harvest works harmoniously with decks that revolve around token generation and synergize with cards that benefit from token creation. Its potential to swiftly end games by doubling an army makes it a fearsome component in combo decks.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, the card’s dynamism ensures that it remains a potent option against various deck archetypes. Whether you’re up against control decks that have difficulty managing multiple threats or matching against other creature-based strategies, Second Harvest can provide the edge needed to outpace your opponents.


How to beat

Confronting the Second Harvest card in Magic: The Gathering requires a strategic approach. This formidable card can quickly tip the scales of the game by doubling the number of tokens an opponent controls. Players facing Second Harvest should prioritize removal spells that can efficiently clear the board of tokens before they overwhelm the game. Cards such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act are effective at eradicating a multitude of tokens simultaneously.

Another tactic to outmaneuver Second Harvest is to limit the opponent’s token production from the outset. Employing countermeasures like counter spells to disrupt the opponent’s token-generating spells or using cards that restrict token creation can stave off the impending swarm. Timing is crucial; being proactive and sensing when an opponent may cast Second Harvest can be the difference between victory and defeat. By preventing the setup of token generation engines, players can mitigate the impact of the card even if it resolves.

Ultimatley, understanding and anticipating your opponent’s strategy when Second Harvest is in their deck will guide your decisions on the battlefield, ensuring you maintain the upper hand against this explosive token doubler.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering token strategies in MTG is like weaving a tapestry of overwhelming forces, and Second Harvest sits comfortably as a thread that can pull your strategy tight. Utilizing its instant speed and cloning capability, this card fits neatly into decks where token generation is the name of the game. If your board often bristles with tokens, ready to be duplicated for maximum impact, then integrating Second Harvest might be your next strategic move. Delve deeper into the synergies and metagame implications that Second Harvest brings to the table. Join us as we explore more insights and strategies to make your token deck not just grow, but thrive.


Cards like Second Harvest

Second Harvest is a unique card that has its place in strategies that capitalize on token proliferation within Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the functionality of cards like Doubling Season, but with a different spin. Whereas Doubling Season is a permanent that doubles tokens (and counters) as they’re created, Second Harvest instantly doubles the tokens you have at the moment of casting, potentially flipping a game on its head in a single turn. It’s a one-time effect compared to Doubling Season’s ongoing one, but it’s also instant speed, giving it a surprising edge in timing.

Parallel Lives also shares synergy with Second Harvest, as it’s a static enchantment that continues to double the number of tokens you would create. However, its lack of immediate impact can be less explosive than the instantaneous nature of Second Harvest. Then we have Primal Vigor, which is a wildcard in this comparison, benefiting each player by doubling tokens and counters, potentially adding a political twist to games. Despite the different mana costs and permanence, Second Harvest holds its own as a pivotal and potentially game-winning spell in token-focused decks.

The ability to seize the moment and magnify your board state can make Second Harvest a powerful ace up the sleeve in critical gameplay scenarios, securing its value among similar MTG cards in the green strategy domain.

Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Parallel Lives - MTG Card versions
Primal Vigor - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
Parallel Lives - Innistrad (ISD)
Primal Vigor - Commander 2013 (C13)

Cards similar to Second Harvest by color, type and mana cost

Storm Seeker - MTG Card versions
Trailblazer - MTG Card versions
Venomous Breath - MTG Card versions
Fanatical Fever - MTG Card versions
Lure of Prey - MTG Card versions
Snag - MTG Card versions
Might of Oaks - MTG Card versions
Elephant Ambush - MTG Card versions
Sudden Strength - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Will - MTG Card versions
Dragonscale Boon - MTG Card versions
Force of Vigor - MTG Card versions
Garenbrig Carver // Shield's Might - MTG Card versions
Bloodscent - MTG Card versions
Mystic Melting - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invocation - MTG Card versions
Heal the Scars - MTG Card versions
Gloomwidow's Feast - MTG Card versions
Slingbow Trap - MTG Card versions
Momentous Fall - MTG Card versions
Storm Seeker - Masters Edition (ME1)
Trailblazer - Ice Age (ICE)
Venomous Breath - Ice Age (ICE)
Fanatical Fever - Ice Age (ICE)
Lure of Prey - Mirage (MIR)
Snag - Prophecy (PCY)
Might of Oaks - Magic 2010 (M10)
Elephant Ambush - Odyssey (ODY)
Sudden Strength - Judgment (JUD)
Kamahl's Will - Commander Legends (CMR)
Dragonscale Boon - The List (PLST)
Force of Vigor - Modern Horizons 1 Timeshifts (H1R)
Garenbrig Carver // Shield's Might - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Bloodscent - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Mystic Melting - Coldsnap (CSP)
Stonewood Invocation - Time Spiral (TSP)
Heal the Scars - Lorwyn (LRW)
Gloomwidow's Feast - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Slingbow Trap - Worldwake (WWK)
Momentous Fall - Jumpstart (JMP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Second Harvest MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Shadows over Innistrad Promos, 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 Second Harvest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Second Harvest Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-04-08Shadows over InnistradSOI 2272015normalblackMatt Stewart
22016-04-08Shadows over Innistrad PromosPSOI 227s2015normalblackMatt Stewart
32019-08-23Commander 2019C19 1782015normalblackMatt Stewart
42023-03-21Shadows over Innistrad RemasteredSIR 2132015normalblackMatt Stewart
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 5302015normalborderlessGreg Hildebrandt & Tim Hildebrandt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Second Harvest has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

DateText
2016-04-08 Second Harvest copies all tokens, not only creature tokens. Notably, this includes Clue tokens.
2016-04-08 Second Harvest copies the original characteristics of each token as stated by the effect that put the token onto the battlefield. It doesn’t copy whether that token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or any Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.

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