Genju of the Realm MTG Card


Genju of the Realm - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Number151
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byScott M. Fischer

Key Takeaways

  1. Genju of the Realm offers card advantage by converting lands into powerful creatures without losing hand cards.
  2. Instant speed activation grants strategic flexibility, letting you surprise opponents and shift in-game dynamics.
  3. Despite a hefty cost, its ability to be a win condition in versatile decks makes Genju of the Realm valuable.

Text of card

: Enchanted land becomes a legendary 8/12 Spirit creature with trample until end of turn. It's still a land. When enchanted land is put into a graveyard, you may return Genju of the Realm from your graveyard to your hand.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Genju of the Realm can transform any of your lands into a formidable creature, essentially creating an additional threat for your opponents without losing a card in your hand. This increases your card efficiency and can often lead to having more impactful cards in play compared to your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana acceleration, the ability to turn a land into a 9/9 creature can be seen as a form of resource acceleration since it allows your lands to serve dual purposes. In addition to producing mana, they become significant game-changing threats that can exert pressure or defend as needed.

Instant Speed: The activation of Genju of the Realm can be performed at instant speed, providing tactical flexibility during the game. This enables you to surprise your opponent by activating the land during their end phase or after they’ve declared attackers, subtly shifting the dynamics of the game in your favor without preempting your plans for the turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Genju of the Realm requires players to have an appropriate land card to discard, limiting its activation to those with the right type of land in hand or on the field.

Specific Mana Cost: This card needs a diverse mana pool, specifically one of each color, making it a challenging fit for decks not designed around a five-color mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of five different mana to play and another two to activate, Genju of the Realm has a steep price for entry, which can be a significant drain on a player’s mana resources, especially in the early game.


Reasons to Include Genju of the Realm in Your Collection

Versatility: Genju of the Realm can easily adapt to various deck builds, lending itself well as a powerful win condition in Commander format especially. Its ability to animate any land into a massive, threatening creature allows it to slip into multicolored decks seeking a versatile, land-centric strategy.

Combo Potential: This card has significant synergy with land recursion and animate land effects. By combining Genju of the Realm with cards like Life from the Loam or Crucible of Worlds, you can ensure its return for repeated use, maximizing both its value and impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where big creatures and unique win conditions are valuable, Genju of the Realm shines. As a Legendary Enchantment, it also interacts favorably against certain removals that can’t target lands, ensuring its place in a deck that seeks to outmaneuver common meta strategies.


How to beat

Genju of the Realm is an intriguing legendary enchantment in MTG with the ability to transform a land into a massive, all-color creature. To successfully navigate against this potent card, understanding its mechanics and vulnerabilities is crucial. The card’s strength lies in its resilience, as it can return to a player’s hand if the enchanted land is sent to the graveyard.

One effective strategy is to employ targeted land destruction or exile effects to remove the enchanted land from play permanently, thereby preventing the Genju from returning. Another approach is to restrict the opponent’s mana base and thus hinder their ability to activate Genju of the Realm’s formidable ability. Counterspells or card abilities that limit or negate activations also play a pivotal role, providing a direct answer to this threat. Additionally, leverage card effects that strip away creature abilities or convert creatures back to lands, which can neutralize the threat without having to destroy the land itself.

When facing Genju of the Realm, prioritize disrupting the opponent’s strategy, anticipate the revival of the card, and prepare your deck with answers to either inhibit its activation or deal with the transformed creature directly for a successful game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the dynamic world of MTG means embracing the strategic depth cards like Genju of the Realm bring to the table. This legendary enchantment can elevate your deck, transforming lands into powerful creatures at a moment’s notice. While it shines with versatility, its mana needs and activation costs require careful deck construction. The strengths and challenges of Genju of the Realm underscore the importance of a well-rounded strategy. For players eager to explore the full potential of their decks and discover optimal playstyles, our platform offers insight and deep dives into MTG’s most impactful cards. Elevate your game with us and unlock new levels of competition.


Cards like Genju of the Realm

Genju of the Realm stands out in the world of MTG enchantments with its ability to transform any legendary land into a powerhouse creature. When gauging its unique features against other enchantments, Genju of the Realm shares some similarities with the Celestial Mantle in terms of its transformative impact on the board. While Celestial Mantle doubles a player’s life total when the enchanted creature deals damage, it doesn’t offer the land-to-creature conversion that Genju does.

Another comparable card is Xenagos, God of Revels, which also amplifies the prowess of creatures on the battlefield. Although Xenagos doesn’t enchant lands, it consistently increases a creature’s size and haste, something Genju of the Realm achieves temporarily with the land it’s attached to. Additionally, the sheer mana flexibility provided by Nylea’s Presence echoes the versatility of Genju, granting all lands the ability to tap for any color of mana, but Genju takes it further by bestowing a formidable presence on the board.

To summarize, while several cards bring transformation or enhancement to the game, Genju of the Realm offers a blend of land versatility and creature strength, securing its unique spot in a player’s arsenal.

Celestial Mantle - MTG Card versions
Xenagos, God of Revels - MTG Card versions
Nylea's Presence - MTG Card versions
Celestial Mantle - Zendikar (ZEN)
Xenagos, God of Revels - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Nylea's Presence - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Genju of the Realm by color, type and mana cost

Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge - MTG Card versions
Sanctum of All - MTG Card versions
Maelstrom Nexus - MTG Card versions
Chromanticore - MTG Card versions
Prism Array - MTG Card versions
Wizard from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Sanctum of All - Core Set 2021 (M21)
Maelstrom Nexus - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Chromanticore - Dominaria United Commander (DMC)
Prism Array - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Wizard from Beyond - 2022 Heroes of the Realm (PH22)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Genju of the Realm MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, 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 Genju of the Realm and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Genju of the Realm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-08-01 A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature.
2009-10-01 Activating the ability that turns it into a creature while it’s already a creature will override any effects that set its power and/or toughness to a specific number. However, any effect that raises or lowers power and/or toughness (such as the effect created by Giant Growth, Glorious Anthem, or a +1/+1 counter) will continue to apply.

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