Kodama of the Center Tree MTG Card


Kodama of the Center Tree - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Spirit
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Power *
Toughness *
Number131
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJim Murray

Key Takeaways

  1. Kodama offers significant card advantage through a unique creature chain-play from the library.
  2. Indirect mana acceleration from its ability strengthens board presence and gameplay tempo.
  3. Its synergy with Spirits and Arcane spells at instant speed disrupts opponents’ strategies.

Text of card

Kodama of the Center Tree's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Spirits you control. Kodama of the Center Tree has soulshift X, where X is the number of Spirits you control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kodama of the Center Tree’s ability can potentially lead to a chain of creature plays. As you play a Spirit or Arcane spell, Kodama allows you to reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal another Spirit card and put it directly onto the battlefield, thus increasing your hand’s reach without losing card volume.

Resource Acceleration: This card can give you indirect resource acceleration by putting additional creature cards into play without expending mana. This lets you maximize your available resources each turn and propel yourself ahead of your opponent in terms of board presence and available mana.

Instant Speed: While Kodama itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it interacts well with Spirits and Arcane spells that do. The ability to potentially cheat a creature onto the battlefield during an opponent’s turn can create unexpected blockers or effects that disrupt their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kodama of the Center Tree requires you to have a certain number of Spirits or Arcane cards in your graveyard to leverage its full potential. This can be seen as a drawback as it forces you to fill your graveyard with specific card types, potentially limiting your deck-building options.

Specific Mana Cost: Kodama of the Center Tree’s mana cost includes three green mana symbols, which can be restrictive for multi-colored decks. Deck builders may find it challenging to consistently meet the mana requirements in a timely manner, especially in formats where mana fixing is less available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With five mana for the base cost, Kodama of the Center Tree can be considered mana-intensive, especially in formats where the pace of gameplay is quicker. This can hinder its playability in competitive environments where more efficient creatures are preferred.


Reasons to Include Kodama of the Center Tree in Your Collection

Versatility: Kodama of the Center Tree thrives in decks built around Spirit or Arcane spells. Its inherent ability to grow with the number of Spirits you control makes it a powerful and adaptable creature in the right setup.

Combo Potential: With its kinship ability, this Kodama can potentially draw you a card every turn, providing an engine for combo decks. Pair it with cards that organize the top of your library to ensure the kinship reveals a Spirit, setting the stage for consistent card advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are common, having a creature that can become a large threat is crucial. As the meta shifts, Kodama of the Center Tree remains relevant by scaling with your board presence, and its potential as a combo piece makes it worthy of consideration for any collector’s arsenal.


How to Beat Kodama of the Center Tree

Understanding the dynamics of Kodama of the Center Tree is key when navigating the battlefield in MTG. This spiritual powerhouse can quickly become a towering threat due to its ability to scale with the number of Spirits you control. It also offers formidable resilience with its indestructible trait when accompanied by other Spirits, making it an integral part of Spirit tribal decks. Just like how champions evaluate their adversaries, knowing the characteristics of this card is crucial for formulating a winning strategy.

When confronted with Kodama of the Center Tree, it’s essential to limit the number of Spirits on the board. This means efficient removal spells and board wipes such as Wrath of God or Doom Blade can be excellent tools to keep their numbers in check. Moreover, non-destroy removals like Path to Exile prove invaluable as they can bypass Kodama’s indestructible collaboration with other Spirits. Control decks that can counter creature spells also stand a good chance, ensuring Kodama never finds its way onto the field. Overall, having the right answers to Spirits not only tames Kodama of the Center Tree but can also dismantle the synergy upon which many Spirit builds rely.


Cards like Kodama of the Center Tree

Kodama of the Center Tree stands unique in the realm of Magic: The Gathering spirit creatures. Though it shares the soul of green mana like its brethren Silhana Ledgewalker and Kodama of the North Tree, its distinct ability to gain strength for each Spirit you control sets it apart. Unlike Silhana Ledgewalker, which provides a touch of evasiveness with its hexproof ability, Kodama of the Center Tree is rooted firmly in communal strategy, thriving off the board’s spirit population to grow mightier.

Comparably, Kodama of the North Tree boasts trample and shroud, which makes it individually powerful and difficult to target, but it lacks the collective synergy found in Kodama of the Center Tree. There’s also Iname as One, a vast and imposing presence that encompasses the essence of spirits. While both Iname as One and Kodama of the Center Tree are late-game capitans, the former’s one-time effect of reviving spirits from the graveyard is ephemeral compared to the enduring board presence the Center Tree can achieve with a well-populated realm.

Clearly, within the depth of the MTG spirit deck options, Kodama of the Center Tree has a specific role that, when played to its strengths, can weave an array of spirits into an overwhelming force, combining unity with raw power.

Silhana Ledgewalker - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the North Tree - MTG Card versions
Iname as One - MTG Card versions
Silhana Ledgewalker - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the North Tree - MTG Card versions
Iname as One - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kodama of the Center Tree 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 Kodama of the Center Tree and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kodama of the Center Tree has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2005-02-01 Kodama of the Center Tree can return itself to its owner’s hand if you control five or more Spirits when it is put into a graveyard from the battlefield.
2005-02-01 Soulshift is a leaves the battlefield trigger, so the gamestate is referenced immediately before the Soulshift trigger to determine the value of X. Soulshift X includes Kodama of the Center Tree. So, X is always at least 1.

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