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Rootborn Defenses
USD $0.25
EUR €0.22
MTGO 0.27 tix

Rootborn Defenses

{2}{W}

Instant

Populate. Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. (To populate, create a token that's a copy of a creature token you control.)

"No harm can come to me while the Worldsoul shelters me."

Populate
Set
Starter Commander Decks (SCD #32)
Rarity
Common
Mana value
3
Released
2022-12-02
Artist
Mark Zug
EDHREC rank
#1,330
Colour identity
{W}
Finishes
Nonfoil
Served from
Local database

Commander bracket

1 +
Fits any bracket
No Game Changer, land denial, extra turns or two-card combos.

Derived from card traits, not a ruling — bracket rules turn on how a deck intends to use a card. Bracket rules

EDHREC

Salt Score 0.17
How much players resent seeing this card. The scale tops out around 3.1.

Combos 6

Apex Altisaur+Wrathful Raptors+Rootborn Defenses
{R}{G}{W}
Destroy all creatures opponents controlNear-infinite damage
Sonic the Hedgehog+Krark-Clan Shaman+Rootborn Defenses
{U}{R}{W}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite artifact tokensInfinite damage to creaturesInfinite tapped Treasure tokens
Red Hulk+Boros Reckoner+Rootborn Defenses
{R}{W}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite damage to one opponent
Red Hulk+Screaming Nemesis+Rootborn Defenses
{R}{W}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite damage to one opponent
Red Hulk+Spitemare+Rootborn Defenses
{R}{W}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite damage to one opponent
Red Hulk+Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger+Rootborn Defenses
{R}{W}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite damage to one opponent

Format legality

Rulings

  • 2017-03-14

    Rootborn Defenses affects only creatures you control after populating at the time it resolves. The creature token you create will gain indestructible, but creatures you begin to control later in the turn will not.

  • 2024-01-12

    Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied token will trigger when the new token enters the battlefield. Any "as [this creature] enters the battlefield" or "[this creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the copied token will also work.

  • 2024-01-12

    If you choose to copy a creature token that's a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying.

  • 2024-01-12

    If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen.

  • 2024-01-12

    Populate doesn't target the creature token you're copying. You choose that creature token as you're taking the populate action. You can choose any creature token you control. If a spell or ability causes you to create a creature token and then instructs you to populate, you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control.

  • 2024-01-12

    The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that created the original token.

  • 2024-01-12

    The new token doesn't copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on.

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