Blossoming Tortoise MTG Card


Efficient card draw and ramp potential enable quicker and more powerful plays in the game. Instant-speed playability allows for dynamic responses and enhanced tactical surprises. Integration into +1/+1 counter strategies offers bolstered defense and synergy for numerous decks.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Turtle
Abilities Mill
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever Blossoming Tortoise enters the battlefield or attacks, mill three cards, then return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Activated abilities of lands you control cost less to activate. Land creatures you control get +1/+1.


Cards like Blossoming Tortoise

The Blossoming Tortoise emerges as a unique entry in the creature cards of Magic: The Gathering. With similar cards to consider, such as Basking Rootwalla, we see a kindred emphasis on low cost and the potential for growth. Basking Rootwalla can get larger temporarily, but it lacks the lasting effect of the Blossoming Tortoise’s needs of fulfilling certain criteria for it to flourish.

Another card worth comparing is the Scute Mob, a creature that thrives on the abundance of land in play, blossoming into a formidable threat each upkeep. Unlike the Scute Mob’s reliance on land count, the Blossoming Tortoise may have different conditions to meet, offering a diverse strategy to players seeking enduring enhancements to their creatures’ power and toughness.

All things considered, the Blossoming Tortoise offers an alternative pathway to strengthening your lineup. It can shape the battlefield with its adaptable nature, giving it a distinctive edge over peers in the wide spectrum of MTG’s creature card pool. The Blossoming Tortoise can be a solid choice, contributing reliably to a player’s strategy over the span of the game.

Basking Rootwalla - MTG Card versions
Scute Mob - MTG Card versions
Basking Rootwalla - MTG Card versions
Scute Mob - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Blossoming Tortoise by color, type and mana cost

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Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Blossoming Tortoise. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Nykthos RampNykthos Ramp PioneerNykthos RampPioneer League 2024-04-24
Gruul RampGruul Ramp PioneerGruul RampPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-15
Temur ComboTemur Combo GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024
Mono-Green RampMono-Green Ramp PioneerMono-Green RampPioneer League 2024-03-31
WGWG PioneerPioneer League 2024-03-29
Simic RampSimic Ramp StandardSimic MidrangeThe Pizza Box Open: Standard
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange StandardGolgari MidrangeJapan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor
4c Ramp4c Ramp Pioneer4c RampPioneer League 2024-03-13
RGRG PioneerPioneer League 2024-03-07
Sultai GraveyardSultai Graveyard StandardSultai GraveyardStandard League 2024-03-05

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Blossoming Tortoise offers an efficient means of card draw, presenting opportunities for players to access more options and outmaneuver opponents over the course of the game.

Resource Acceleration: This card smoothly integrates into ramp strategies, allowing players to progress their board state more rapidly, and thus enabling larger plays ahead of their normal curve.

Instant Speed: The ability to deploy the Blossoming Tortoise at instant speed provides tactical flexibility, permitting players to adapt to unfolds, and making it more difficult for opponents to predict and counteract strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Blossoming Tortoise comes with the challenge of discarding another card to fully utilize its potential. This can be problematic, especially in scenarios where your hand is already dwindling, and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Blossoming Tortoise requires a particular combination of mana, which may not be readily available in all deck types. This specificity can limit the versatility of the card, making it a less viable option for decks that don’t support its mana demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Acquiring the full benefit of the Blossoming Tortoise’s abilities comes with a lofty mana price. When considering its overall impact on the game, players might find that there are other creatures or spells that provide more value or a greater strategic advantage for the same, or even less, mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Blossoming Tortoise offers flexibility in a range of decks. Its shell counters mechanic boosts both defense and synergy with +1/+1 counter strategies, making it a solid addition to builds that capitalize on those mechanics.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Blossoming Tortoise’s ability to accumulate shell counters can act as a springboard for combos in decks that exploit the movement or addition of counters for various effects, from proliferate to modular abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s environment shifts, a card like Blossoming Tortoise can become increasingly important. Its resilience against common removal spells and potential to grow makes it a competitive choice against various popular deck archetypes.


How to beat

Blossoming Tortoise is recognized among players for its resilience on the battlefield. With a shell that weathers numerous attacks, it can be a real challenge to overcome in a tight match. However, like any other card in Magic: The Gathering, strategic plays can turn the tide. Instead of engaging it directly, consider spells that can bypass its defenses. Removal spells that exile or force players to sacrifice creatures can efficiently handle the creature, as its protective abilities are nullified in these scenarios.

Another effective strategy is focusing on flying creatures. The plodding nature of the tortoise leaves it vulnerable from above, unable to block those with the flying keyword. Alternatively, take control of the pace, buffing up your own creatures to surpass the Tortoise’s defensive capabilities. Lastly, remember that counterplay is part of every game, and sometimes letting a powerful card like Blossoming Tortoise enter the battlefield just to remove it with a well-timed spell can swing momentum in your favor.

In summary, while the Blossoming Tortoise boasts impressive staying power, a well-rounded deck that includes targeted removal, evasion tactics, and pace control can effectively conquer this slow but sturdy adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth of MTG often lies in understanding and leveraging the unique abilities of cards like the Blossoming Tortoise. From card advantage to meta-relevant resilience, this creature can prove to be an asset in various scenarios if used judiciously. Adaptation and foresight are key as you consider incorporating the Tortoise into your deck, weighing its strengths against its demanding needs. Whether it’s to enhance your current strategy or to experiment with new deck synergies, this card offers a wellspring of possibilities. Curious about harnessing its full potential and shaping your plays for the win? Dive deeper with us, and add a layer of tactical prowess to your MTG sessions.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Blossoming Tortoise MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine and Wilds of Eldraine, 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 Blossoming Tortoise and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Blossoming Tortoise Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 3542015NormalBlackSimon Dominic
22023-09-08Wilds of EldraineWOE 1632015NormalBlackSimon Dominic
32023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine PromosPWOE 163p2015NormalBlackSimon Dominic
42023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine Art SeriesAWOE 242015Art seriesBorderlessSimon Dominic
52023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine PromosPWOE 163s2015NormalBlackSimon Dominic

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Blossoming Tortoise has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-09-01 Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "
-ost:
-ffect]." Some keyword abilities are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. Triggered abilities (starting with "when," "whenever," or "at") are unaffected by the cost reduction ability of Blossoming Tortoise.
2023-09-01 Blossoming Tortoise's second ability affects only abilities of lands you control on the battlefield. The costs of activated abilities of land cards that work in other zones (such as cycling) won't be reduced.