Forgotten Ancient MTG Card


Forgotten Ancient provides strategic depth and board control with its +1/+1 counters accumulation. Its counters distribution at instant speed makes it adaptable and effective against removal. The card’s versatility and combo potential make it a substantial addition to any MTG collection.
Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elemental
Power 0
Toughness 3

Text of card

Whenever a player plays a spell, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Forgotten Ancient. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may move any number of +1/+1 counters from Forgotten Ancient onto other creatures.

Its blood is life. Its body is growth.


Cards like Forgotten Ancient

The Forgotten Ancient is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering with the ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters whenever a player casts a spell. This growth potential can rapidly turn it into a colossal threat. Managorger Hydra shares this trait, swelling in power with every spell cast, but unlike Forgotten Ancient, it only benefits from its controller’s spells. Comparatively, Forgotten Ancient has the flexibility to grow from opponent’s actions as well.

In the same landscape, we find Fathom Mage, which also harnesses counters, but with a focus on card advantage. Each +1/+1 counter on Fathom Mage allows its controller to draw a card, whereas Forgotten Ancient’s counters are strictly for power boosting. Then there’s Gyre Sage, which embodies a blend of resource ramp and power gain with its Evolve mechanic, earning counters as larger creatures enter the battlefield under your control and providing extra mana accordingly.

Considering the synergy and potential impact on gameplay, Forgotten Ancient holds a formidable position among creatures that thrive on the evolving dynamics of spellcasting and board presence in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a card that not only grows itself but can also distribute counters, offering strategic flexibility and power distribution unlike its peers.

Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Gyre Sage - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Gyre Sage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Forgotten Ancient by color, type and mana cost

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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
Ravenous Baloth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When diving into the powerful effects of Forgotten Ancient, card advantage comes into play as this creature allows you to accumulate +1/+1 counters on itself. Over time, this can make it a formidable force, essentially outclassing your opponents’ creatures and heavily tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is subtly ingrained in Forgotten Ancient’s flexible design. Each counter it gathers can be moved to other creatures you control, enabling a diverse distribution of power. This makes your board more resilient against targeted removal, effectively accelerating your resource allocation and board development without additional mana investment.

Instant Speed: Although Forgotten Ancient itself is not an instant, its ability to shift +1/+1 counters operates at instant speed. This aspect is pivotal during gameplay, allowing you to adapt dynamically to threats or bolster your defenses on the fly. Timing counter distribution in response to enemy spells or at the end of an opponent’s turn can drastically swing the momentum of a match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Forgotten Ancient doesn’t force a discard, but it can indirectly cause card disadvantage. As it grows by accumulating +1/+1 counters, there’s a real possibility of becoming a target for removal spells, effectively causing a loss of the resources you’ve invested to grow it.

Specific Mana Cost: Forgotten Ancient requires green mana to play. This restriction can be a con for players not running a deck that can consistently generate green mana, limiting the card’s flexibility across various deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While its ability to amass +1/+1 counters is tempting, Forgotten Ancient has a relatively high casting cost of four mana, including one green. In the fast-paced MTG environment, this may be considered slow, as other creatures or spells could offer immediate impact or come into play at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Forgotten Ancient’s ability to play well with numerous strategies makes it a valuable addition to any collection. It can easily slide into decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or those that need a sizable creature that can grow rapidly.

Combo Potential: This creature offers a synergistic element with its ability to accumulate counters and redistribute them, providing tactical advantages with cards that have proliferate effects or require +1/+1 counters for activation.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that supports a variety of creature-based strategies or focuses on non-interaction, Forgotten Ancient can become a formidable threat over time, making it a consistent pick for those looking to adapt to ever-evolving gameplay environments.


How to beat

The Forgotten Ancient is a dynamic creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can quickly become a formidable threat due to its ability to amass +1/+1 counters. This growth potential allows it to outsize opponents’ creatures and provides a strategic advantage as those counters can be shifted during your upkeep. To effectively tackle this looming threat, it’s crucial to respond with swift removal spells or strategies that minimize its ability to accumulate counters.

Countering this card before it hits the battlefield is an efficient approach, so having counter spells ready is wise. If Forgotten Ancient does resolve, consider using instant-speed removal such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares to immediately deal with it before the counters grow out of control. Ensnaring cards that prevent the transfer of counters or utilizing effects that strip counters can also disrupt the synergy this card relies on to become an issue.

Board wipes can be another powerful tool, clearing the board of not only the Forgotten Ancient but also other threats that might be present. Always remember the value of timing with this creature; deal with it immediately or be prepared with a strategy to neutralize it before its influence on the game becomes irreversible.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the duality of being a growing threat and a counter distribution hub, Forgotten Ancient is a unique asset in MTG. It leverages card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed response, offering strategic depth to green-centric decks. While its casting cost may seem steep, and its dependency on green mana is limiting, its inclusion in your collection could be a game-changer for your deck’s dynamics. If you’re intrigued by its potential for combo plays or want to buffer your strategy against less interactive metas, this card offers an interesting avenue. Engage with us to delve deeper into enhancing your MTG arsenal with versatile cards like Forgotten Ancient.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Forgotten Ancient MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Planechase, 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 Forgotten Ancient and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Forgotten Ancient Magic the Gathering card was released in 14 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 1201997NormalBlackMark Tedin
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 732003NormalBlackMark Tedin
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 572003NormalBlackMark Tedin
42015-11-13Commander 2015C15 1852015NormalBlackMark Tedin
52016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 1822015NormalBlackMark Tedin
62016-11-11Commander 2016C16 1502015NormalBlackMark Tedin
72017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 652015NormalBlackMark Tedin
82018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 1372015NormalBlackMark Tedin
92020-09-26The ListPLST SCG-1201997NormalBlackMark Tedin
102021-04-23Commander 2021C21 1892015NormalBlackMark Tedin
112022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 1172015NormalBlackMark Tedin
122022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 2912015NormalBlackMark Tedin
132023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 1612015NormalBlackMark Tedin
142023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3411997NormalBlackMark Tedin
152023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2972015NormalBlackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Forgotten Ancient has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-12-08 Forgotten Ancient’s first ability will resolve before the spell that caused it to trigger. Putting a +1/+1 counter on Forgotten Ancient is optional.
2022-12-08 Forgotten Ancient’s last ability doesn’t target any creatures. You choose how many +1/+1 counters will be moved (and onto which creatures) as the ability resolves. Notably, once the ability starts resolving and you make these choices, no player may take actions until the ability has finished resolving.