Orochi Merge-Keeper MTG Card


Incorporating Orochi Merge-Keeper can significantly boost your deck’s card draw and graveyard utility. Its land fetching ability enables faster play of high-cost spells, giving green decks an early advantage. Deploying at instant speed, it offers strategic versatility during your own or your opponent’s turn.
Orochi Merge-Keeper - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Snake Druid
Released2022-02-18
Set symbol
Set nameKamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Set codeNEO
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number203
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byBrent Hollowell

Text of card

: Add . As long as Orochi Merge-Keeper is modified, it has ": Add ." (Equipment, Auras you control, and counters are modifications.)

One day the spirit and mortal realms will be one. Until then, she faithfully guards the sites where they merge.


Cards like Orochi Merge-Keeper

Orochi Merge-Keeper emerges as an interesting creature within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, bearing some similarities to cards that bolster your battlefield presence. Cards such as Sakura-Tribe Elder share the snake theme and have the ability to affect the land dynamics on the board. Yet Orochi Merge-Keeper takes it up a notch by not only allowing you to search your library for a land card but also presenting the opportunity to merge with another creature, hence elevating its potential impact on the game.

Analogous to Coiling Oracle, this creature also encompasses the interaction between creatures and lands, albeit through a different mechanism. While Coiling Oracle lets you put a land card from the top of your library onto the battlefield, Orochi Merge-Keeper gives you a measured control by fetching the land you need and setting the scene for a transformation. Lastly, while not a snake, Wayward Swordtooth also invites a comparison, as it allows for additional land plays which can significantly escalate your game, much like the strategic advantage presented by Orochi Merge-Keeper when played wisely.

In sum, while there are several cards that align themselves with land-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering, Orochi Merge-Keeper distinguishes itself with its merge ability, offering a blend of terrain manipulation and creature versatility. This nuanced dual-functionality makes it an intriguing choice for players crafting decks with a focus on synergistic creature-land interaction.

Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Wayward Swordtooth - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Coiling Oracle - MTG Card versions
Wayward Swordtooth - MTG Card versions

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Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Orochi Merge-Keeper in your deck offers an opportunity to increase your hand size. When Orochi Merge-Keeper’s ability is activated, you can draw cards while potentially putting powerful creatures into play. This synergizes well with decks that thrive on a high card count and recycle the graveyard content.

Resource Acceleration: Orochi Merge-Keeper can be a boon for green-based decks looking to ramp up their resources. By effortlessly putting lands onto the battlefield, this card enables quicker access to high-mana spells, giving players an edge by accelerating their resource development.

Instant Speed: The ability to flash this creature onto the battlefield is a tactical advantage. With instant speed, you can surprise your opponent by waiting for the perfect moment to deploy Orochi Merge-Keeper, possibly even during their turn to dissuade attacks or in response to an action that would leave you vulnerable.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Orochi Merge-Keeper’s abilities come with the stipulation that you must discard a card, which can be challenging when your hand is already depleted or when every card is integral to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both green and generic mana to cast, necessitating a deck built to consistently generate these types of mana, potentially limiting its inclusion to green-centric or two-color decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Orochi Merge-Keeper comes at a significant mana investment. In the context of mana efficiency, its cost might outweigh the benefits, especially when there are alternative creatures or spells that offer similar utility at a lower mana value.


Reasons to Include Orochi Merge-Keeper in Your Collection

Versatility: Orochi Merge-Keeper offers multiple roles in green-focused decks. Its ability to merge creatures can be pivotal in developing a board presence that adapts to various in-game situations. This makes it a utility card that can enhance many strategies.

Combo Potential: With its unique merging ability, it can create powerful synergies with other creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or other abilities that trigger upon being merged. This allows for intricate combos that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are prevalent, the ability to quickly create formidable creatures through merging can be a significant advantage. As decks evolve, Orochi Merge-Keeper remains relevant by powering up those strategies that harness the strengths of creature synergies.


How to beat

Orochi Merge-Keeper presents a unique challenge on the battlefield in MTG. This creature, deeply rooted in green’s affinity for ramping up mana, can accelerate a player’s game by allowing them to merge cards. When facing such a card, strategic removal is key. It’s crucial to disrupt the player’s tempo by dealing with Orochi Merge-Keeper quickly. One effective tactic is using instant-speed removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their size or abilities.

Moreover, counter spells are essential in your arsenal when aiming to keep Orochi Merge-Keeper off the board. By preventing it from resolving in the first place, you can maintain control over the game’s pace. Board sweepers can also provide an avenue to clear multiple threats, including our serpentine friend, in one fell swoop. It is vital to keep pressure on your opponent and to force them to deploy resources prematurely, thus preventing them from fully utilizing Orochi Merge-Keeper’s potent merging ability.

Remember, understanding the key components and strategies of your opponent’s deck featuring Orochi Merge-Keeper will give you the insight to outplay and ultimately beat the card, ensuring your victory in the complex world of MTG. Adaptability and foresight are your greatest tools in this contest of wit and strategy on the card table.


BurnMana Recommendations

Embarking on the MTG journey, it’s essential to understand the ebbs and flows of gameplay and how each card can tip the scales in your favor. Orochi Merge-Keeper stands as a testament to the strategic depth MTG offers, allowing for dynamic gameplay and inventive deck building. Its capabilities in card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed interaction, pair well with a precise understanding of its cons, like the discard requirement. Embrace the opportunity to harness this card’s full potential by exploring our in-depth guide, crafted to elevate your gameplay and integrate Orochi Merge-Keeper into your winning strategy. Step into a world where each card is a new adventure, each match a lesson, and every victory the culmination of skill and knowledge. Unveil the secrets to mastering your deck—dive into the intricacies of MTG with us.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Orochi Merge-Keeper MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Orochi Merge-Keeper and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Orochi Merge-Keeper has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-02-18 A creature that is equipped is considered modified no matter who controls the Equipment that's attached to it.
2022-02-18 A creature with a counter on it is considered modified no matter what kind of counter it is or which player put it on that creature.
2022-02-18 An Aura controlled by an opponent does not cause a creature you control to be modified.
2022-02-18 Only creatures can be modified. If a modified creature stops being a creature, it is no longer considered modified.