Rootwater Commando MTG Card


Valued for its board presence and card advantage potential within merfolk or creature-centric strategies. Facilitates strategic plays, meshing well with low mana curves for tempo gains in MTG. Indirectly enhances a deck’s capability to surprise opponents with flash-like effects during key moments.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk
Abilities Islandwalk,Landwalk
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Islandwalk (This creature is unblockable as long as defending player controls an island.)

Rootwater merfolk are seldom seen these days, but elf corpses are as numerous as ever.


Cards like Rootwater Commando

Rootwater Commando, a creature card from the older sets of Magic: The Gathering, has parallels with other creature cards that swim within the realms of the game. Like its kin Murfolk Looter, Rootwater Commando offers players the tactical benefit of fetching specific cards from the library by employing its ability to draw and discard. However, Rootwater Commando’s unique appeal is in its combination of this ability with a solid creature body, making it a substantial presence on the battlefield.

Delving deeper into the blue card pool, there’s Merfolk Secretkeeper, which offers a different approach to library manipulation with its venture into the dungeon ability. Although it impacts the game’s flow in a divergent way by milling cards, it creates opportunities for synergy in decks looking to exploit graveyard strategies. Then there’s Silvergill Adept, another relative in the merfolk tribe, boasting not only the advantage of drawing a card but also of being cost-effective, requiring you to reveal a merfolk or pay additional mana.

Ultimately, Rootwater Commando holds its own as a versatile card with the ability to control hand content and maintain a presence on the board, a decent option for MTG players who align with blue’s strategic depth.

Silvergill Adept - MTG Card versions
Silvergill Adept - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rootwater Commando by color, type and mana cost

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Wall of Water - MTG Card versions
Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions
Academy Researchers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Not only does the Rootwater Commando let you establish a presence on the board with a creature, but it also has utility abilities that can contribute to card advantage within specific decks built to capitalize on merfolk synergies or creature-based strategies. Being a part of strategic plays, it makes a useful addition to decks aiming to sustain a strong hand.

Resource Acceleration: While the Rootwater Commando itself doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, its mere presence can aid strategies that revolve around the accumulation of tribal bonuses or signal the setup for powerful combo plays in merfolk decks. Its ability to fit into a low mana curve allows for swift deployment, paving the way for more intricate plays as the game progresses.

Instant Speed: Although Rootwater Commando is a creature and does not have instant speed, its interaction with other cards in a deck might enable flash-like effects or surprise tactics when combined with cards that facilitate instant speed plays. Its role in a deck can indirectly influence how effectively a player can respond to opponents’ threats at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The gameplay strategy of Rootwater Commando may involve a discard mechanism that isn’t always beneficial. In particular scenarios, especially when your hand is nearly emptied, the need to discard can be a limiting factor. Consequently, this could inadvertently stifle your momentum rather than aid it.

Specific Mana Cost: Rootwater Commando necessitates a precise mana investment. Its casting cost requires not only generic mana but also a dedicated amount of blue mana. This makes it a less flexible option in multicolor decks that might not consistently produce the necessary blue mana early in the game when quick deployment is crucial.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In terms of mana efficiency, Rootwater Commando’s mana cost may be considered high relative to the impact it has on the game. Other cards in the same mana range potentially offer greater value or more significant board presence. This can cause the card to be overlooked during deck construction for more advantageous alternatives.


Reasons to Include Rootwater Commando in Your Collection

Versatility: Rootwater Commando, as a creature card, can be a solid addition to blue-based decks, particularly those that require a steady board presence. Its merfolk subtype allows for tribal synergies in decks that capitalize on these aquatic allies.

Combo Potential: While not the flashiest of cards, Rootwater Commando can be a piece in combos that hinge on creature counts or benefit from having a reliable three-power attacker or blocker in play, fitting into engine components that care about such characteristics.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where the early-to-mid game matters significantly, having reliable creatures like Rootwater Commando can help maintain board state against aggressive decks, or serve as an enabler for larger plays in the late game.


How to beat Rootwater Commando

Rootwater Commando may not be the most formidable card in a player’s deck, but it has its strengths that can be tricky to navigate. A Merfolk with the ability to move through your line of defense unnoticed due to islandwalk, it can become a threat if left unchecked. To counter this aquatic soldier, it’s important to control the battlefield through the removal of islands your opponent controls or by negating the islandwalk ability altogether. Enchantment removal spells or changing land types can diminish the Commando’s effectiveness.

Utilizing cards that revoke abilities or block regardless of abilities can neutralize the Commando. An early game removal can also be a crucial play, taking it out before your opponent has the opportunity to capitalize on its islandwalk. In essence, stay proactive and attentive to the board. Remember, being able to predict and disrupt your opponent’s strategy is just as important as advancing your own game plan. So, with the right counters in place, Rootwater Commando can be swiftly managed.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rootwater Commando MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis and Tenth Edition, 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 Rootwater Commando and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rootwater Commando Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-02-14 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Mark Tedin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-02-14NemesisNEM 391997NormalBlackMark Tedin
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 102★2003NormalBlackMark Tedin
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1022003NormalBlackMark Tedin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rootwater Commando has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal