Does this card's ability to draw a card when a druid is played apply to this card? (do you draw a card when you play Gilt-Leaf Archdruid?) Bloodbraid Elf's cascade ability, for example, plays a random spell even before it comes into play whether it is countered or not. Does this work the same way, or does the effect only apply to druid creatures played once this is already in play?
Huangzhong
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(6 votes)
It does not count itself for drawing cards. However, it can tap itself for the ability, and can tap druids with summoning sickness.
Donovan_Fabian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
frankly, not all that impressed.. 3/3 for a 5 mana cost, and if your opponent sees you putting something like this on the field they aren't going to hesitate to destroy it/cancel it. Even if you got it on the field when has their ever been a game where you typically get 7+ creatures on the field at the same time without them getting destroyed? It would be much easier if it were elves and not druids as well, there are lots of ways of getting elves or elf tokens out there. Yes its possible.. but it takes so much set up, I'd rather have a sure thing.
Morgrath
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Donovan, it's the fact that it requires so much to set up that draws people to this card. Druids, like the other less popular tribes of Lorwyn (Archers for example), are there to be played by Johnnys. I personally love druids, and with the amount of mana ramp a mono green deck can get going, you be dropping four or five little druids a turn, keeping your hand topped up and creating great board presence. As has been said, you can 'force-tap' your druids for the steal effect, so summoning sickness isn't an issue - the archdruid plus the four or five creatures you just summoned, plus whatever you had out previously, and you've got yourself a huge amount of mana to drop into finishers; my personal favourites being Howl of the Night Pack or Jolrael, Empress of Beasts.
Qazior
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This is absolutely too good in my druid deck, its the card that lets me play solitaire, the more on the field, the better and on the next turn after i have soooo huge amounts of druids, i just drop coat of arms and strike with at least 15 15/15 druids.
Omenchild
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
plus in large multiplayer, all you need is to give it shroud with shielding plax and try to wipe someone you think has a board wiper
Gwafa_Hazid
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Very nice, use with early-game mana accelerator-druids, like Heritage Druid, Devoted Druid, and Llanowar Elves for best results. Tap em for mana, then tap em to take lands. Use some basics, Terramorphic Expanse, and Kodama's Reach to thin your deck out beautifully, allowing you to get trumps/druids every turn, and play them w/ this guy on the field, and top your hand off again to get more druids and more fodder for your Heritage Druid, so's you can play them druids you're drawing. Include some Elvish Archdruids to pump your weenie druids for some cursory defenses, then maim face with Howl of the Night Pack, Jolrael, Empress of Beasts, or, my personal favorite, Overrun with masses of elves.
I am a bit concerned about the "throw-archdruid-in-and-steal-all-the-lands-immediately" tactic, as it will leave you exposed to the opponent. If he has quick deck, that could be quite painful (as you may be already injured at the time).
People seem to be worried about removal, so how about putting some arbor elfs, llanowar elves, and the archdruid in the deck, then when Nissa gets her ultimate off, you immediately steal your opponent's lands.
adam_b
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
conspiracy+this+tokens=win
zk3
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
You forget most elves in standard are also druids. Plus, when you get this out ~3rd turn, the elf combo deck has a second engine in addition to Glimpse of Nature.
Rykon8472
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
mutliplayer casual this + Limited resources = very annoyed players
This is gonna be fun to use in my ramp deck with Elvish Archdruid , Llanowar Elves, and Elvish Promenade. With these three together, I just need any spell with X in the cost, and...
Narim
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What about Xenograft and all those ways of getting tokens?
OmegaSerris
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
No, he doesn't trigger himself. Abilities (unless otherwise stated) are only active when the permanent is on the field. That's why you can Counterspell (by targeting) a creature with Shroud on the stack. Until it is a creature (not a creature spell), Shroud isn't active.
There are exceptions. Like Cycling, which is only active while it is a 'card' in your hand.
Richochet_Shaman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
despite the fact that he's cheaper and sets himself up easier, I still prefer gilt-leaf archdruid over lullmage mentor if only because the pay off for the final effect (tap 7 creatures for x effect) is much more satisfying than merely countering a spell, although both this and lullmages ability both have their merrits.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
(I had to say it, I'm sorry)
Discoduck
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy is uber neat. Green control? I am building a deck with him and of course all the 1-drop druids, including Treefolk Harbinger for Lignify. Mana-ramp and Green Sun's Zenith into a bunch of Terastodons, targeting the lands I stole the turn before. It will be fun!
Kryptnyt
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Well he's a way better druid lord than Seton was!
Nucleon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmmmmmm...I'm now sorely tempted to put this and Conspiracy in my B/G EDH token deck. Now that'd be a hilarious dick move. It must be done!
If you combine him with xenograft and name saprolings, then donate xenograft via puca's mischief and have life and limb on the field, you can take ALL permanents an opponent controls.
Druids are amazing.
mcavinue_j
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
sorry, new to formatting here. my previous post should have looked more like this:
I can see this guy getting cast on turn 3 and his second ability being used turn four (on a very good draw); however, this means you absolutely have to use druids as you would lands and take something of a beating in the meantime. Would zuran orb be an effective means to offset the damage I'd taken, or is it just silly?
sAviOrWeRRa
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Tap seven untapped Druids that you control: "All your base are Belong to us."
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Final ability is utterly debilitating.
ArannisNalaar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play Collective Voyage, and then play this guy with 6 other druids... Your opponents would be like "lolwut!?"
Keiya
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
There's just something completely awesome and satisfying about the words "Gain control of all lands target player controls." I once took control of everyone's lands in a 6-player EDH game using this, Ant Queen (to create a large amount of creatures) Mirror Entity (to transform all my creatures into elf druids) Priest of Titania (to be able to use an absurd amount of mana) and Seedborn Muse (so I can untap all of my permanents and take at least one player's lands during each opponent's turn while making an ant legion) and it was the most hilariously evil victory I ever had.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
They steal your lands? Drop Mountain, Blasphemous Act "I'm going to make you work for this win :)"
If they overextended enough; there won't be enough druids left in the deck to strike back, or at least.. possibly not for some time.
For anyone having the same worries as Skew remember that this guy's ability is instant. That means you can drop him and leave your armies of druids on the field, untapped and ready to go. If your enemy swings, then block appropriately and save yourself. Next turn you should be able to replace whatever druids died with your lands and "force tap" them, especially with Mr Archdruid's cantrip ability. If they try something funny just steal all their land in response. Sure, you may lose your Archdruid to a bolt but once you have all their lands they are hardly a threat. And if they don't try anything on their turn? Just take it all at their end step.
@Rykon8472 I feel a sudden need to hit report abuse. ;)
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
*Reads card* ...Wait. *Reads card again* Hold the phone. *Reads card for a third time to confirm that it, in fact, steals all of an opponents lands* Waaaaaaat.
chiknstu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think this card is pretty boss. He is kind of Over powered though. Even if his ability only stole tapped lands....
legendary_orp
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"No, no, you're doing it wrong. THIS is how you use those lands."
Cool card, kinda reminds me of Lullmage Mentor (even though it was printed a couple years later)
Comments (39)
I am a bit concerned about the "throw-archdruid-in-and-steal-all-the-lands-immediately" tactic, as it will leave you exposed to the opponent. If he has quick deck, that could be quite painful (as you may be already injured at the time).
With
LLanowar Elves
Elvish Harbinger
Arbor Elf
Priest of Titania
Heritage Druid
Fyndhorn Elves
Elvish Archdruid
Birchlore Rangers
I Dump my deck turn three after playing him turn two. Then its on towards stealing their lands, entering and exiting the battle phase to get rid of floating mana and Banefire.
All while running only six lands.
Gilt-Leaf Archdruid is a cool guy. He steals lands don't afraid of anything.
There are exceptions. Like Cycling, which is only active while it is a 'card' in your hand.
(I had to say it, I'm sorry)
I am building a deck with him and of course all the 1-drop druids, including Treefolk Harbinger for Lignify. Mana-ramp and Green Sun's Zenith into a bunch of Terastodons, targeting the lands I stole the turn before. It will be fun!
Druids are amazing.
I can see this guy getting cast on turn 3 and his second ability being used turn four (on a very good draw); however, this means you absolutely have to use druids as you would lands and take something of a beating in the meantime. Would zuran orb be an effective means to offset the damage I'd taken, or is it just silly?
Drop Mountain, Blasphemous Act
"I'm going to make you work for this win :)"
If they overextended enough; there won't be enough druids left in the deck to strike back, or at least.. possibly not for some time.
@Rykon8472 I feel a sudden need to hit report abuse. ;)
...Wait.
*Reads card again*
Hold the phone.
*Reads card for a third time to confirm that it, in fact, steals all of an opponents lands*
Waaaaaaat.
He is kind of Over powered though. Even if his ability only stole tapped lands....
Cool card, kinda reminds me of Lullmage Mentor (even though it was printed a couple years later)