Badgermole is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When this creature enters, earthbend 2. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.) Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them have trample.
Complete guide
Harness the power of the earth with Badgermole, a formidable creature that breathes life into your mana base. This Badger Mole utilizes the earthbend mechanic to transform your territory into resilient attackers that refuse to stay down. By giving your modified creatures trample, it ensures your botanical behemoths always reach your opponent.
Understanding Earthbend
When Badgermole enters the battlefield, you perform the 'earthbend 2' action. This keyword targets a land you control and turns it into a 0/0 creature with haste that retains its land types and mana abilities. Because it is a 0/0, the two +1/+1 counters provided by the ability are essential for its survival. This transformation is permanent, and the creature gains a safety net: if it dies or is exiled, it immediately returns to the battlefield tapped as a regular land.
Resolution Step by Step
First, you place the Badgermole's triggered ability on the stack and choose a target land you control. Upon resolution, the land becomes a creature and receives two +1/+1 counters simultaneously. If that land creature later leaves the battlefield specifically due to dying or being exiled, a delayed triggered ability fires. This trigger returns the card to the battlefield tapped. Note that if the land is returned to your hand or tucked into your library, the return-to-play effect will not trigger.
Trample and Counters
Badgermole provides a passive buff: 'Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters on them have trample.' This applies not only to the lands you earthbend but also to any other creature you control that has at least one +1/+1 counter. This synergy is vital for turning the 2/2 land creatures created by Badgermole into actual threats that cannot be easily chump-blocked.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with the chosen type 'Badger' or 'Mole', Badgermole's enter-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. You can target two different lands to become 2/2 creatures with trample, or target the same land twice. If you target the same land twice, it becomes a 0/0 with a total of four +1/+1 counters and gains two instances of the 'return to battlefield' delayed trigger.
Solemn SimulacrumAfter playing Solemn Simulacrum to search for a basic land and put it onto the battlefield, you can use Badgermole to target that newly acquired land. This transforms your ramped resource into a 2/2 creature with trample. If your opponent uses a removal spell on the animated land, it will return to the battlefield tapped, ensuring your mana count remains stable for future turns.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Badgermole
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
"Earthbend N" means "Target land you control becomes a 0/0 land creature with haste in addition to its other types. Put N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped under your control."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You may target a land that is already a creature, perhaps because of a previous earthbend ability. The land will get the +1/+1 counters, gain haste, and have its base power and toughness set to 0/0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a land was animated by earthbend and would go to any zone other than the graveyard or exile, it will not be returned to the battlefield by the delayed triggered ability created by earthbend.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted land becomes an illegal target before the spell or ability that includes earthbend resolves, earthbend does nothing. If the spell or ability didn't have other targets, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Earthbend doesn't give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that's turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for
.No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Zuran Orb + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Zuran Orb by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Resolve the Zuran Orb ability.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Sylvan Safekeeper + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Sylvan Safekeeper by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Repeat from step 3.
- 7Resolve all Sylvan Safekeeper abilities.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Ashnod's Altar + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Repeat from step 3.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Phyrexian Altar + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Repeat from step 3.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Altar of Dementia + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Resolve the Altar of Dementia ability.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Goblin Bombardment + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Resolve the Goblin Bombardment ability.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Blasting Station + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability and Blasting Station trigger.
- 3Resolve the Badgermole trigger, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 4Resolve the Blasting Station trigger, untapping it.
- 5Activate Blasting Station by tapping it and sacrificing Badgermole
- 6When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 7Repeat steps 2 through 4 once.
- 8Resolve the Blasting Station ability from step 5.
Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Need for Speed + Badgermole
- 1Cast Badgermole by paying its mana cost
- 2When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 3Activate Need for Speed by sacrificing Badgermole
- 4When Badgermole dies, it triggers, returning itself from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
- 5When Badgermole enters, its earthbend ability triggers, causing it to earthbend itself as it is a Forest due to Ashaya.
- 6Resolve the Need for Speed ability.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Badgermole
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