Cleveland Booker, Empath 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
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a 2/2 red and green Worm creature token with "This token can't block.": Creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Cleveland Booker, Empath is a versatile Kwejian Rogue that specializes in building an overwhelming presence on the battlefield. By rewarding you for every land you play, he ensures you are never without reinforcements to lead into battle. This guide will help you master his Landfall trigger and his potent team-wide buff.
A Growing Menagerie
Cleveland Booker, Empath features the Landfall keyword, which triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control. Each time this happens, you create a 2/2 red and green Worm creature token. Note that these tokens are specifically designed for offense; their 'can't block' ability means you must be aggressive with them rather than relying on them for defense.
Resolving the Trigger Step-by-Step
When a land enters the battlefield, Cleveland Booker's ability is put onto the stack. Once players pass priority and the ability resolves, one 2/2 Worm token is placed onto the battlefield. This happens for every land, including those played as your normal land for the turn or those put into play by spells and abilities. After your army is built, you can spend eight mana at any time you have priority to give all creatures you control +2/+0, which can be activated multiple times if you have the resources.
Strategic Considerations
A common mistake is forgetting that the Worm tokens cannot block; if you are low on life, these tokens will not save you from an incoming attack. Additionally, Cleveland Booker's activated ability does not require him to tap, meaning you can activate it the same turn he enters the battlefield, or even during an opponent's turn to threaten better trades in combat, though it is primarily used to push for a lethal blow.
When to Deploy Cleveland Booker
You should play Cleveland Booker when you have ways to put multiple lands into play in a single turn to maximize the value of his Landfall ability. Because his activated ability costs eight mana, he is most effective in decks that ramp quickly, turning that excess mana into a significant power boost for his growing swarm of Worms.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumWith Cleveland Booker, Empath on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. When the Golem enters, its ability allows you to search for a basic land and put it onto the battlefield. This triggers Cleveland's Landfall ability, granting you a 2/2 Worm token immediately after the land enters.
Eternal WitnessIf an opponent destroys Cleveland Booker, Empath, you can use Eternal Witness to return him from your graveyard to your hand. Once re-cast, any lands played subsequently will resume the creation of Worm tokens, rebuilding your board state from scratch.
WormWhen a land enters, Cleveland Booker, Empath creates the specific Worm token. This token is both red and green. If an opponent attacks you, remember that these Worm tokens have the static ability 'This token can't block,' so they must stand by while the damage comes through.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cleveland Booker, Empath
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Kodama of the East Tree + Gruul Turf + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Play Gruul Turf.
- 2When Gruul Turf enters the battlefield, it, Cleveland Booker, and Kodama of the East Tree trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama of the East Tree trigger, choosing not to put anything from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4Resolve the Gruul Turf trigger, returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger, creating a token.
- 6When the token enters the battlefield, Kodama of the East Tree triggers, putting Gruul Turf from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 7When Gruul Turf enters the battlefield, it and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Kodama of the East Tree + Guildless Commons + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Play Guildless Commons.
- 2When Guildless Commons enters the battlefield, it, Cleveland Booker, and Kodama of the East Tree trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama of the East Tree trigger, choosing not to put anything from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4Resolve the Guildless Commons trigger, returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger, creating a token.
- 6When the token enters the battlefield, Kodama of the East Tree triggers, putting Guildless Commons from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 7When Guildless Commons enters the battlefield, it and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Kodama of the East Tree + Izzet Boilerworks + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Play Izzet Boilerworks.
- 2When Izzet Boilerworks enters the battlefield, it, Cleveland Booker, and Kodama of the East Tree trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama of the East Tree trigger, choosing not to put anything from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4Resolve the Izzet Boilerworks trigger, returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger, creating a token.
- 6When the token enters the battlefield, Kodama of the East Tree triggers, putting Izzet Boilerworks from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 7When Izzet Boilerworks enters the battlefield, it and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Kodama of the East Tree + Simic Growth Chamber + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Play Simic Growth Chamber.
- 2When Simic Growth Chamber enters the battlefield, it, Cleveland Booker, and Kodama of the East Tree trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama of the East Tree trigger, choosing not to put anything from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4Resolve the Simic Growth Chamber trigger, returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger, creating a token.
- 6When the token enters the battlefield, Kodama of the East Tree triggers, putting Simic Growth Chamber from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 7When Simic Growth Chamber enters the battlefield, it and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
Kodama of the East Tree + Ghost Town + Evolving Wilds + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Fetch a land using Evolving Wilds.
- 2When the fetched land enters, Cleveland Booker and Kodama trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama trigger, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4When Ghost Town enters, Kodama and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 5Holding priority, activate Ghost Town's first abiltiy by tapping it, adding
. - 6Activate Ghost Town's second ability by paying
, returning it from the battlefield to your hand. - 7Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger from step 4, creating a token.
- 8When the token enters, Kodama triggers, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
Kodama of the East Tree + Ghost Town + Terramorphic Expanse + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Fetch a land using Terramorphic Expanse.
- 2When the fetched land enters, Cleveland Booker and Kodama trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama trigger, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4When Ghost Town enters, Kodama and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 5Holding priority, activate Ghost Town's first abiltiy by tapping it, adding .
- 6Activate Ghost Town's second ability by paying , returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 7Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger from step 4, creating a token.
- 8When the token enters, Kodama triggers, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
Kodama of the East Tree + Ghost Town + Myriad Landscape + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Fetch a land using Myriad Landscape.
- 2When the fetched land enters, Cleveland Booker and Kodama trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama trigger, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4When Ghost Town enters, Kodama and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 5Holding priority, activate Ghost Town's first abiltiy by tapping it, adding .
- 6Activate Ghost Town's second ability by paying , returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 7Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger from step 4, creating a token.
- 8When the token enters, Kodama triggers, putting Ghost Town from your hand onto the battlefield.
Kodama of the East Tree + Arid Archway + Cleveland Booker, Empath
- 1Play Arid Archway.
- 2When Arid Archway enters the battlefield, it, Cleveland Booker, and Kodama of the East Tree trigger.
- 3Resolve the Kodama of the East Tree trigger, choosing not to put anything from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 4Resolve the Arid Archway trigger, returning it from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the Cleveland Booker trigger, creating a token.
- 6When the token enters the battlefield, Kodama of the East Tree triggers, putting Arid Archway from your hand onto the battlefield.
- 7When Arid Archway enters the battlefield, it and Cleveland Booker trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 4.
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