Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the SunHow it works & interactions with other cards

Finding Your Army

When Growing Rites of Itlimoc enters the battlefield, you look at the top four cards of your library. You have the option to reveal one creature card from those four and add it to your hand, while the rest go to the bottom of your library. This helps you dig for the fourth creature needed to trigger its transformation.

The Transformation Step

The transformation occurs at the beginning of your end step. This ability uses an 'intervening if' clause, meaning you must control four or more creatures at the exact moment the end step begins for the ability to trigger. Additionally, you must still control four or more creatures when the ability resolves for the enchantment to successfully transform into Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun.

Managing End Step Triggers

If you have other effects ending or triggering at the beginning of the end step, you can often choose the order. For instance, if a permanent is a creature only until end of turn, it remains a creature through the entire end step. If a creature is set to be sacrificed at the beginning of the end step, you can resolve the Growing Rites transformation first while you still have enough creatures.

Generating Massive Mana

Once transformed, Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a legendary land. Its primary power lies in its second activated ability, which allows you to tap it to add one green mana for every creature you control. This counts all creatures you control at the moment the mana ability resolves, including tokens and mana dorks.

Interaction examples

Digging for Power

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the SunGarruk's Uprising

You cast Growing Rites of Itlimoc. Upon entry, its ability triggers, letting you look at the top four cards to find a creature. Even if you also have Garruk's Uprising on the field, Growing Rites helps you find the high-power creature you need to trigger the card draw from the Uprising later in the turn.

Organizing Your Board

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the SunSylvan Library

During your turn, you use Sylvan Library to curate your hand and ensure you have four creatures on the board. As your end step begins, the game checks if you have four creatures. Since you do, the Growing Rites ability triggers. If you still have four creatures when it resolves, it transforms into Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun, ready to produce massive mana on your next turn.

Representing the Card

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the SunIxalan Checklist

Because Growing Rites of Itlimoc is a double-faced card, you can use the Ixalan Checklist card in your deck to represent it. You mark the 'Growing Rites of Itlimoc' box on the checklist. When you play the checklist card, you replace it with the actual double-faced card from outside the game (usually your deck box) to show its current state on the battlefield.