Old-Growth DryadsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Old-Growth Dryads is a 3/3 creature for one mana. Its low cost is balanced by an enters-the-battlefield trigger that allows each of your opponents to search their library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Unlike many search effects, this is optional for your opponents, but most will choose to take the free resource.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast Old-Growth Dryads and it enters the battlefield. This puts the triggered ability on the stack. When the ability resolves, starting with the next player in turn order, each opponent decides whether they want to search. Those who do will find a basic land, put it onto the battlefield tapped, and then shuffle their libraries. Note that all opponents do this during the resolution of a single ability.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that the lands enter tapped, meaning your opponents cannot use that mana immediately to counter your Dryad or play a flash spell. However, because this happens as part of the enters-the-battlefield trigger, if you have multiple opponents, you are giving away multiple lands, which can quickly put you behind in resources despite your 3/3 creature.

When to Play It

The best time to play Old-Growth Dryads is when you can capitalize on the 3/3 body before the extra mana benefits your opponents. It is most effective in extremely aggressive decks where the game is expected to end before the opponent can make use of the extra land, or in situations where your opponent is playing very few basic lands.

Interaction examples

Turn One Aggression

On turn one, you play a Forest and cast Old-Growth Dryads. Your opponent searches for a basic Island and puts it into play tapped. You now have a 3/3 ready to attack on turn two, but your opponent will start their next turn with two mana available instead of one.

Mana Dork Sequencing

Llanowar Elves

If you have Llanowar Elves in hand as well, you might choose to play the Elves on turn one. On turn two, you can play Old-Growth Dryads and still have mana open for other spells. This allows you to develop your board presence while accepting that the opponent is also ramping.

Color Fixing for Opponents

Birds of Paradise

If you play Old-Growth Dryads against an opponent who played Birds of Paradise on their first turn, you are giving them even more mana flexibility. By the time they start their second turn, they could potentially have access to three or even four mana depending on their land drops, significantly outscaling your 3/3 Dryad.