Rootborn Defenses 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
Populate. Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. (To populate, create a token that's a copy of a creature token you control.)
How it works : Rootborn Defenses
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The new creature token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that created the original token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Populate doesn't target the creature token you're copying. You choose that creature token as you're taking the populate action. You can choose any creature token you control. If a spell or ability causes you to create a creature token and then instructs you to populate, you may choose to copy the token you just created, or you may choose to copy another creature token you control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose to copy a creature token that's a copy of another creature, the new creature token will copy the characteristics of whatever the original token is copying.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you control no creature tokens when you populate, nothing will happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The new token doesn't copy whether the original token is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any noncopy effects that have changed its power, toughness, color, and so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied token will trigger when the new token enters the battlefield. Any "as [this creature] enters the battlefield" or "[this creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the copied token will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Rootborn Defenses affects only creatures you control after populating at the time it resolves. The creature token you create will gain indestructible, but creatures you begin to control later in the turn will not.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Apex Altisaur + Wrathful Raptors + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Cast Apex Altisaur by paying
. - 2When Apex Altisaur enters, its first ability triggers.
- 3Holding priority, cast Rootborn Defenses by paying its mana cost, giving creatures you control indestructible until end of turn.
- 4Resolve the Apex Altisaur trigger, causing it to fight a creature you don't control.
- 5If the opposing creature dealt damage to Apex Altisaur, Apex Altisaur's second ability and Wrathful Raptors trigger.
- 6Resolve the Wrathful Raptors trigger, dealing damage to any opponent.
- 7Resolve the Apex Altisaur trigger, causing it to fight a creature you don't control.
- 8Repeat from step 4 until your opponents control no creatures. If they happen to control an indestructible creature with power above 0, this loop can be done infinitely.
Red Hulk + Boros Reckoner + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Give Red Hulk and Boros Reckoner indestructible using Rootborn Defenses.
- 2Deal damage to Red Hulk.
- 3Red Hulk triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it and dealing damage to Boros Reckoner.
- 4Boros Reckoner triggers, dealing damage to Red Hulk.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog + Krark-Clan Shaman + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Cast Rootborn Defenses by paying
, giving creatures you control indestructible until end of turn. - 2Activate Krark-Clan Shaman by sacrificing an artifact, dealing 1 damage to each creature without flying.
- 3Sonic's second ability triggers for each creature you control with haste or flash that was dealt damage, creating that many tapped Treasure tokens.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Red Hulk + Spitemare + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Give Red Hulk and Spitemare indestructible using Rootborn Defenses.
- 2Deal damage to Red Hulk.
- 3Red Hulk triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it and dealing damage to Spitemare.
- 4Spitemare triggers, dealing damage to Red Hulk.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Red Hulk + Screaming Nemesis + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Give Red Hulk and Screaming Nemesis indestructible using Rootborn Defenses.
- 2Deal damage to Red Hulk.
- 3Red Hulk triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it and dealing damage to Screaming Nemesis.
- 4Screaming Nemesis triggers, dealing damage to Red Hulk.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Red Hulk + Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger + Rootborn Defenses
- 1Give Red Hulk and Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger indestructible using Rootborn Defenses.
- 2Deal damage to Red Hulk.
- 3Red Hulk triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it and dealing damage to Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger.
- 4Ill-Tempered Loner // Howlpack Avenger triggers, dealing damage to Red Hulk.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Rootborn Defenses
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.