Rootbound Crag 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
This land enters tapped unless you control a Mountain or a Forest.: Add
or
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Complete guide
Rootbound Crag is a versatile dual land that helps Gruul mages keep their momentum without falling behind on tempo. Part of the 'check land' cycle, it rewards players for building a solid foundation of basic or typed lands. Whether you are looking for red or green mana, this land ensures your spells stay on curve if your board is set up correctly.
How It Works
Rootbound Crag has a static ability that creates a replacement effect as it enters the battlefield. It checks if you currently control any land with the Mountain or Forest subtype. It is important to note that it looks for the land type, not the specific name of the card. If you control at least one of either type, it enters the battlefield untapped and ready to use.
The Timing of the Check
The check happens exactly as Rootbound Crag is moving from your hand to the battlefield. It only sees lands that are already in play. If multiple lands are entering the battlefield at the same time, such as from a mass ramp spell or a specific effect, Rootbound Crag will not 'see' those other lands to satisfy its condition and will enter tapped.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming that any land that produces Red or Green mana will satisfy the requirement. Only lands with the explicit 'Mountain' or 'Forest' type on their type line count. For example, many non-basic lands produce these colors but lack the types, meaning they won't help Rootbound Crag enter untapped.
Strategic Placement
You generally want to play your basic Mountains or Forests on turns one and two before laying down Rootbound Crag. This ensures that your dual land is available for immediate use on turn three or later, facilitating more complex plays that require both colors of mana.
Interaction examples
If your only land in play is a basic Forest, Rootbound Crag checks the battlefield as it enters, sees the Forest type, and enters untapped. You can immediately tap it for Red or Green mana.
Command TowerIf you control a Command Tower and no other lands, Rootbound Crag will enter the battlefield tapped. Even though Command Tower can produce Red or Green mana, it does not have the 'Mountain' or 'Forest' subtype on its type line.
Exotic OrchardIf you control an Exotic Orchard and your opponent controls a Mountain, Rootbound Crag still enters tapped. The ability specifically checks for lands 'you control.' Exotic Orchard itself lacks the required subtypes, and your opponent's lands are ignored by the check.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Rootbound Crag
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
This checks for lands you control with the land type Mountain or Forest, not for lands named Mountain or Forest. The lands it checks for don't have to be basic lands. For example, if you control Temple Garden (a nonbasic land with the land types Forest and Plains), Rootbound Crag will enter untapped.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
As this is entering, it checks for lands that are already on the battlefield. It won't see lands that are entering at the same time (due to Warp World, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Rootbound Crag
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.