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Legality
| Format | Legality |
| 1v1 Commander | Legal |
| Archenemy | Legal |
| Arena | Legal |
| Block Constructed | Legal |
| Canadian Highlander | Legal |
| Casual | Legal |
| Commander / EDH | Legal |
| Commander: Rule 0 | Legal |
| Custom | Legal |
| Duel Commander | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Highlander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Historic Brawl | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Leviathan | Legal |
| Limited | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Modern Beyond Horizons | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Pauper Duel Commander | Legal |
| Pauper EDH | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Planar Constructed | Legal |
| Planechase | Legal |
| Quest Magic | Legal |
| Tiny Leaders | Legal |
| Vanguard | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
Initiate's Companion
Creature — Cat
Whenever Initiate's Companion deals combat damage to a player, untap target creature or land.
wallisface on Why is Untapping Lands a …
1 month ago
legendofa I have an issue with you contesting my statement of "a large portion of those cards are extremely old" and then deciding yourself what the goalposts should be for my own statement. I never said that only old-bordered cards are old... the current "new" border has still been in use for a ridiculous quantity of time, and the colour pie has shifted numerous times since its creation. For me, anything that was printed 10+ years ago, fits into the "extremely old" category... so if you're going to pull me-up on what's old-or-new, that is the yardstick i'm measuring.
Now, ordering cards by how old they actually are (instead of arbitrary card-frames) yields the following (using only the cards you've already listed):
1993 (31 years ago): Ley Druid
1995 (29 years ago): Juniper Order Druid
1996 (28 years ago): Nature's Chosen, Emerald Charm
1997 (27 years ago): Elder Druid, Earthcraft, Llanowar Druid
1998 (26 years ago): Awakening, Argothian Elder
1999 (25 years ago): Early Harvest
2002 (22 years ago): Krosan Restorer
2004 (20 years ago): Rude Awakening, Nature's Will
2005 (19 years ago): Stone-Seeder Hierophant, Seedborn Muse, Patron of the Orochi
2006 (18 years ago): Magus of the Candelabra
2007 (17 years ago): Woodland Guidance
2009 (15 years ago): Garruk Wildspeaker
2010 (14 years ago): Bear Umbra
2012 (12 years ago): Arbor Elf, Urban Burgeoning
2013 (11 years ago): Voyaging Satyr
2014 (10 years ago): Nissa, Worldwaker
2017 (7 years ago): Initiate's Companion, Hope Tender, Nissa, Genesis Mage, Blossom Dryad
2018 (6 years ago): Ley Weaver, Cacophodon
2019 (5 years ago): Wilderness Reclamation, Rime Tender
2021 (3 years ago): Sculptor of Winter, Saryth, the Viper's Fang, Jorn, God of Winter Flip
2022 (2 years ago): Likeness of the Seeker Flip, Civic Gardener
2023 (last year): Rustvine Cultivator, Portent Tracker
2024 (this year): Innocuous Researcher
Using the above data, the below rant is in defense of my claim "From what i’m seeing, the general trend is that this effect used to be quite prominent in green but something that’s slowly being phased out/down for green over time", which may have been the other thing you were contesting??
Now, at face value this paints a picture that indicates an-eb-and-flow of constant printings of green-land-untap effects, perhaps even slightly favoring those printings in the more recent years. HOWEVER - this does not take into account the actual percentage of cards printed in any given year.
For example, in 1996 2 cards exist in our category, BUT only 468 new cards were printed that year. 2022 also has 2 cards in our category printed, but also had 2004 new cards printed into it, meaning those 2 cards represented a significantly lower percentage of what green represented that year.
With Wotc printing an increasingly large quantity of cards every year, this effect has been getting an increasingly lower-percentage-share of cards given to it. The one anomaly I see is 2017, where 4 cards were printed in a year that made 861 new cards, making it about on-par with our beforementioned 1996 example.
legendofa on Why is Untapping Lands a …
1 month ago
wallisface I'm still going to contest that. Scryfall search comes up with 45 mono-green cards with the words "untap" and "land". Ignoring stuff like Blizzard and Choke
, there are nine cards in that group with ye olde bordere that untap lands, seven with the Modern border, and fourteen with the 2015 border, skipping those whose primary purpose is to turn lands into creatures like Wakeroot Elemental. Two of them are legal in Standard, and thirteen--about a third of the total, and more than ye olde bordere--are legal in Pioneer. I'm not seeing the dropoff for land untapping in green.
Ye Olde Bordere, "untap" + "land": Ley Druid, Elder Druid, Juniper Order Druid, Nature's Chosen, Early Harvest, Earthcraft, Awakening, Argothian Elder, Krosan Restorer. total 9
Modern Border, "untap" + "land": Rude Awakening, Nature's Will, Stone-Seeder Hierophant, Magus of the Candelabra, Garruk Wildspeaker, Bear Umbra, Urban Burgeoning, Voyaging Satyr. total 8
2015 Border, "untap" + "land": Nissa, Worldwaker, Initiate's Companion, Hope Tender, Nissa, Genesis Mage, Blossom Dryad, Ley Weaver, Wilderness Reclamation, Sculptor of Winter, Saryth, the Viper's Fang, Likeness of the Seeker Flip, Civic Gardener, Rustvine Cultivator, Portent Tracker, Innocuous Researcher. total 14
Ye Olde Bordere, "untap" + "permanent": Emerald Charm, Seedborn Muse. total 2
Modern Border, "untap" + "permanent": none.
2015 Border, "untap" + "permanent": Cacophodon, Rime Tender, Jorn, God of Winter Flip. total 3
Ye Olde Bordere, "untap" + "Forest": Llanowar Druid. total 1
Modern Border, "untap" + "Forest": Patron of the Orochi, Woodland Guidance, Arbor Elf. total 3
2015 Border, "untap" + "Forest": none.
So there's 39 green cards that can untap lands in some capacity, with 34 of those being more or less land-specific. Again, these counts ignore cards that untap lands by turning lands into creatures, focusing only on those whose main function is the untap. It also ignores Un-cards.
Analysis of blue to follow.
KongMing on
Kittos and Borfers
1 year ago
Breath of Fury and Leonin Warleader can give you multiple combats and untaps for the Inseperable, as long as you have someone to swing at and an initial creature to enchant and sac to start the combo.
Initiate's Companion also lets you repeat your Commander's untap ability, or just get some early-game ramp.
Spirits on
OMG Kitties Tribal!
3 years ago
Hey hirurux,
Fellow Arahbo, Roar of the World since the pre-con Arahbo, Xenagos... for Cats
I found having too many cats wasn't very useful, I went a bit extreme, down to 14 cats, but 28 is a lot. Arahbo, Roar of the World only Eminence triggers one cat, and unless you're in a state with a ton of mana to activate the ability for multiple cats, not really needed.
How I solved this problem, was more creature tutor cards (instead of more cats), so Sylvan Tutor , Time of Need , I got a Survival of the Fittest for xmas one year which was cool. Chord of Calling , Eldritch Evolution even Congregation at Dawn are all viable to. The right cat at the right time vs. drawing more cats. Initiate's Companion , Leonin Skyhunter , Steppe Lynx feel like some easy cuts.
Three Visits was reprinted in a current set, gives you another Nature's Lore .
Are you primarily trying to kill everyone with combat damage? Beastmaster Ascension maybe?
I would get some trample in there Shadowspear and Rancor perhaps, that way 1/1 tokens don't become a nuisance to you.
Fumigate seems wrong.
Might reduce in lands, do you find yourself flooded, eliminate anything that comes into play tapped with no strong ability. Your not running toward a Tooth and Nail or anything so likely can miss a T4-6 land drop and still be in good shape, can also Land Tax or Archaeomancer's Map or Kodama's Reach to get more lands in hand. Evolving Wilds , Krosan Verge , Path of Ancestry could be some easy. If you're worried about mana fixing, fetch lands are great Windswept Heath but also the off-color ones like Wooded Foothills , Flooded Strand , etc.
Teferi's Protection to dodge board wipes?
I might add an alt win-con, Triumph of the Hordes might be one, but having a backup plan, maybe Grafted Exoskeleton or perhaps Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants to bring back Lost Leonin . Bala Ged Recovery Flip for Triumph of the Hordes , I dunno something?
Hope you find something useful here. +1
Halflingz on
3 years ago
Raining Cats and Dogs Nice work bdodds, I think you have selected a handful of great cards but I'd think you could benefit from an earlier CatDog play and cheaper creatures to really start raining cats and dogs. Even without Aluren, every creature coming in with an extra token produces insane value. Especially considering your general's ability.
Below, I would like to outline 4 core concepts and considerations. Ramp, Creatures, Protection, Draw.
Ramp - Prioritizing cards that help you play Rin & Seri turn 3! Nature's Lore Rampant Growth Three Visits Boros Signet Selesnya Signet Gruul Signet Talisman of Conviction Talisman of Unity Talisman of Impulse Fellwar Stone This should be easy to replace the ramp packaging you already have. Look to cut cards like Explosive Vegetation, Chromatic Lantern, Obelisk of Naya, etc.
Creatures - Prioritizing 3CMC or less and upping your creature count to closer to 30! Think about adding creatures that fullfill multiple roles and allow you to run less other stuff. Qasali Pridemage is a great example cause it can pump a swinger +1/+1 as well as remove a pesky enchant or artifact.
Cheap Utility Kitties- Adorned Pouncer Brimaz, King of Oreskos Bronzehide Lion Initiate's Companion King of the Pride Leonin Relic-Warder Oreskos Explorer Pride Sovereign Qasali Ambusher I like the returners you have for multiple cast triggers too! Can get stupid with Aluren... Whitemane Lion Temur Sabertooth Fleetfoot Panther ? Snow Hound
Cheap Utility Doggos- Abzan Beastmaster Ainok Guide Bolt Hound Resolute Watchdog Selfless Savior
Some real cheap beefers could be nice considering they make a token, but could also see not making the cut- Wild Nacatl Loam Lion Leonin Vanguard Isamaru, Hound of Konda Sacred Cat
Protection/Return - Build a huge board and keep it protected! Unbreakable Formation Rootborn Defenses Heroic Intervention Teferi's Protection Asceticism Marshal's Anthem Kindred Boon Akroma's Will Flawless Maneuver
Draw(ish) - The cheaper the cards in hand the more you gonna empty and wanna draw! Skullclamp Colossal Majesty Elemental Bond Beast Whisperer Fecundity Garruk's Uprising Descendants' Path Realmwalker Hunter's Insight Snake Umbra Lifecrafter's Bestiary Mentor of the Meek Guardian Project Return of the Wildspeaker Shamanic Revelation Slate of Ancestry Collective Unconscious Camaraderie
General good cards for Cat/Dog: Maskwood Nexus Mirror Entity Crib Swap Felidar Retreat Basilisk Collar Thousand-Year Elixir Rings of Brighthearth Seht's Tiger Shields of Velis Vel Naya Charm Kindred Summons Volatile Claws Beastmaster Ascension Titanic Ultimatum Hour of Reckoning Triumph of the Hordes Finale of Devastation Idyllic Tutor Winds of Abandon Lightning Greaves (secret lair dog art!) Coat of Arms Swiftfoot Boots Impact Tremors Rhythm of the Wild Aura Shards Shared Animosity Mirari's Wake Growing Rites of Itlimoc Flip Any Cheap Changelings really...
Lands to love: Slayers' Stronghold Kessig Wolf Run Hanweir Garrison Flamekin Village Gavony Township Mosswort Bridge Spinerock Knoll Windbrisk Heights Castle Embereth
zapyourtumor on
Mono Green Cats (Budget)
4 years ago
Pride Sovereign is great, although its probably more for GW. Feline Sovereign is a lord that also gives you artifact/enchantment removal. Prowling Serpopard is obviously great against any sort of counterspell-playing deck, although a bit expensive. Kaheera, the Orphanguard is also sorta expensive but you can just run one as a companion. Generous Stray isn't as good but its cheap and cantrips.
Some other 2-drop green cats are Feral Prowler and Initiate's Companion. Hungry Lynx is super good, but pretty expensive as well.
You could also maybe add some 1-drop cats like Scythe Leopard, Scythe Tiger, or Wild Nacatl (you'd have to run more colors for that though).
I would suggest going into GW colors. Even though the manabase won't be great with budget constraints you get access to so many more cats: Adorned Pouncer, Brimaz, King of Oreskos ($$$$), Leonin Vanguard, Regal Caracal, King of the Pride (this one is OP), Qasali Ambusher, Ajani's Pridemate (good with Leonin Vanguard, etc. This'll also give you good SB options like Felidar Cub/Qasali Pridemage (not sure if needed with Feline sovereign already removing artifacts/enchantments), Dromoka's Command, Leonin Arbiter, etc.
BRG24 on
4 years ago
Hello again. When it comes to your “toolbox” idea, I think you’ve probably got everything covered, just as long as you keep extra copies of these cards in the sideboard for once you know you’ll need specific ones. About the only card I think might be worth considering for this is Selesnya Charm, which to be honest I can’t believe that I’d forgotten about. In terms of what it counters, it gives you the ability to deal with huge creatures and even get around indestructible, which makes it particularly good against big Eldrazi, Dinosaurs or Dragons. But where this really shines is in its flexibility, since it can also be an instant speed blocker if needed, or a pump spell that gets a creature through to end a game. For two mana I don’t think you can get much better. I might also consider Return to Nature over Sundering Growth, since it also has the potential for very effective graveyard hate, particularly against decks using the Theros titans, or any big reanimation targets. With Adorned Pouncer being the only source of a good populate target (a 1/1 is never really a good hit), the value of Growth seems inconsistent, and most of the time it will be a more limited version of Return.
Unfortunately, G/W doesn’t have access to all that many tutors, especially not in pioneer, and even then the green ones only really find creatures, while white finds enchantments. Idyllic Tutor can help grab Anointed Procession, but that’s probably not enough hits. The green tutors I could find were more expensive, both in terms of mana and money, but are both very strong since they also get the creature onto the battlefield. Chord of Calling can be good since you can ramp it out with your wide board, as well as use it to tutor up a win con on your opponents end step, effectively giving it haste. Finale of Devastation is the other alternative, but I feel it’s strictly worse since you’ll never cast it for 12 mana to get the extra effect. However, I wouldn’t really recommend running any of these, they just seem too inefficient to me.
As you have pointed out regarding Huatli, Radiant Champion, unfortunately most card draw in these colours is reliant on you playing out creatures, since most of the time these colours produce creature based strategies. It is important to remember though that tokens would also trigger her ability, so a Leonin Warleader could attack and draw you two cards if you have the emblem, or even more if you have Anointed Procession. I find that tokens are he best way to exploit these effects for maximum value, and since your deck makes so many I think it would be a good effect to have access to.
I would not call Initiate's Companion a ramp card, especially not in this deck. If I used the card, I would mainly do so to untap my Pride Sovereign in order to get around the exert, rather than untapping a land, especially since it ramps you into two spells rather than into a single bigger threat. Even then, the effect is very disruptable, since it needs to hit the opponent first to activate the ability and has no eveasion built into it. As a 3/1, it is also very easy to trade into, so I think it will very rarely give you good value. In actuality, you do already have a form of ramp in the deck form Oketra's Monument, and I don’t think you anything more than that.
Lurrus of the Dream-Den is another very good card, provided that you have enough things that you can bring back. Since both Fleecemane Lion and Ajani's Pridemate, and even Adorned Pouncer can all be big threats, being able to just bring them back is really powerful, but it can also feel pretty bad if your graveyard is just filled with bigger creatures.
On a final note regarding how companion works, while your companion card starts the game in a zone where your opponent can’t touch it, you do still have to cast it and have it on board to gain the effects, and in fact you also have to pay three to move it from it’s starting zone to your hand. I wasn’t sure whether I’d fully explained how the mechanic worked, so I just thought I’d clarify.
9-lives on
4 years ago
WOW! I didn't know that the rules for companions were just sitting there invulnerable giving their abilities throughout the game without being killed or sent to the graveyard or exiled! Very nice!
What else would you recommend for a 'ready for anything' deck in Selesnya? Am I missing any instants, sorceries, or enchantments, or artifacts?
To be prepared, I have 1x Watchers of the Dead, 1x Prowling Serpopard, 4x Angelic Gift, and 1x Sundering Growth for, respectively, graveyard heavy, counter heavy, and flying decks and direct damage, and enchantments and artifacts. I would love to be able to draw these cards when I need them... something like a green/white Grim Tutor! They should have released tutors for every color since that gives black a HUGE advantage! Is there any drawing power better than Huatli, Radiant Champion, since even she depends on creatures entering the battlefield for card draw. If I had a ton of 1 drops and 2 drops, I would agree to it, but most of my deck isn't that cheap in mana cost.
Do you think I need mana ramp? Initiate's Companion is overall a great card, it's like an Oreskos Swiftclaw or Prowling Caracalbut with an added ability and same mana cost.