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Magic: The Gathering players have not seen a “normal” expansion since March Of The Machine ended the New Phyrexia saga in April. That will change September 8 with the launch of Wilds Of Eldraine, which marks a return to the fairy-tale-inspired plane of Eldraine first introduced in October 2019.
After today’s set preview during Magic: The Gathering’s WeeklyMTG livestream, we have an exclusive card reveal which showcases a potentially potent new option for decks centered around land abilities, or even those that turn lands into creatures.
Say hello to Blossoming Tortoise!
Blossoming TortoiseRarity: Mythic RareConverted Mana Cost: 4 (2 generic and 2 green mana)3 power/3 toughness Turtle creatureThree abilities: Whenever Blossoming Tortoise enters the battlefield or attacks, mill three cards, then return a land card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.Activated abilities of lands you control cost 1 generic mana less to cost.Land creatures you control get +1/+1.
Blossoming Tortoise seems like an expensive gambit at three power and three toughness for four mana, but its first two abilities make up for that expense in spades. The ability to give yourself a second land each turn is very powerful–even if you have to discard the top three cards of your library to get it.
Also, note that the word “basic” isn’t next to the word “land” in the card’s text, nor does the card specify that the land returning to the battlefield has to come from the three milled cards. If an opponent blows up your Ancient Tomb, for example, you can get it right back with an attack from turtle boy here.
Meanwhile, that second ability could completely transform strategies with certain lands. Cards like Mossfire Valley and Sungrass Prairie can tap for two mana without needing to pay the extra cost, while the already powerful Cabal Coffers can now supercharge a black/green build for one spent mana per turn instead of two.
The third ability could be interesting as well, but lands turning into creatures isn’t the most prolific strategy at the moment. Unless Wilds Of Eldraine reveals more lands which can turn into creatures, Blossoming Tortoise won’t be using that buff very much.
Blossoming Tortoise and the rest of the Wilds Of Eldraine expansion for Magic: The Gathering launches September 8 in draft boosters, set boosters, collector’s boosters, and Commander decks.
