Unrooted Ancestor
Creature — Spirit Cleric
Flash
, Sacrifice another creature: This creature gains indestructible until end of turn. Tap it. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy it.)
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Tarkir: Dragonstorm
- Price
- $0.10
- EDHREC rank
- #23613
Unrooted Ancestor puts a permanent +1/+1 counter on a creature when it enters — no hoops, no conditions, just a body stapled to a buff. The cost is the body itself: a 2/2 for three mana is below rate, so you run this only when the counter trigger is doing real work.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Unrooted Ancestor is a bulk common in every constructed format, and that's where it stays — three mana for a 2/2 with a single +1/+1 counter attached doesn't compete in Standard, Pioneer, or Modern, where efficient creatures set a much higher bar. Commander is the only realistic home, and even there Unrooted Ancestor earns a slot only in dedicated counters synergy builds where every ETB trigger compounds — think Hamza, Guardian of Arashin or Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider shells that want density of counter-placing bodies. Outside that niche, it's outclassed by cheaper or more impactful alternatives.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.10 bulk tier
At $0.10, Unrooted Ancestor is deep bulk — you're paying for cardboard, not the effect. It holds no meaningful financial value, but if the ETB trigger fits your build, the price is never the obstacle.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.