Warden of the First Tree
Creature — Human
: This creature becomes a Human Warrior with base power and toughness 3/3.
: If this creature is a Warrior, it becomes a Human Spirit Warrior with trample and lifelink.
: If this creature is a Spirit, put five +1/+1 counters on it.
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- BGW
- Rarity
- mythic
- Set
- Fate Reforged
- Price
- $0.26
- EDHREC rank
- #24644
Warden of the First Tree is a one-mana Human that scales into a 3/3 lifelinker and eventually an 8/8 trampler — real late-game threat hidden in a one-drop. The catch is that every upgrade step costs life and mana, so it rewards dedicated life-gain shells and punishes casual inclusion.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Warden of the First Tree slots cleanly into life-gain-matters and +1/+1 counter decks — it's a one-drop that can close games if ignored, and the lifelink step interacts well with commanders that reward life totals. Modern is where it earned its reputation: it was a legitimate threat in Abzan midrange, offering a one-mana body that dodged sorcery-speed removal by demanding immediate answers at each upgrade stage. Pioneer sees some play in similar midrange shells, though the power ceiling matters less in a format with faster clocks. Legacy and Vintage include it legally but Warden of the First Tree is never a consideration there — the competition is too efficient and the leveling investment too slow.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.26 bulk tier
At $0.26, Warden of the First Tree is firmly bulk despite its competitive pedigree in Modern Abzan — supply from its original printing has kept the price flat for years. It's a safe pickup with essentially no financial downside, and nothing in its format trajectory suggests a rebound.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.