Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun

This rare card is a dual-faced legendary enchantment/land that excels in Commander decks. Its versatility stems from its ability to tap for two colorless mana, making it an excellent addition to multi-color and tribal strategies.

Key Strengths:

• Provides a convenient 2CMC source
• Fulfills tribal requirements, such as Primal Storm
• Supports various enchantment and land-heavy strategies

Typical Uses:

• Combos with Bolas's Citadel and Kraul Harranger to create a powerful, efficient ramp engine
• Serves as a prime enabler for enchantment-based tokens, like those from Grapple with the Past
• Enhances tribal synergies in decks focused on creatures like Chandra, Torch of Defiance

Impact:

• Adds depth and flexibility to Commander gameplay by offering an alternative source of colorless mana
• Allows players to pursue complex strategies that rely on tapping multiple lands for additional mana

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a dual-faced legendary enchantment/land that operates differently in various game states. Its two halves have distinct effects:

Growing Rites of Itlimoc:

• This enchantment half has no mana cost and can be cast by targeting a player.
• When this enchantment enters the battlefield, it creates a 2/2 green Elf creature token with vigilance.
• Anytime a player taps an untapped creature for mana, Growing Rites' power and toughness increase by 1 until end of turn.

Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun:

• This land half has a mana cost of {3}{G}.
• Itlimoc's ability allows you to add two mana of any single color to your mana pool whenever an Elf deals combat damage to a player.
• If this card is on the battlefield and isn't the mulligan or the starting hand, creatures get +1/+1 as long as an enchantment is on the battlefield.

Key points:

• Growing Rites can be cast from the graveyard if there are no lands on the field with its power/toughness increased by 1.
• Itlimoc's ability triggers only when Elves deal combat damage, not when they simply attack.
• The +1/+1 boost to creatures is cumulative; if multiple enchantments are on the battlefield at once, each one will grant a +1/+1 bonus.

In Commander games, Growing Rites can provide an instant Elf token and ramp into larger spells with its power/toughness increases. Itlimoc's ability makes it an excellent addition to decks that emphasize Elves, such as Estrid, the Masked or Elvish Mystic.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a versatile card that can be utilized in various strategic applications within Commander. This dual-faced legendary enchantment/land allows for a unique gameplay dynamic.

Archetypes and Roles

• Simic Combo: The split-second, colorless mana from Growing Rites enables faster development and combo pieces like Rune of Protection, Gilded Light, and Komatatsu Kensei to become more accessible.
• Vorthos-themed decks: This card's ability to provide life gain and generate a 4/4 creature can enhance Vorthos strategies centered around healing, protection, or token generation.
• Commander Anthems: Growing Rites can serve as a land and anthem in anthemic decks, providing an additional source of mana while also offering a powerful anthem effect.

The card's unique dual nature allows it to adapt to different situations on the battlefield. In its enchantment form, it provides a boost to life totals and generates a 4/4 creature.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a fascinating card that offers a multitude of complex interactions. One potential application is in combination with lands like [Rothé Valley, which have been shown to produce additional mana when played from the command zone. By casting Itlimoc and using its ability to untap itself at the end of your turn, you can generate two additional mana while also creating a powerful land ramp.

Another intriguing interaction involves playing [Eternity Surge alongside Growing Rites. Eternity Surge's ability to give all creatures +1/+0 until end of turn synergizes perfectly with Itlimoc's untapping trigger, potentially leading to explosive growth in terms of life total and card advantage.

This card also has interesting implications when combined with enchantments like [Ethereal Abomination. Since EAb is a 4/4 flier that dies at the beginning of your end step, playing it after untapping Itlimoc could result in an enormous payoff. The fact that Itlimoc generates two additional mana each turn means you'll have ample resources to cast more expensive spells and generate further advantage.

It's worth noting that Growing Rites can be used as a sort of "land tax" by forcing opponents to pay 2 life to play their own lands. This mechanic has been explored in various combinations with other cards like [Vraska's Contempt or [Liliana, Death's Majesty.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun

This card is a prime example of a split card that can be tricky to use effectively in Commander. Here are some common mistakes players make with this card:

• Incorrect timing: One major mistake is playing Growing Rites of Itlimoc as a normal enchantment and waiting for its effect to trigger on the stack. However, since it's half of a land card, you can only play it during your main phase when the stacks are empty. This can lead to missed opportunities to generate card advantage.
• Poor synergy with lands: Many players overlook that Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a 2/2 creature-land combo. This means that if you have multiple copies of this split card in play, you can generate an absurd amount of mana on subsequent turns. However, it's essential to pair this land with cards like Llanowar Elves or Falkenrath Marauders to maximize its value.
• Not utilizing the enchantment half: The Growing Rites of Itlimoc half of the card is often overlooked in favor of its creature-land combination. However, it has a significant effect on the board by creating a 2/3 token whenever you gain life. This can be used to fuel more complex strategies or accelerate your mana development.
• Failing to account for Sylvan Caryatid: If you're planning to play multiple copies of Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun, it's essential to consider how Sylvan Caryatid will interact with this card. This enchantment can provide a boost to your creature-lands and create an even more explosive mana development.
• Not considering Ranger-Counselor: When playing with multiple copies of Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun, it's worth considering adding Ranger-Counselor to your deck. This enchantment can help you ramp into your creature-lands and maximize their value.

By being mindful of these common mistakes, you can unlock the full potential of Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun in your Commander deck.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is a game-changing card in Commander decks. Its dual nature as both an enchantment and a land makes it a versatile addition to any format. The ability to draw two cards when you cast its land half allows for rapid acceleration and can help fuel combo pieces.

When considering including Growing Rites in your deck, think about building around Tatyova, Benthic Druid or Llanowar Elves. These cards will enable the deck to leverage Itsimoc's ability and quickly generate value. Additionally, pairing it with Estrid, the Masked can help you ramp up to the 4-mana turn more efficiently.

However, growing rites is not without its drawbacks. The enchantment half of the card feels somewhat situational in most decks, making it a less reliable resource than other dual lands like City of Brass. Its high foil price makes it inaccessible for some players, further limiting its inclusion potential.

Ultimately, Growing Rites is best suited for decks with specific synergies around its abilities. For example, building an Eldrazi tribal deck and including Elder Titan or Ulam Bora will enable the dual land half to generate value.