Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth Full Guide

Tales of Middle-earth Commander Mythic
Mana Cost:
Type: Legendary Land
Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth Text:
Each land is a Forest in addition to its other land types.
Flavor:
Pippin thought he saw groves of trees moving. Could it be that the trees of Fangorn were awake, and the forest was rising, marching over the hills to war?
Artist: Erikas Perl
Collector Number: 377
Release Date: 2023-06-23
Art crop
Cards Mentioned in This Review
These cards are referenced in the strategy guide below

Strategy Guide

Last updated 2025-06-30
TL;DR Summary

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

This mythic rare legendary land has a power level of around 5-6 out of 10, making it a solid addition to any mid-to-large format deck. Its ability to change any land into a Forest in addition to its original types makes it an excellent fixer for green mana ramp decks.

The card sees play in Commander and Modern formats due to its flexibility and potential to enable large plays with Tarmogoyf or Golgari Findbroker. In a Jaddi Offshoot-powered deck, Yavimaya can become a Foliae Kingdom-style land, greatly increasing the chances of hitting the 5-color combination. In Modern, it can help fuel Abzan Falconer and other low-toughness creatures.

As an ultra-rare card in the Lorwyn-Tivolian block set, its price point is around $43 USD, making it a significant investment for any player looking to add it to their collection.

Card Mechanics & Interactions

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

As a Legendary Land, Yavimaya is a unique entity that doesn't rely on traditional mana costs to function. Its Mana Cost of 0.0 indicates it can be played without any actual mana expenditure.

Oracle Text

The Oracle Text reveals the card's true potential: "Each land is a Forest in addition to its other land types." This means Yavimaya has a secondary effect that applies to all lands on the battlefield, not just itself. Each land will now also have Forest as one of its types.

Interactions and Examples

  • Tarkir's Landfall: Playing Tarkir's Landfall in combination with Yavimaya can create an absurdly powerful ramp engine. Whenever a land enters the battlefield, you'll gain two mana, which can be used to accelerate your spells.
  • Feldon of the Third Path: This card's ability will trigger whenever a land is played or a permanent is tapped for mana. With Yavimaya on the field, every time a land enters, it becomes a Forest in addition to its other types, and Feldon gets +2/+0.
  • Goblin Rabblemaster: While this card doesn't directly interact with Yavimaya's ability, if you have multiple Goblin Rabblemasters out, their +1/+0 ability will trigger whenever a land enters the battlefield. This can lead to an exponential increase in power and trample.

Edge Cases

  • Yavimaya on Command: If Yavimaya is already on the field and you play another copy of it using something like Fulcrum of the Paradox, its ability will stack with itself, making each land a Forest twice. However, this won't create an infinite recursion or trigger any additional effects.
  • Non-Permanent Land: If you cast Yavimaya as an instant or sorcery (e.g., using Tolaria West), its ability won't apply to lands on the battlefield until it resolves and enters the battlefield.
Strategic Applications

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a versatile and powerful legendary land that has found its way into various Commander decks. Its ability to make each land a Forest in addition to its other land types has significant implications for green-based color identities.

One of the primary benefits of Yavimaya is its synergy with Fangren Marshal, a popular choice among green deckbuilders. This card creates an army of 2/2 token creatures when you gain life, which can quickly swarm the board and provide a strong presence on the battlefield. With Yavimaya's ability to convert all lands into Forests, you're able to fuel Fangren Marshal's token generation without worrying about color mana restrictions.

Elvish Archdruid is another popular card that benefits from Yavimaya's ability. This legendary creature requires two green sources of mana to tap and gain +2/+2 until end of turn, which can be challenging to achieve in some decks. However, with Yavimaya on the board, you're able to tap any land to generate a Forest, making it easier to activate Elvish Archdruid's ability and ramp up your creatures.

In terms of color identities, green-based decks are the most obvious beneficiaries of Yavimaya's ability. However, its versatility allows it to be included in other color combinations as well. For example, a Simic-colored deck featuring Merrow Reejerey can use Yavimaya to convert its lands into Forests and provide a source of green mana for Merrow Reejerey's ability.

Some specific Commander strategies that benefit from Yavimaya include:

  • **Yiv]]
  • Ezuri, Claw of Progress: A popular choice among green players, Ezuri benefits from Yavimaya's ability to convert lands into Forests and generate a source of green mana.
  • **Golgari]]: This color combination features cards like Necrotic Ooze and Benthic Balerwiff, which can benefit from Yavimaya's ability to create a more consistent green presence.

In terms of prices, Yavimaya has maintained its value over time, with a current price of around $43 USD. Its rarity as a mythic card in the Lorwyn-Turf series makes it a highly sought-after addition to any Commander deck.

Overall, Yavimaya's ability to convert lands into Forests provides a significant advantage for green-based color identities and Commander strategies. Its versatility allows it to be included in various deck types, making it a valuable addition to any collection.

Advanced Techniques

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth's Synergies and Interactions

This legendary land offers an intriguing dynamic when combined with other cards. One notable synergy is with Bloom Titan, a 5-mana green creature that benefits from having multiple Forests on the battlefield. Yavimaya can provide an additional two Forests, allowing Bloom Titan to reach its optimal state more efficiently.

Forest-Land Dual-Types

Yavimaya's Oracle Text states that each land is a Forest in addition to its other land types. This means that cards with effects based on a land's type can interact with Yavimaya in creative ways:

  • Llanowar Elves: Normally, Llanowar Elves cares about Forests and lands. With Yavimaya on the board, they can also tap into the additional Forest aspect, allowing for more frequent mana acceleration.
  • Prime Speaker Zegana: This card's ability to create a 2/2 green creature token from each non-creature land it controls is now applicable to Yavimaya. Each time you play Yavimaya, it effectively generates two 2/2 tokens.

Combinations with Mana-Accelerating Cards

Yavimaya can be paired with cards that generate additional mana to create a robust acceleration engine:

  • Green Sun's Zenith: This sorcery allows you to add three mana of any one color to your pool. When combined with Yavimaya, it effectively generates four Forests on the battlefield.
  • Nylea's Influence: This enchantment gives each land an additional mana type, creating more opportunities for acceleration. With Yavimaya, you can now tap into its Forest aspect while benefiting from Nylea's effects.

Other Relevant Cards

Some notable cards that interact with Yavimaya include:

  • Mikokoro, Center of the Spirit World: This enchantment allows you to create a 2/2 white creature token for each non-land card in your graveyard. With Yavimaya, it can now tap into its Forest aspect.
  • Verdant Catacombs: As an additional mana source, Verdant Catacombs can help generate more mana while benefiting from Yavimaya's effects.

Conclusion

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a versatile card that offers numerous opportunities for creative deck-building and strategic play. By combining it with other cards that interact with its unique abilities, you can create a robust acceleration engine that drives your strategy forward.

Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes with Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a powerful and highly sought-after card in Commander. However, there are several common mistakes that players make when playing this card:

Timing Issues

One common mistake is to not account for the timing of Yavimaya's ability. Its effect only applies to lands that enter the battlefield under its controller. This means that if you're trying to use it to convert an opponent's land to a Forest, you'll need to wait until they play their land.

  • Example: If you have Yavimaya on the battlefield and your opponent plays Aphetto Sanitarium, you can't immediately convert it to a Forest. You'll need to wait for them to use its ability next turn.
  • Tip: Make sure to plan ahead and consider the timing of your lands and opponents' lands when playing Yavimaya.

Misunderstood Rules

Another common mistake is misunderstanding the rules surrounding land types. Some players assume that Yavimaya's ability changes the land type of an existing land, but this is not the case. The oracle text clearly states that each land is a Forest in addition to its other land types.

  • Example: If you have a Plains on the battlefield and Yavimaya's ability resolves, the Plains will still be a Plains, but it will also have the additional land type of Forest.
  • Tip: Make sure to read the oracle text carefully and understand that Yavimaya's ability adds a new land type to each land, rather than replacing an existing one.

Poor Synergies

Finally, some players make the mistake of pairing Yavimaya with cards that don't synergize well together. For example, playing it with a deck that focuses on Sacrifice effects can be counterproductive.

  • Example: If you have a deck focused on sacrificing lands to trigger abilities, playing Yavimaya might not provide the benefits you expect.
  • Tip: Consider the overall strategy and synergies of your deck when deciding whether to play Yavimaya.
Conclusion

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a versatile and powerful legendary land that can greatly benefit Commander (EDH) decks. Its ability to change the type of any land on the battlefield to Forest makes it an excellent addition to green-based decks.

Key Benefits:

  1. Flexible Land Types: Yavimaya allows each land to have Forest as one of its types, providing a consistent source of mana and increasing the deck's overall mana base.
  2. Mana Acceleration: By turning any land into a Forest, Yavimaya accelerates the development of green-based combos and supports aggressive plays.
  3. Versatility: Its ability to change the type of land makes it an excellent fit for various deck archetypes, including combo, ramp, and token strategies.

Key Matchups:

  1. Aggressive Decks vs. Control: Yavimaya can be a liability against aggressive decks that don't rely on land manipulation.
  2. Counter-Culture vs. Land-Matters: When facing land-matters decks like Golgari, players running green should consider including Yavimaya to amplify their own land manipulation effects.

Budget-Friendliness:

While not the most affordable option, Yavimaya's benefits make it worth considering for budget decks. Alternative options that offer similar functionality include:

  • Treetop Village: A 2-color land with forest-type abilities
  • Misty Rainforest: A dual-land type that can become a Forest on its own

Printings and Rarity:

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth has not had many reprints. Its relatively high price point ($43.07 USD) reflects its scarcity. This rarity contributes to its moderate EDHREC rank (72), indicating that it is not as widely used in Commander decks as other cards.

Overall, Yavimaya's unique ability makes it a versatile card that can fit into various deck strategies, particularly those centered around green mana and aggressive plays.

Deckbuilding & Synergies

Building Around Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a powerful legendary land that can greatly enhance any green or multicolor deck. Its ability to convert all lands into Forests makes it an excellent combo piece with cards like Elvish Aberration and Fertile Ground. This effect can also complement token-generating engines such as Soul Wistman and Nylea's Intervention, allowing you to create a large, efficient army.

Commanders and Color Identities

Yavimaya is particularly well-suited for green-based commanders like Ezuri, Renowned Leader, Elvish Mystic, and Zhenji, Bright Divinity. It can also be used in multicolor decks featuring commanders such as Sisay, Wishbringer and Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient. When paired with cards like Llanowar Elves and [Stomping Ground, it can accelerate green mana development and enable the use of more expensive spells.

Themes

Yavimaya's ability to convert lands into Forests makes it a natural fit for token-generating strategies, especially those featuring Leafcutter Bees and Lys Alana Huntmaster. It can also be used in more aggressive decks focused on swarming the board with small creatures. Additionally, its effect can complement cards like Fog Bank and [Daze, which benefit from a large number of Forests.

Specific Synergies

  • Elvish Aberration: Pair Yavimaya with Elvish Aberration to create an infinite mana loop, generating an arbitrary amount of Forests and enabling the use of any spells that cost two or more green mana.
  • Fertile Ground: Combine Yavimaya with Fertile Ground to gain a significant advantage in life total and card draw. The increased mana generation from Fertile Ground will also enable you to play more expensive spells.
  • Soul Wistman: Use Yavimaya to fuel Soul Wistman's token generation, allowing you to create an army of 2/2 token creatures.

Combo Notes

When building around Yavimaya, keep in mind that its effect can be disrupted by cards like Mana Leak and Squall Line]. It's essential to include counterspells or other disruption effects in your deck to protect against opponents attempting to interrupt your combo. Additionally, consider including cards like [Fertile Ground and [[Rampant Growth to further accelerate mana development and enable more aggressive playstyles.

Format Roles

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

In Commander formats, Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a staple in green decks that rely on ramping up mana quickly to play large creatures and spells. With its ability to convert any land into a Forest, it significantly reduces the need for actual Forests in the deck, allowing players to focus on other color combinations.

In casual games, Yavimaya is often overlooked due to its expensive price point ($43.07 USD). However, its impact can be substantial when paired with cards like Primeval Titan or Utopia Sprawl, which rely on having a high number of Forests in play.

Some notable decks that utilize Yavimaya include:

  • Monstrosity Ramp Decks: These decks often feature a large number of small creatures and use Yavimaya to quickly ramp up their mana and play larger creatures.
  • Green Aggro Decks: In these aggressive decks, Yavimaya helps to ensure that players can consistently play Forests, allowing them to maintain a strong tempo and pressure their opponents.

Outside of Commander, Yavimaya is not commonly played in other formats due to its high CMC (0.0) and lack of direct card advantage.

In terms of price, Yavimaya is relatively expensive, especially considering its limited playability outside of Commander. However, its ability to simplify green decks and provide a consistent source of Forests makes it a valuable addition to many Commander collections.

Key Scenarios

Scenarios where Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth excels:

  • Monogreen and Green-Heavy Decks: With the ability to turn any land into a Forest, Yavimaya complements green's already-strong advantage in mana acceleration. This makes her an excellent addition to monogreen or green-heavy Commander decks that run cards like Elvish Mystic or Llanowar Elves.
  • Land-Based Combo Decks: In multiplayer settings, Yavimaya can help combo players achieve their goals by providing a cheap way to convert lands into the Forest needed for combo pieces. For example, in a deck running Sylvan Caryatid, Yavimaya ensures that the Forest is always available.
  • Land Matters and Trample Packages: Decks focused on land matters (like Mistbind Clique or Golgari Findbroker) can greatly benefit from Yavimaya, as her ability to turn any land into a Forest helps maintain the card advantage generated by these combo pieces.

Scenarios where Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth struggles:

  • Non-Green Decks: As a non-land type, Yavimaya doesn't provide much benefit in decks that don't rely heavily on green's mana acceleration or land manipulation effects. In cases like Mardu or Azorius, her power to convert lands into Forests is negligible.
  • Limited Land Availability: If the deck has a low number of lands, Yavimaya becomes less effective as her ability relies on having multiple lands to convert.
  • Mana-Denying Opponents: In multiplayer games where opponents can deny or disrupt mana development (e.g., with Abzan Falconer or Aven Mindcensor, Yavimaya's ability is reduced in effectiveness as the deck struggles to establish a consistent mana base.

Key Matchups and Considerations:

  • Counter-Culture vs. Land-Matters: When facing land-matters decks like Golgari, players running green should consider including Yavimaya to amplify their own land manipulation effects.
  • Aggressive Decks vs. Control: Against aggressive decks that don't rely on land manipulation (like Rakdos), Yavimaya can be a liability as her ability is not as impactful in these matchups.
History & Meta

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth has a significant presence in the history of Magic: The Gathering. This mythic rare card from the Lorwyn-Treachery block (LTC) was first printed in 2007. It is a legendary land that allows each land to have Forest as one of its types, making it an excellent addition to green-based decks.

In terms of printings, Yavimaya has not had many reprints. Its relatively high price point ($43.07 USD and $34.16 EUR) reflects its scarcity. This rarity contributes to its moderate EDHREC rank (72), indicating that it is not as widely used in Commander (EDH) decks as other cards.

In tournament play, Yavimaya has appeared in several notable decks. Its ability to change the type of land can be particularly useful in green-based combo and ramp strategies. For example, it pairs well with Eldrazi Conscriptor in Eldrazi-green decks or Falkenrath Marauder in a more aggressive token strategy.

Some iconic deck archetypes that feature Yavimaya include the Monastery Mentor-based Combo and Griselbrand-centric Lifegain decks. In these builds, Yavimaya helps to accelerate the development of green-based combos or supports a high life total by enabling more land types.

Overall, Yavimaya's unique ability makes it a versatile card that can fit into various deck strategies, particularly those centered around green mana and aggressive plays.

Flavor & Lore

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is a majestic piece of the world of Dominaria, embodying the lush vitality of the tropical continent's verdant heart. This mythical land is nestled within the Yavimaya, a sprawling expanse of ancient forests, where the very essence of growth and renewal resides.

In this sacred realm, every inch of land is imbued with the properties of a Forest in addition to its natural characteristics. The Yavimayan forests are said to be home to countless species of flora and fauna, all living in harmony with one another under the watchful eye of Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth. This land's power is not just symbolic; it has a tangible impact on the environment around it.

Those who seek to harness Yavimaya's energies often find themselves drawn into the rich cultural heritage of the continent. The people of Yavimaya have long revered their sacred lands, crafting intricate rituals and ceremonies to maintain balance with nature. Glimmervoid**, Eldrazi Spawn , those malevolent beings from another plane, see Yavimaya as a threat to their own power and often seek to desecrate its lush forests.

The presence of Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth can be felt throughout the world, particularly in areas with significant greenery. Its influence has been known to bring about periods of rapid growth and renewal, only to be followed by a gentle decay, allowing for new life to emerge.

Budget/Alternatives

Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth: A Budget-Friendly Option?

At a glance, Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth appears to be an expensive mythic rare. However, its impact on the game can be significant, making it worth considering for budget decks.

Price and Reprint Status

  • Mythic rarity in the Lorwyn-Timeshifted (LTC) set
  • Prices: 43.07 USD, 40.06 USD foil, 34.16 EUR, 32.58 EUR foil (prices may fluctuate)
  • Not particularly reprinted in recent years, which can drive up demand and prices

Budget-Friendliness

While not the most affordable option, Yavimaya's benefits make it worth considering for budget decks. Here are some alternative options that offer similar functionality:

  • Treetop Village: A 2-color land with forest-type abilities
    • Price: around 10-20 USD (foil), 5-15 USD non-foil
    • Availability: more frequent reprints, including in Modern Masters sets
  • Misty Rainforest: A dual-land type that can become a Forest on its own
    • Price: around 20-30 USD (foil), 10-25 USD non-foil
    • Availability: relatively common in various sets and reprints

For Commander decks, consider these alternatives:

  • Evolving Wilds: A land with forest-type abilities that can also become a Mountain or Swamp
    • Price: around 15-30 USD (foil), 10-25 USD non-foil
    • Availability: relatively common in various sets and reprints

While Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth is not the most budget-friendly option, its effects make it worth considering for decks that prioritize a high density of Forests.