Arbor Elf MTG Card


Arbor Elf shines by untapping enchanted lands, ramping mana significantly for strategic plays. Exclusively green, best suited for mono-green or green-heavy decks for seamless incorporation. Essential in combos, it bolsters decks striving for swift, overwhelming mana generation.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Druid
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

: Untap target Forest.

The Mul Daya elves reject their Tajuru kin, calling them arrogant tree-binders who think the roots serve the canopy.


Cards like Arbor Elf

Arbor Elf is a dependable mana accelerator in Magic: The Gathering, often compared with other one-mana Elves such as Llanowar Elves and Elvish Mystic. All three cards excel at providing an early mana advantage, but Arbor Elf has a unique synergy with lands enchanted by cards like Utopia Sprawl or Wild Growth, potentially generating multiple mana of any color with a single untap. This can lead to explosive plays in the early game, outpacing the singular green mana provided by Llanowar Elves or Elvish Mystic.

Another card that falls into a similar category is Fyndhorn Elves. Like the others, it produces green mana, but it lacks the potential for interaction with enchantments, making Arbor Elf stand out in decks built to exploit such mechanics. This specificity of Arbor Elf can be a double-edged sword; it requires the right environment to truly shine, whereas its counterparts provide a consistent, if less explosive, benefit regardless of the board state.

Assessing the nuances of these mana dorks, Arbor Elf can be a star player in decks that are designed to use land enchantments for ramp. Its ability to untap a forest becomes significantly more powerful and can help thrust a player far ahead in terms of available resources, particularly in the crucial early stages of the game.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Arbor Elf by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Elvish Lyrist - MTG Card versions
Elvish Pioneer - MTG Card versions
Hana Kami - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Elvish Lyrist - MTG Card versions
Elvish Pioneer - MTG Card versions
Hana Kami - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Arbor Elf. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Gruul MidrangeGruul Midrange ModernGruul MidrangeModern Challenge 64 2024-04-20
Selesnya LifegainSelesnya Lifegain ModernSelesnya LifegainModern Challenge 64 2024-04-20
ElvesElves PauperElvesPauper League 2024-04-29
Temur PonzaTemur Ponza PauperTemur PonzaPauper Circus (IPT) - Playtime Merate
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange PauperGolgari MidrangePauper Preliminary 2024-04-22
Gruul PonzaGruul Ponza PauperGruul PonzaPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-19
URGURG PauperPauper Showcase Challenge 2024-04-20
Nykthos LeylineNykthos Leyline ModernNykthos LeylineModern League 2024-04-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Arbor Elf itself doesn’t directly allow drawing cards, it facilitates card advantage indirectly by unlocking the potential of lands with multiple mana abilities, effectively squeezing more utility out of each land.

Resource Acceleration: Arbor Elf excels in resource acceleration. By untapping a Forest, especially one enchanted with a card like Utopia Sprawl, it generates additional mana which can lead to faster and more powerful plays early in the game.

Instant Speed: Although Arbor Elf’s ability isn’t at instant speed, it synergizes well with land enchantments that are. This interaction can create surprise mana and enable instant-speed responses during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Arbor Elf, you won’t have to worry about discarding any cards, as it has no additional cost tied to hand disruption. This makes it a user-friendly addition to your deck for mana ramping purposes.

Specific Mana Cost: Arbor Elf’s mana cost is exclusively green, meaning that it is a superb fit in mono-green or green-centric decks, but may not be as seamless of an inclusion in multicolored decks that aren’t heavily green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Arbor Elf itself has a low and efficient mana cost, it’s important to note that it’s specifically designed to untap Forests. Therefore, it may drive your deck towards a higher number of Forests than you might otherwise run, which could be less than ideal if you’re looking to craft a tight mana base with multiple colors.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Arbor Elf offers flexibility for numerous deck builds, shining brightest in ones that demand efficient mana acceleration. The ability to untap a forest can be a game-changer, especially when paired with lands that have been turned into forests or produce multiple mana.

Combo Potential: This card acts as a linchpin in several key MTG combos, especially when used with cards that benefit from being untapped multiple times for exponential mana generation.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where speed is crucial, Arbor Elf provides a significant edge by enabling faster plays that can outpace the opposing setup, making it a relevant choice in many competitive formats.


How to beat

Arbor Elf is a staple in decks that aim to unleash powerful creatures and spells by unlocking additional mana quickly. This one-mana green creature allows players to untap a forest, hence doubling the land’s mana production for that turn. Removing this elf early is key to stifling your opponent’s rapid mana acceleration. Effective strategies include using low-cost removal spells or abilities that can quickly dispatch creatures with minimal investment. Consider incorporating affordable instant-speed spells like Shock or Fatal Push in your deck, which can eliminate Arbor Elf before its ability is used too many times, disrupting your opponent’s tempo and keeping you on even footing in the mana race.

Board control spells are critical when playing against a deck featuring Arbor Elf. If the elf has successfully supported the casting of bigger threats, a sweep with cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar becomes a necessary reset. Adapting your playstyle to be proactive about mana dork creatures like Arbor Elf could mean the difference between an early defeat and outlasting your opponent to claim victory in the world of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

The world of MTG thrives on the delicate interplay between strategy and resource management, with cards like Arbor Elf sitting at the heart of many powerful decks. Leveraging the strengths of such cards can propel your gameplay to new heights, creating openings for dominant plays that can shift the tide of any duel. Embrace the resource acceleration provided by Arbor Elf and similar mana dorks to craft explosive and impactful strategies. Discover how to integrate these assets into your collection effectively by joining our community. Let’s explore the bounds of your deck’s potential together and navigate the path to become formidable contenders in MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Arbor Elf MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake and Magic 2013, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Arbor Elf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Arbor Elf Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-02-05WorldwakeWWK 952003NormalBlackrk post
22012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1602003NormalBlackrk post
32018-03-16Masters 25A25 1602015NormalBlackrk post
42019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 11242015NormalBlackrk post
52020-09-26The ListPLST A25-1602015NormalBlackrk post
62023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2322015NormalBlackInka Schulz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Arbor Elf has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal