Elderfang Ritualist MTG Card


Elderfang Ritualist excels in returning Elves from the graveyard, boosting hand resources and maintaining board momentum. Its utility is maximized in black mana decks, offering synergistic contributions particularly to Elf-centric strategies. To counter it, utilize graveyard disruption or strategies preventing death-triggered abilities from activating.
Elderfang Ritualist - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elf Cleric
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Power 3
Toughness 1
Number385
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWisnu Tan

Text of card

When Elderfang Ritualist dies, return another target Elf card from your graveyard to your hand.

Her fingers stiffened as the shrouded corpse stirred. Her final, ragged breath was one of triumph. "Return, my chosen, and grant our people victory!"


Cards like Elderfang Ritualist

Elderfang Ritualist is a unique addition to the suite of creature spells in MTG, filling a niche role in decks centric on Elves or death-trigger mechanics. It shares similarities with cards like Sultai Emissary, which also provides a beneficial effect upon death, as they both create value after leaving the battlefield. Elderfang Ritualist distinguishes itself by directly returning another Elf from your graveyard to your hand, rather than Emissary’s focus on manifesting the top card from your deck.

Comparably, Gladehart Cavalry is another Elf that interacts with death – not by returning cards to your hand but by fostering a wider strategy of bolstering your creatures with +1/+1 counters upon a creature’s demise. While Gladehart Cavalry leans towards building a robust board, Elderfang Ritualist is more specialized in recurring key pieces of an Elf-centric deck. Lastly, if you look at Cadaver Imp, this creature provides a similar graveyard retrieval effect, yet it isn’t constrained to Elf type, granting more flexibility but at an increased mana cost and without the synergistic tribal benefits that come with Elderfang Ritualist.

Taking a deep dive, Elderfang Ritualist holds its place in MTG as a tribal synergistic tool that can be crucial in recycling critical Elf allies, contributing to a continuous flow of resources and board presence within your Elf deck.

Sultai Emissary - MTG Card versions
Gladehart Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Cadaver Imp - MTG Card versions
Sultai Emissary - MTG Card versions
Gladehart Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Cadaver Imp - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Elderfang Ritualist by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elderfang Ritualist delivers a tactical edge by returning another Elf card from your graveyard to your hand upon death, effectively replacing itself and maintaining your hand’s momentum.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly boosting mana, returning an Elf to your hand can retrigger enter-the-battlefield abilities or provide additional casting opportunities, indirectly accelerating your available resources on the board.

Instant Speed: Although Elderfang Ritualist operates at sorcery speed, its death-triggered ability can be leveraged during any phase of the game, allowing for strategic blocks or sacrifices that can unexpectedly turn the tide of resource management in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Elderfang Ritualist’s effect hinges on having other Elves to return to your hand, which can be a drawback if your board is low on these specific creature types. This discard aspect can restrict your gameplay, particularly if your graveyard isn’t well-stocked.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes black mana, the Elderfang Ritualist’s utility is somewhat limited to decks that can reliably produce that mana. This means that it might not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks or those that don’t focus on black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, this card could be considered costly given the restriction of its ability and the need for other Elves either in play or in the graveyard to make full use of its ability. Players may find that in a fast-paced game, investing three mana in such a creature doesn’t provide the expected value compared to other cards within the same mana range.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Elderfang Ritualist fits seamlessly into a variety of black decks, especially those centered around sacrifice themes or tribal synergies. Its ability to return another Elf from your graveyard to your hand when it dies makes it a resilient pick in multiple scenarios.

Combo Potential: This elf cleric has great synergy with other Elves, enabling you to craft powerful combos by recurring key creatures. Whether you’re looking to loop sacrifice effects or generate card advantage, Elderfang Ritualist can be a lynchpin in your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Given its role in recurring elf-based strategies and its synergistic value in black-centric decks, Elderfang Ritualist remains a relevant choice, especially in formats where Elves are a popular and formidable archetype.


How to beat

Elderfang Ritualist is a creature card that brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This black creature excels at retrieving other Elves from your graveyard when it dies, reinforcing your board presence. To effectively counter Elderfang Ritualist, you need to adopt strategies that disrupt graveyard synergy or prevent death triggers from occurring.

One approach is to utilize exile effects that can remove the Ritualist from the game entirely, circumventing its death-triggered ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Silent Gravestone hinders opponents from benefiting from their graveyard. Additionally, applying continuous graveyard hate through cards like Leyline of the Void can provide a permanent solution against strategies relying on graveyard interactions.

Moreover, applying pressure with aggressive creatures or strategies that go over the top can force your opponent to block with their Elderfang Ritualist in unfavorable ways. In these scenarios, saving your removal for more critical targets can pay off while you deal with the Ritualist in combat. Remember, denying the opponent the chance to recur their resources is key to stifling their game plan and giving you the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an art of precision and foresight, especially when leveraging the subtle power of cards like Elderfang Ritualist. Its ability to resurrect Elves from the graveyard ensures you never lose momentum, making it a gem in black-centered or tribal Elf decks. Understanding both strengths and limitations is crucial in optimizing your deck. For those seeking to refine their strategy and boost their arsenal, we offer a treasure trove of insights and analyses. Embark on a journey of continuous improvement, and let us guide you to unlock the full potential of your collection. Dive deeper into MTG with us and transform your gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elderfang Ritualist MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Elderfang Ritualist and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elderfang Ritualist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal