A-Harald, King of Skemfar MTG Card


A-Harald finds key Elves or warriors, providing strategic advantage through card tutoring. Harald’s entry can smooth your mana curve, accelerating your strategic plays significantly. While Harald requires creature sacrifices, it’s a strong choice for elf-based decks.
A-Harald, King of Skemfar - Kaldheim
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Warrior
Abilities Menace
Released2021-02-05
Set symbol
Set nameKaldheim
Set codeKHM
Power 3
Toughness 2
NumberA-212
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byGrzegorz Rutkowski

Text of card

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) When Harald, King of Skemfar enters the battlefield, look at the top seven cards of your library. You may reveal an Elf, Warrior, or Tyvar card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.


Cards like A-Harald, King of Skemfar

A-Harald, King of Skemfar brings unique dynamics to the realm of Elves in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the traits of Elvish Archdruid in its ability to amplify the strength of other Elves. Yet, A-Harald distinguishes itself with its Menace ability, complicating opponents’ blocking strategies.

Examining other commanders, we encounter Ezuri, Renegade Leader who offers a different angle of Elf-tribal leadership. While A-Harald provides a static boost and Menace to a single Elf, Ezuri can repeatedly protect and empower your entire board with Overrun effects, albeit at the cost of mana for each activation. Conversely, A-Harald allows for a more aggressive singular threat which could prove beneficial in specific tactical arrangements.

Likewise, Rhys the Exiled bares a resemblance by also being an Elf-centric card but focuses on life gain and regeneration mechanics. A-Harald, in contrast, contributes to board presence and offensive capabilities. Each of these Elvish leaders brings a distinct approach to leading their kin, and A-Harald’s role particularly shines when aligning with decks that capitalize on direct and persistent aggression.

Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Renegade Leader - MTG Card versions
Rhys the Exiled - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Ezuri, Renegade Leader - MTG Card versions
Rhys the Exiled - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to A-Harald, King of Skemfar by color, type and mana cost

Harald, King of Skemfar - MTG Card versions
Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager - MTG Card versions
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Shambling Shell - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Dryad - MTG Card versions
Stalker Hag - MTG Card versions
Hag Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Quillspike - MTG Card versions
Rendclaw Trow - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Stonefare Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Dreg Mangler - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Quagmire Druid - MTG Card versions
Catacomb Sifter - MTG Card versions
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Mournwillow - MTG Card versions
Charnel Troll - MTG Card versions
Harald, King of Skemfar - MTG Card versions
Grakmaw, Skyclave Ravager - MTG Card versions
Chatterfang, Squirrel General - MTG Card versions
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan - MTG Card versions
Shambling Shell - MTG Card versions
Wormwood Dryad - MTG Card versions
Stalker Hag - MTG Card versions
Hag Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Quillspike - MTG Card versions
Rendclaw Trow - MTG Card versions
Glissa, the Traitor - MTG Card versions
Stonefare Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Dreg Mangler - MTG Card versions
Varolz, the Scar-Striped - MTG Card versions
Quagmire Druid - MTG Card versions
Catacomb Sifter - MTG Card versions
Autumnal Gloom // Ancient of the Equinox - MTG Card versions
Shaman of the Pack - MTG Card versions
Mournwillow - MTG Card versions
Charnel Troll - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: A-Harald, King of Skemfar enables the bolstering of your hand by tutoring for an Elf warrior card, thus potentially swaying the course of the match in your favor as you access key pieces of your deck.

Resource Acceleration: By searching your library for a specific card, Harald aids in smoothing out your mana curve and expediting your strategy, ensuring you have the resources to deploy threats or answers efficiently.

Instant Speed: Although A-Harald, King of Skemfar does not operate at instant speed, he compensates by allowing for immediate action upon entering the battlefield, which can disrupt your opponent’s calculations and set you up for swift, responsive plays in subsequent turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Harnessing Harald, King of Skemfar requires a sacrifice of creatures or enchantments, which can be detrimental if you’re trying to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Harald’s combination of green and black mana demands tight mana base construction, potentially restricting deck versatility and complicating casting in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing three mana might be costly when planning your curve, especially considering that other commanders may offer more immediate board impact or value generation at a similar or lower cost threshold.


Reasons to Include Harald, King of Skemfar in Your Collection

Versatility: Harald, King of Skemfar demonstrates versatility by seamlessly fitting into a variety of green and black decks. Its ability to fetch key creatures straight from the deck or graveyard adds strategic depth to elf or warrior tribal synergies.

Combo Potential: Harald’s capacity to retrieve specific creatures from your deck increases combo potential by allowing you to assemble powerful interactions more consistently. This makes it instrumental for users aiming to build around specific synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where elf strategies are prevalent, including Harald can give you an edge. Its relevance grows with the presence of elf synergies, and it can be a tactical response to creature-heavy match-ups where board presence and creature recursion are crucial.


How to beat

Confronting A-Harald, King of Skemfar on the battlefield can be an intense challenge in Magic: The Gathering. This legendary Elf Warrior not only boosts your elves but also holds the fort with its menace, deterring single blockers. However, there are methods to mitigate his kingdom’s expansion and maintain control of the game.

One of the effective strategies is to keep their elf army in check. Board wipes such as Wrath of God can reset the playing field, significantly diminishing Harald’s influence. Targeted removal is also key; using a spell like Murder to eliminate Harald before his abilities trigger can hinder an opponent’s momentum. Lastly, considering his reliance on other elves, employing enchantments that restrict creature abilities, like Crippling Fear, could prevent the Elvish synergy that Harald aims to cultivate, keeping the scale balanced in your favor.

Ultimately, being prepared for the elven onslaught by including versatile answers in your deck will give you the edge needed to topple A-Harald, King of Skemfar and secure victory within the diverse landscape of Magic: The Gathering encounters.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase A-Harald, King of Skemfar 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 A-Harald, King of Skemfar 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 A-Harald, King of Skemfar has restrictions

FormatLegality
BrawlLegal
HistoricLegal