Refreshing Elixir MTG Card

Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Hero's Reward
Released	2014-03-01
Set symbol
Set name	Battle the Horde
Set code	TBTH
Number	14
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cyril Van Der Haegen

Key Takeaways

Draws a card upon use, keeping players equipped with multiple options during gameplay.
Boosts mana pool swiftly, allowing for quicker and more impactful play.
Instant speed offers strategic flexibility and a rapid response in tight situations.

Text of card

At the beginning of the Horde's precombat main phase, reveal an additional card from the top of the Horde's library. The Horde casts that card. Hero's Reward — When Refreshing Elixir is put into a graveyard from anywhere, each player gains 5 life.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Refreshing Elixir offers a consistent way to cycle through your deck. When played, this potent brew can replace itself by drawing you a card, ensuring that you keep your hand filled with options.

Resource Acceleration: A sip of this elixir can provide the much-needed boost to your mana pool. By increasing your resources, it empowers you to cast more spells or deploy heavier hitters earlier in the match.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Refreshing Elixir means it can be used at the most opportune moment. Whether it’s in response to an opponent’s move or at the end of their turn, you have the flexibility to act fast and stay one step ahead.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks when considering adding Refreshing Elixir to your MTG deck might be its discard requirement upon activation. This condition may force you to sacrifice other valuable cards from your hand, potentially reducing your strategic options and leaving you at a disadvantage, especially in the late game when card resources are critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Refreshing Elixir’s necessity for a specific combination of mana can restrict its integration into multicolored decks. Since MTG games revolve around mana efficiency and flexibility, having a card that demands a particular mana setup can sometimes result in it sitting unused in your hand or delaying pivotal plays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Elixir might offer useful effects, its cost can be considered high relative to other alternatives available in the game. Savvy players often evaluate the cost-to-benefit ratio of their plays, and a card like Refreshing Elixir might not always provide the most economical use of mana resources, which could affect the overall tempo and efficiency of your deck’s performance.

Reasons to Include Refreshing Elixir in Your Collection

Versatility: Refreshing Elixir offers a flexible option for decks that require life gain or artifact synergy. It’s a welcomed addition for players looking to bolster their defensive strategies or those who run artifact-centric themes.

Combo Potential: For decks built around lifegain triggers or artifacts, the Refreshing Elixir can become a key component. It can activate abilities or work in conjunction with cards that capitalize on life changes or the presence of artifacts on the field.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where burn or aggro decks are prevalent, having access to reliable life gain can be the difference between a win and a loss. The Refreshing Elixir’s ability to bolster your life total can make it an under-the-radar asset against aggressive strategies.

How to beat

Refreshing Elixir is a card that presents Magic: The Gathering players with a unique challenge. Known for its ability to replenish life points, this card can turn the tides of a game when wielded by a skilled player. To effectively counter this card, one must employ clever strategy and timing. The most reliable way to overcome the life-gain advantage it grants is by deploying cards that restrict healing or remove artifacts directly from play. Cards like Feed the Swarm or Release to the Wind bypass traditional destruction protections, offering a way to neutralize the Elixir.

Another approach is to focus on win conditions that are not hindered by life totals. Using strategies that involve milling your opponent’s library or direct ‘win the game’ effects can bypass the Elixir’s influence entirely. It’s also worth considering that life gain alone is not enough to secure victory. To beat a player relying on Refreshing Elixir, emphasizing a consistent and aggressive strategy can outpace the incremental advantage the Elixir provides, securing a win before the accrued life total becomes insurmountable.

In summary, while Refreshing Elixir may seem daunting with its life-giving properties, there are numerous paths to counter it, whether through direct interference, alternative win conditions, or sheer offensive force. Understanding the different tools and strategies at your disposal is key to mastering the art of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Refreshing Elixir

Refreshing Elixir enters the intriguing world of life-gain artifacts in Magic: The Gathering, positioning itself among staples like Pristine Talisman. The Elixir offers a consistent source of life, similar to Pristine Talisman, which also provides one life each time it’s activated, but without the added benefit of mana generation. Another analogue might be Elixir of Immortality, which gives a more substantial one-time life boost and has the additional utility of reshuffling the graveyard into the library. However, this effect is not as continuous as what Refreshing Elixir can offer.

Comparatively, we have Fountain of Renewal, a card with an analogous passive life-gain ability that triggers during your upkeep. Yet, unlike Refreshing Elixir, Fountain of Renewal has the capacity to become card draw, which adds a layer of versatility. Within the same theme, Alhammarret’s Archive illustrates the power of doubling life gain, providing a major boost to any strategy that includes life-gain mechanics; however, its higher mana cost makes it a more late-game addition compared to the easily deployable Refreshing Elixir.

Assessing these artifacts together, Refreshing Elixir showcases an appealing simplicity and reliability for those looking to steadily bolster their life total during a game of MTG.

Elixir of Immortality - MTG Card versions

Alhammarret's Archive - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Refreshing Elixir by color, type and mana cost

Engineered Explosives - MTG Card versions

Turbo-Thwacking Auto-Hammer - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Refreshing Elixir MTG card by a specific set like Battle the Horde, 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 Refreshing Elixir and other MTG cards: