Early Harvest MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Early Harvest excels at ramping mana, granting players the ability to cast numerous spells swiftly.
  2. The card’s instant speed lets players adapt playfully and maintain the element of surprise.
  3. While powerful, Early Harvest can limit deck diversity and requires careful hand management.

Text of card

Target player untaps all basic lands he or she controls.

"Tonight we'll eat a farewell feast. Cold corn porridge is not enough. / Let's peel papayas, pineapples, and mangoes, drink coconut milk, / and bake bananas." —"Love Song of Night and Day"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Early Harvest itself does not directly let you draw cards, it indirectly contributes to card advantage by untapping all basic lands. This powerful resource acceleration can enable you to cast more spells in a single turn, effectively outpacing your opponent and utilizing your deck’s capacity to its fullest.

Resource Acceleration: Early Harvest is exceptional at ramping up your mana resources. By untapping all basic lands you control, it sets the stage for significant plays, potentially allowing you to execute high-cost spells or activate abilities much earlier than normally possible, thus speeding up your strategy and putting pressure on your adversary.

Instant Speed: The fact that Early Harvest can be cast at instant speed provides flexibility and a strategic edge. You can end your opponent’s turn with a surge of mana, adapt to changing board states rapidly, and even bluff holding back counterplay, all while keeping your opponent guessing about your next move.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In MTG, maintaining card advantage is crucial, and Early Harvest requires you to reshape your hand and strategy as it does not recycle or replace itself in your hand once used.

Specific Mana Cost: Early Harvest asks for a commitment to green mana to be played effectively. This requirement can restrict deck diversity and requires the player to be heavily invested in green resources to take full advantage of Early Harvest’s potential.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three green, it can be a significant investment early in the game, which may not immediately contribute to your board presence. Additionally, other cards might provide a greater immediate impact or versatility for the same or lower mana cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Early Harvest can be integrated into a wide array of decks that harness the power of lands, particularly those that aim for a quick win by generating massive mana in a single turn.

Combo Potential: This card is often a key component in ramp strategies that aim to unleash powerful spells or abilities ahead of schedule. It also pairs well with cards that benefit from land untapping mechanisms.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where speed can be a determining factor, Early Harvest’s ability to fast-track your mana resources can be crucial. It enables players to adapt and respond to various meta-game shifts, granting them a significant advantage.


How to beat

Overcoming the card Early Harvest requires a tactical approach in MTG. This card is primarily utilized in combo decks that aim to generate massive amounts of mana for a game-winning play. To disrupt this strategy, it’s essential to use counter-measures that inhibit the opponent from fully benefiting from their land untapping ability.

Graveyard disruption is an effective method to stymie decks centering around Early Harvest. Cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void ensure that the triggered abilities from graveyard interactions don’t come into play. Additionally, counter spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can stop Early Harvest and similar spells in their tracks if you’re playing blue. For players not in blue, utilizing instant-speed land destruction like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin can disrupt the mana-base an opponent needs to capitalize on Early Harvest’s effect.

Ultimately, the aim is to limit the opportunities for those combo decks to execute their strategy uninterrupted. Whether it’s through removal, discard, or counterplay, keeping the opponent’s mana sources and graveyard in check allows you to stay ahead and significantly diminish the impact of Early Harvest on the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deep into the strategic facet of MTG, Early Harvest emerges as a card with the potential to turn the tides of battle in your favor. It’s a cornerstone for ramp strategies, enabling formidable plays through mana acceleration. Yet, it’s not without its challenges. Balancing resource commitment and the critical timing of its use requires finesse. If you’re ready to master the subtle art of leveraging land untapping to your advantage, or if you’re simply curious to harness the raw power of green mana, we’re here to guide your way. Discover the intricate playstyles and elevate your game with Early Harvest. Visit us to refine your deck and thrive in your MTG quests.


Cards like Early Harvest

Early Harvest stands out in the realm of ramp spells in Magic: The Gathering. It shines by untapping all basic lands for one player, a significant burst of mana akin to Mana Flare, albeit without benefiting the opponent. In contrast, Mana Flare is a double-edged sword that gives both players the chance to tap lands for additional mana, presenting a possible risk if the opponent can harness the surge better.

Exploring further, we encounter Rude Awakening. This versatile spell not only untaps all lands but also has an enticing entwine cost, allowing players to turn all lands into 2/2 creatures temporarily. Though it requires a hefty five mana to cast, its potential for creating a surprise offensive is unmatched. Then there’s Turnabout, a classic that can untap or tap artifacts, creatures, or lands at will. While it offers more flexibility than Early Harvest, it only affects one chosen category at a time, making it less powerful for a full-scale mana surge, but possibly more strategic in certain game scenarios.

Ultimately, Early Harvest commands a unique position in MTG with its focused and explosive mana acceleration, especially favorable in mono-green decks, where maximizing land utility is crucial for unleashing powerful plays quickly.

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Rude Awakening - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Rude Awakening - Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana (GVL)
Turnabout - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Early Harvest by color, type and mana cost

Verdigris - MTG Card versions
Team Spirit - MTG Card versions
Refresh - MTG Card versions
Vivify - MTG Card versions
Primal Boost - MTG Card versions
Sprouting Vines - MTG Card versions
Natural Affinity - MTG Card versions
Ferocious Charge - MTG Card versions
Graphic Violence - MTG Card versions
Remodel - MTG Card versions
Roar of Jukai - MTG Card versions
Rending Vines - MTG Card versions
Hail Storm - MTG Card versions
Wildsize - MTG Card versions
Invigorate - MTG Card versions
Harrow - MTG Card versions
Pistus Strike - MTG Card versions
Gnaw to the Bone - MTG Card versions
Eaten by Spiders - MTG Card versions
Natural End - MTG Card versions
Verdigris - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Team Spirit - Unglued (UGL)
Refresh - Odyssey (ODY)
Vivify - Odyssey (ODY)
Primal Boost - Onslaught (ONS)
Sprouting Vines - Scourge (SCG)
Natural Affinity - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Ferocious Charge - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Graphic Violence - Unhinged (UNH)
Remodel - Unhinged (UNH)
Roar of Jukai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rending Vines - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Hail Storm - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Wildsize - Commander Legends (CMR)
Invigorate - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Harrow - Warhammer 40,000 Commander (40K)
Pistus Strike - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Gnaw to the Bone - The List (PLST)
Eaten by Spiders - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Natural End - Avacyn Restored (AVR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Early Harvest MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Classic Sixth Edition, 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 Early Harvest and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Early Harvest Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-10-08MirageMIR 2131997normalblackJanine Johnston
21999-04-21Classic Sixth Edition6ED 2221997normalwhiteJanine Johnston
32001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2371997normalwhiteHeather Hudson
42001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 237★1997normalblackHeather Hudson
52005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 235★2003normalblackHeather Hudson
62005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2352003normalwhiteHeather Hudson
72020-09-26The ListPLST MIR-2131997normalblackJanine Johnston

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Early Harvest has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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