Farhaven Elf MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Druid
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Deck thinning with Farhaven Elf increases chances to draw valuable non-land cards in later turns.
  2. Mana acceleration is key, allowing earlier casting of high-cost cards and strategic advantage.
  3. Untapped land from Farhaven Elf grants immediate extra mana, vital for instant-speed responses.

Text of card

When Farhaven Elf comes into play, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it into play tapped. If you do, shuffle your library.

"Verdant bloom does exist. It merely hides for its own safety."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Farhaven Elf doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards but it does enable significant card advantage by tutoring a basic land from your deck and putting it into play. This thins the deck, increasing the possibility of drawing non-land cards in subsequent turns.

Resource Acceleration: When this creature enters the battlefield, you fetch a basic land and immediately ramp up your mana resources. This acceleration can be crucial for casting high-cost spells earlier in the game or for outpacing your opponent’s board development.

Instant Speed: Although Farhaven Elf is not an instant itself, the land it puts on the battlefield comes in untapped. This means you have instant access to that extra mana, which can be vital if you have other instant-speed spells in hand, letting you respond to threats or opportunities at the most strategic moment.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Farhaven Elf doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it might not offset the card disadvantage inherently part of playing creature spells. In circumstances where every card in hand is vital, summoning this elf could represent a missed opportunity for more impactful plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Farhaven Elf requires green mana to cast. This might not pose a problem in mono-green or green-focused multicolored decks, but in a deck where green is not a primary color, having the right mana available at the right time can be a constraint, potentially leading to situations where you can’t play the card when you need it most.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not overly expensive at three mana, considering the 1/1 stats and the one-time use land-fetching ability, some players might argue that there are other cards that could provide more utility or board presence for the same or lower mana cost. In a format where efficiency is key, Farhaven Elf’s cost-effectiveness is sometimes questioned.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Farhaven Elf serves a dual role in decks, acting as both a creature and a land accelerator. It’s a staple for Commander and casual formats where land ramp is crucial.

Combo Potential: This card easily slots into landfall strategies or combos with effects that trigger upon a creature entering the battlefield or lands being fetched from the deck.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-present need for mana acceleration in MTG, Farhaven Elf is consistently relevant, helping players keep up with more aggressive or high-cost strategies.


How to beat

Farhaven Elf is a staple in ramp decks within the MTG universe, prized for its ability to fetch a basic land from the deck and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Beating this card hinges on timing and deck construction. Efficient removal spells can counter the card’s ramping advantage. Direct damage spells or those that can change the target of Farhaven Elf’s entry effect are particularly effective.

Control decks have tools such as counterspells to disrupt the opponent’s mana curve and can manage the early game advantage Farhaven Elf provides. Furthermore, land destruction or land denial strategies can help negate the benefits Farhaven Elf brings to an opponent, though these are less common in the current competitive landscape.

Ultimately, understanding the role Farhaven Elf plays in an opponent’s deck strategy is the key. It’s not usually threat individually but for what it enables in subsequent turns. Keeping up the pressure and maintaining resource advantage are the best ways to mitigate the impact of Farhaven Elf in your MTG matchups.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve deeper into your MTG strategies by enhancing your deck with the versatile Farhaven Elf. As emphasized in our analysis, this card’s ability to provide card advantage and accelerate your mana resources makes it an invaluable asset. Utilize its potential in landfall decks and exploit its combo synergies to navigate the vast realms of MTG with greater ease. If you’re seeking a reliable mana fixer for your multicolor endeavors, consider this elf’s flexibility and meta relevance. Equip yourself with additional knowledge and strategies by joining our community, where you can refine your deck-building skills and outpace the competition. Embrace the journey, and transform your gameplay with BurnMana’s insights.


Cards like Farhaven Elf

Farhaven Elf is a prime example of an efficient creature that serves a dual purpose in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to other ramp cards such as Wood Elves which also allows you to search for a Forest card and put it onto the battlefield. However, Farhaven Elf is slightly more flexible as it permits the search for any basic land type, not just a Forest. This makes it a valuable component in multicolor decks where mana fixing is crucial.

Sakura-Tribe Elder is another card that echoes the utility of Farhaven Elf with a ramping ability. Instead of allowing you to search for a land upon entering the battlefield, Sakura-Tribe Elder offers the flexibility to sacrifice it at any time to fetch a basic land. While this doesn’t add a creature to the field, it gives you control over timing which can be key in certain strategic situations.

Sprouting Renewal, though not a creature, can be a worthwhile comparison for its versatility, providing a choice between creating a token or destroying an artifact or enchantment. Nevertheless, it doesn’t offer the land ramp benefit that comes with playing Farhaven Elf. When evaluating the advantageous trade-offs and adaptable mana ramping capabilities, Farhaven Elf holds a significant place in the array of ramp options available to Magic: The Gathering players.

Wood Elves - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Sprouting Renewal - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - Portal (POR)
Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior Super Series (PSUS)
Sprouting Renewal - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

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

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Pincher Beetles - MTG Card versions
Awakener Druid - MTG Card versions
Brindle Boar - MTG Card versions
Wood Elves - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Pincher Beetles - Tenth Edition (10E)
Awakener Druid - Magic 2011 (M11)
Brindle Boar - Magic 2011 (M11)
Wood Elves - New Capenna Commander (NCC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Farhaven Elf MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Commander 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 Farhaven Elf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Farhaven Elf Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-05-02ShadowmoorSHM 1132003normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
22013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1442003normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
32014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1962015normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
42017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1092015normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
52018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1462015normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
62020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2252015normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
72021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 622015normalblackBrandon Kitkouski
82023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2432015normalblackChristina Kraus

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Farhaven Elf has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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