Elvish Doomsayer MTG Card


Elvish Doomsayer - Commander Legends
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Released2020-11-20
Set symbol
Set nameCommander Legends
Set codeCMR
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number120
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDenman Rooke

Key Takeaways

  1. Elvish Doomsayer disrupts opponents by triggering a discard upon death, facilitating card advantage and strategic play.
  2. Though not a mana accelerator, it strengthens sacrifice strategies, meshing well with instant-speed sacrificial effects.
  3. Limited to green decks and susceptible to strategic counters, the card requires careful deck integration for efficacy.

Text of card

When Elvish Doomsayer dies, each opponent discards a card.

"From a tiny doubt, the greatest fears grow and flourish. May the weeds of your mind be equally fruitful."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elvish Doomsayer offers a unique way to disrupt your opponent’s hand by forcing them to discard when it dies. This ability can sort of replace itself by diminishing your opponent’s resources, potentially leading to card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although this card doesn’t directly provide mana acceleration, it can indirectly contribute to a player’s resource advantage. By including it in decks that aim to sacrifice creatures for benefits, such as mana or card draw, you turn its death into a strategic advantage.

Instant Speed: While the Doomsayer itself is a creature card not played at instant speed, it synergizes well with instant-speed spells and effects that can sacrifice it at the most opportune time. This allows savvy players to trigger the discard effect exactly when it can cause the most disruption, such as in response to an opponent’s draw or after they tutor a card to their hand.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Elvish Doomsayer forces you to lose hand advantage when it dies, obliging opponents to plan around its demise to avoid unfavorable card losses.

Specific Mana Cost: With its green mana requirement, it slots into green-centric or multi-colored decks, potentially restricting its play in non-green strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring two mana for its ability might seem too high, considering its frail 1/1 body, especially when more robust creatures are available at similar costs.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Elvish Doomsayer is adept at fitting into various deck styles, notably those harnessing the sacrifice or death-triggered mechanics. Its ability to force opponents to discard when it dies makes it a potential asset across multiple game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This creature can synergize well with strategies that capitalize on its death. Whether it’s being used to fuel graveyard-based synergies or to enhance attrition strategies, its presence on the board can set up beneficial interactions for the savvy player.

Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where hand disruption is key, Elvish Doomsayer offers strategic advantage. It aids in disrupting opponents’ plans while augmenting decks designed to exploit such vulnerabilities.


How to beat

Elvish Doomsayer is a flavorful piece from the MTG universe that can shift game dynamics with its death-triggered ability. When this green-aligned elf leaves the battlefield, each opponent is forced to discard a card. This can prove disruptive, particularly in formats that value card advantage. Taking it down is less about a head-on clash and more about strategic maneuvering. Nullifying its effect hinges on tactics that include exiling it, neutering its ability through cards like Hushbringer, or employing graveyard shenanigans to prevent the death-trigger ability from ever triggering.

Deck builders also work around the Doomsayer by leaning into strategies that benefit from discarding, turning a would-be setback into an opportunity. Moreover, in facing this elf, consider leveraging spells that can bounce it back to its owner’s hand without triggering its effect, preserving your hand and neutralizing the threat. Controlling the flow and allowing the Doomsayer to work on your terms is key.

Ultimately, while it might seem daunting to face an opponent wielding Elvish Doomsayer, understanding the card mechanics and adapting your playstyle can effectively mitigate its impact, maintaining your pace and strategy in the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of Magic the Gathering is akin to playing a grand symphony – every card must have a purpose and every move should be part of a greater strategy. Elvish Doomsayer is a symphonic piece that carries the potential to disrupt and rattle opponents. Intrigued by the tactics this card unlocks? Delving deeper into its strategic uses can prove quite the edge in your gameplay. We encourage you to further explore and integrate such niche cards into your deck, transforming each duel into a captivating dance of wit and foresight. Connect with us for more insights and turn your MTG journey into a procession of victories.


Cards like Elvish Doomsayer

Elvish Doomsayer offers a tactical approach to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. When compared to similar cards, it stands out for its death-triggered ability to force an opponent to discard a card. This ability is akin to that of Burglar Rat, which instead causes the discard when it enters the battlefield. But where Elvish Doomsayer excels is in its synergy with death-trigger mechanics, something Burglar Rat lacks.

Mesmeric Fiend presents another parallel. While it also triggers an effect related to hand disruption by exiling a card from an opponent’s hand upon entry, it doesn’t share the same inevitability of card loss upon death that Elvish Doomsayer ensures. Then there’s Black Cat, which has a random discard effect similar to Elvish Doomsayer when it dies. However, Elvish Doomsayer often provides more strategic control over the timing of the discard.

Overall, in the realm of hand disruption and creature sacrifice strategies, Elvish Doomsayer finds its niche. It may not have instant impact like Burglar Rat or targeted disruption like Mesmeric Fiend, yet its death-trigger sets up potential for strategic plays that can turn the tide of the game.

Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Fiend - MTG Card versions
Black Cat - MTG Card versions
Burglar Rat - MTG Card versions
Mesmeric Fiend - MTG Card versions
Black Cat - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elvish Doomsayer MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends, 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 Elvish Doomsayer and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elvish Doomsayer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elvish Doomsayer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-11-10 As Elvish Doomsayer's ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order chooses a card without revealing it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. Then each chosen card is discarded simultaneously.

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