Earth Elemental MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 144
1993-10-04 - Number 145
1993-12-01 - Number 145
1993-12-10 - Number 145
1993-12-10 - Number 145
1994-04-01 - Number 146
1994-04-01 - Number 146
1994-06-21 - Number 146
1995-04-01 - Number 188
1995-04-01 - Number 188
1999-07-01 - Number 95
2007-07-13 - Number 199
2010-06-04 - Number 42
2017-11-17 - Number 127
2018-06-08 - Number 174
2019-11-07 - Number 914
2022-11-28 - Number 141
2022-11-28 - Number 438
2020-09-26 - Number BBD-174
| Card sets | Released in 19 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Cards like Earth Elemental
Earth Elemental is a solid creature card that has been part of Magic: The Gathering’s long history. This red creature is easy to compare with other elemental beings in the game, like the classic Hill Giant. Both cards share the same power and toughness, standing on a 4/5. However, Earth Elemental’s higher mana cost makes it less favorable in terms of efficiency. Hill Giant comes out quicker with one less mana to cast, favoring those who want to impact the board early.
Looking at the broader spectrum of red elementals, we also encounter the likes of Fire Elemental. This creature offers a slightly different balance, providing more power with a 5/4 stat line. What makes Earth Elemental stand out is its slightly superior toughness, which can be crucial in outlasting opponents’ creatures. Despite similar casting costs, the choice between the two would largely depend on whether a player prioritizes offense over defense.
In light of these comparisons, Earth Elemental often features in decks where its sturdy nature and iconic status as an early MTG creature card are appreciated. It embodies the brute force that red decks can be known for, even though it may not be the most cost-efficient option available.
Cards similar to Earth Elemental by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Earth Elemental is a robust creature with a substantial power that can often outmatch opponents’ creatures on the board, leading to a potential two-for-one interaction in your favor when it comes to trading in combat.
Resource Acceleration: Although Earth Elemental itself does not provide direct mana acceleration, it’s a powerhouse on the field that can quickly become a pressing threat, potentially forcing your opponent to divert resources to address it, thus indirectly accelerating your own board state advantage.
Instant Speed: While the Earth Elemental is not an instant, having such creatures in your deck may influence how your opponent plays their instants and removal spells. They might need to hold back resources in anticipation, giving you the upper hand in the pacing of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: There is an inherent downside in that if you’re short on cards in hand, deploying Earth Elemental can further deplete your resources, making it challenging to sustain momentum.
Specific Mana Cost: The card demands a specific environmental commitment—two red mana—in its casting cost, which can narrow deck-building options and is less flexible in multicolored decks or those with a stringent mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Earth Elemental may seem inefficient when you consider the pace of the current MTG meta, where numerous creatures offer greater value or impactful abilities for the same or lower investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Earth Elemental offers a straightforward approach to deck building, fitting seamlessly into red-based decks that capitalize on raw power. Its simplicity harmonizes with a diverse array of strategies, from aggressive to ramp decks, where a sturdy creature presence is key.
Combo Potential: While not overtly combo-centric, Earth Elemental can interact favorably with landfall mechanics or cards that benefit from having a strong, earthy presence on the battlefield, multiplying its strategic value in specific builds.
Meta-Relevance: Given the right environment, the brute strength provided by Earth Elemental can be a force against creature-light control or combo decks, potentially skewing in your favor when navigating a meta that’s creature-adverse or filled with damage-susceptible threats.
How to beat
Earth Elemental is a classic creature card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its solid stance on the battlefield. This formidable creature often requires strategic maneuvers to overcome. Removing it typically involves targeting it with removal spells; these spells can come in the form of direct destruction like Murder, which simply states “destroy target creature”, circumventing Earth Elemental’s considerable toughness.
Another effective way to conquer this rocky behemoth is through combat tricks, employing creatures with deathtouch like Typhoid Rats, which can destroy any creature it deals damage to, regardless of the creature’s toughness. Control strategies also prevail using counterspells to prevent Earth Elemental from hitting the board in the first place, with classics like Counterspell itself or even more modern options like Dovin’s Veto, which stops a spell dead without any chance of it being countered back.
Lastly, overpowering Earth Elemental in battle can work, especially with creatures that have abilities like trample, flying, or other forms of evasion. Creature buffs and auras can also help your smaller creatures rise above Earth Elemental’s strength. When facing this stalwart of stone, remember these tactics to help turn the tides of war in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Earth Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Earth Elemental and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Earth Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 18 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 144 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 145 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 145 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 145 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 145 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 146 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 146 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 146 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 188 | 1993 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 188 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 11 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 95 | 1997 | Normal | White | Dan Frazier | |
| 12 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 199 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 13 | 2010-06-04 | Duels of the Planeswalkers | DPA | 42 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 14 | 2017-11-17 | Iconic Masters | IMA | 127 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 15 | 2018-06-08 | Battlebond | BBD | 174 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 16 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 914 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | |
| 17 | The List | PLST | BBD-174 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Anthony S. Waters | ||
| 18 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 141 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 19 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 438 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Earth Elemental has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |