Elderwood Scion MTG Card
2012-06-01 - Number 88
2016-11-25 - Number 88
2018-08-09 - Number 177
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Lifelink,Trample |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Trample, lifelink Spells you cast that target Elderwood Scion cost less to cast. Spells your opponents cast that target Elderwood Scion cost more to cast.
The Sunbriar druids believe that every life begins in its heart and ends under its hooves.
Cards like Elderwood Scion
Elderwood Scion stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a powerful creature that interacts beneficially with spells. It draws parallels with cards like Uril, the Miststalker which also enjoys benefits from being targeted by spells. Unlike Uril, Elderwood Scion reduces the cost of spells that target it, offering a unique mana-saving advantage. Additionally, Elderwood Scion forces opponents to pay more to target it with spells or abilities, adding a defensive edge that Uril lacks.
Also in the mix, we find Sigarda, Host of Herons, an eminent card that shares a protective trait similar to Elderwood Scion, shielding itself from being forced into a sacrifice by opponents’ spells. While Sigarda doesn’t reduce the cost of aura and equipment spells, it compensates with a robust evasion ability and prevents sacrifices, a different form of protection than the cost-increasing effect found on Elderwood Scion.
In essence, Elderwood Scion represents a unique and formidable choice for players seeking a creature that offers economical and protective features for aura and equipment spells, amidst other similar options in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Elderwood Scion by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elderwood Scion can be a potent source of card advantage. Its lower cost for spells that target it encourages a strategy built around spells and abilities, leading to more cards drawn or more creatures on the battlefield. In a deck well-suited to it, you’re likely to keep your hand filled with options.
Resource Acceleration: Playing Elderwood Scion effectively accelerates your resources by reducing the mana cost of spells that target this card. This allows for a more efficient use of mana, enabling you to cast multiple spells in a turn or save mana for defensive plays, keeping the pressure on your opponents consistently.
Instant Speed: Elderwood Scion’s benefits extend to instant speed spells specifically. By turning your combat tricks or protective spells into more cost-effective measures, you maintain tempo and battlefield presence against your opponents without sacrificing card quality or quantity in your deck build.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Elderwood Scion’s abilities may lead you to discard other potential game-changers from your hand, weighing down your strategic options and hand advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: With a combination of green and white mana needed to cast Elderwood Scion, it requires a dedicated mana base, making it less flexible for multi-color decks that don’t heavily feature these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sitting at a hefty five mana, one of which is color-specific, this card’s deployment can be slower compared to other creatures or spells that could provide immediate board presence or impact at a lower mana investment.
Reasons to Include Elderwood Scion in Your Collection
Versatility: Elderwood Scion is a card that suits various deck archetypes due to its cost reduction for creature spells and resistance to targeted removal, making it a valuable addition to both creature-heavy and multi-colored decks.
Combo Potential: With its ability to lower the cost of creature spells and resist enemy spells, it pairs well with strategies that involve casting numerous creatures and using abilities that are triggered when creatures are cast or enter the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where spot removal is rampant, Elderwood Scion stands out by requiring opponents to invest more resources to handle it, potentially skewing tempo in your favor and making it a force against decks that rely on pinpoint disruption.
How to beat
Elderwood Scion presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its cost-reduction and lifelink abilities, making it a tough opponent in MTG. To effectively neutralize the Scion’s impact, players need to adopt a strategy that revolves around bypassing its strengths. Removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” are effective ways to clear it from the board without triggering its ability to make spells cost more.
Another approach is to utilize spells that force opponents to sacrifice creatures, like “Diabolic Edict,” which can work around the Elderwood Scion’s ability since they don’t target it directly. Permission-based control decks can also keep the Scion in check by countering it before it ever lands on the battlefield.
Overcoming the Elderwood Scion involves clever deck building and strategic play. Players will find that removal spells that circumvent its abilities, sacrificing mechanisms, and countering it before it can take effect are all ways to ensure that Elderwood Scion doesn’t dominate the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elderwood Scion MTG card by a specific set like Planechase 2012 and Planechase Anthology, 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 Elderwood Scion 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
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Printings
The Elderwood Scion Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-06-01 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Nils Hamm.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-06-01 | Planechase 2012 | PC2 | 88 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 2 | 2016-11-25 | Planechase Anthology | PCA | 88 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm | |
| 3 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 177 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nils Hamm |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elderwood Scion has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elderwood Scion card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-06-01 | Aura spells require a target when they are cast. Elderwood Scion’s cost-reduction ability will affect Aura spells cast targeting it. |
| 2012-06-01 | Elderwood Scion’s cost-reduction ability can apply to any cost of a spell, including additional or alternative costs. |
| 2012-06-01 | Elderwood Scion’s cost-reduction ability can’t reduce the colored mana requirement of a spell. |
| 2012-06-01 | None of Elderwood Scion’s abilities affect abilities that target it. |
| 2012-06-01 | Spells you cast that target Elderwood Scion will cost less to cast even if those spells have additional targets. The same is true for spells your opponents cast costing more. |