Elephant Grass MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elephant Grass can effectively deter multiple creatures from attacking, essentially acting like a recurring fog each turn. This could save a player from losing valuable cards on the battlefield and help maintain a strong defensive position over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, Elephant Grass can significantly slow down an opponent’s aggressive strategies. This indirectly allows a player more time to develop their mana base and other resources without the pressure of an immediate onslaught.

Instant Speed: Elephant Grass doesn’t have instant speed itself, but the protection it offers can enable a player to safely wait until their last possible moment before deciding how to deploy other instant speed spells or abilities during an opponent’s turn. It assures that your mana could be spent on controlling the board, rather than prematurely committing to less efficient, speed-dependent plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Like other cards with upkeep costs, Elephant Grass requires you to pay mana during your upkeep. If you can’t or choose not to, you have to discard it. For players aiming to maintain board presence, this might be a critical resource-draining decision.

Specific Mana Cost: Elephant Grass demands green mana specifically, making it a potential stumbling block in multicolored decks that could face color mana fixing issues or an imbalance in the mana base structure.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Elephant Grass has a manageable initial casting cost, its cumulative upkeep can quickly become a burden, especially when you have a lineup of other spells you want to cast. This makes it less efficient for decks that aim to be mana-thrifty or those that need to reserve mana for other pivotal turns.

Reasons to Include Elephant Grass in Your Collection

Versatility: Elephant Grass is a unique enchantment that offers flexible defensive options. It can deter attacks from a broad range of creatures, notably black ones, acting as a protective barrier in your deck irrespective of your overall strategy.

Combo Potential: With a low initial cost and an upkeep that can be manipulated with cards that alleviate or re-purpose mana commitments, Elephant Grass has the potential to be a cog in various enchantment-based combos, enhancing strategies around protection and control.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive creature strategies are prevalent in many metas, Elephant Grass can be a significant countermeasure, potentially disrupting opponents’ tempo and providing you the breathing space needed to establish your winning conditions.

How to beat

Elephant Grass is a unique green enchantment that can present a considerable obstacle with its ability to tax players for attacking. Its low initial casting cost and the cumulative upkeep present a temporary but potentially stifling hurdle. Tackling Elephant Grass efficiently requires an understanding of its mechanics and planning around them.

One of the most straightforward methods is removing it with enchantment destruction spells. Green is popular for having multiple cards like Naturalize or Krosan Grip that can directly target and destroy enchantments. Alternatively, a player can opt for a broader approach with cards that can deal with any nonland permanents such as Beast Within. Players can also prepare for a longer game by waiting out the cumulative upkeep cost, as each turn gradually increases the tax the owner must pay to maintain Elephant Grass on the battlefield.

Strategically, it’s important to consider the type of deck you’re playing. Aggressive strategies might struggle against Elephant Grass more than control or combo decks, which can bypass the tax with non-creature spells or win conditions. Regardless of your strategy, respecting the powerful prevention effect of Elephant Grass and incorporating ways to handle it are key to beating this card.

BurnMana Recommendations

Elephant Grass poses an intriguing challenge and opportunity for MTG enthusiasts. Its ability to shape the battlefield and alter your opponent’s assault is undeniable. While it offers defensive fortitude, keep in mind the balance between its upkeep costs and your own strategic plans. For those delving into the subtleties of enchantment-based decks, Elephant Grass warrants consideration due to its disruptive prowess in the right meta. Navigating its intricacies can lead to a newfound appreciation for control and combo plays. Dive deeper into the strategy and potential of Elephant Grass with us and enhance your collection and gameplay today.