Elminster MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Planeswalker — Elminster
Abilities Scry
Loyalty 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Elminster’s card draw ability seamlessly sifts through decks for optimal play selection and preparation.
  2. Allows the play of an additional land each turn, accelerating mana and enabling swift, powerful spells.
  3. Utility in casting copied spells instantly provides dynamic responses to opponents’ in-game strategies.

Text of card

Whenever you scry, the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn costs less to cast, where X is the number of cards looked at while scrying this way.
+2: Draw a card, then scry 2.
-3: Exile the top card of your library. Create a number of 1/1 blue Faerie Dragon creature tokens with flying equal to that card's mana value. Elminster can be your commander.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elminster churns through your deck by revealing the top three cards, providing you with options to immediately put a powerful card into your hand while prepping your next moves.

Resource Acceleration: This powerful planeswalker ramps up your resources by allowing you to play an extra land on each of your turns, paving the way for deploying game-changing spells earlier than your opponent expects.

Instant Speed: His ability to cast copy spells at instant speed gives you a tactical edge, allowing you to adapt and counter your opponent’s strategies in real-time while they’re committing to their own plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One particular downside of the Elminster card is the necessary action of discarding another card from your hand. This might put you at a disadvantage, especially in situations where your hand size is already depleted and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Elminster comes with a precise mana requirement that can be challenging for decks to accommodate. Its dependency on a particular combination of mana colors can restrict its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate those mana types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the Elminster card, it’s worth noting that the mana investment is on the higher end. This can impact your game plan, as spending a significant amount of mana on a single card may slow down your overall strategy compared to other options with a lower mana requisition.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Elminster is not limited to a single deck archetype, making him a flexible addition to any collection. With abilities that can synergize with various strategies, he can be a key piece in both control and combo decks.

Combo Potential: Elminster’s ability to draw cards and manipulate libraries opens up numerous combo possibilities. Whether it’s setting up the perfect draw or fine-tuning the graveyard for a game-winning sequence, he can be the enabler for intricate and powerful interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where knowledge and manipulation of both players’ decks are crucial, Elminster becomes a formidable asset. His skills adapt well to shifts in the competitive scene, ensuring that he retains value over time.


How to beat

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Elminster in Magic: The Gathering is key to developing a strategy against this formidable card. Elminster’s power lies in providing valuable card advantage and selection, which grants its controller a significant lead in resources over the course of a game. To effectively counter this, players should consider fast-paced aggression to reduce the time Elminster can impact the board. Focusing on direct removal spells can also be a crucial tactic, as eliminating Elminster quickly will cut the card draw benefits it provides.

Another approach involves utilizing cards that limit spell casting or card draw abilities, effectively negating Elminster’s advantage. This can be seen in cards like Narset, Parter of Veils or Notion Thief, which restrict the opponent’s ability to benefit from drawing extra cards. Moreover, hand disruption tactics, such as Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek, can preemptively deal with Elminster before it even enters the battlefield. This disruption can force an opponent to discard Elminster or to spend resources protecting it, both of which can tip the scales in your favor.

All in all, beating Elminster requires a combination of pressure, targeted removal, and strategic disruption to overcome the card advantage it is designed to provide.


BurnMana Recommendations

Elminster’s presence in MTG can offer complex card advantage and hasten your march to victory. By understanding the intricacies of its abilities, such as instant speed spell copying and resource acceleration, you can create overwhelming situations for your opponents. While the card has its downsides like a specific mana cost, its potential in various deck archetypes cannot be overlooked. If you’re intrigued by spellcasting prowess and considering whether Elminster deserves a spot in your arsenal, visit us to delve deeper into strategy and card analysis, where we unpack the full potential of this magical maestro.


Cards like Elminster

The Elminster card makes an intriguing mark in the MTG universe, particularly within the realm of legendary creatures. It can be compared to other famed cards like Jace, the Mind Sculptor, which also provides a flexible set of abilities central to control strategies. While Jace offers players the power to fateseal, bounce creatures, and an emblem for an alternate win condition, Elminster doesn’t trail far behind with its own array of potent spellslinging capabilities. Both cards are adept at creating card advantage but do so in distinctly unique paths reflective of their respective mana costs and color identities.

Similarly, Liliana of the Veil presents a potent choice for disrupting opponents, much like Elminster. Yet, the distinction lies in Liliana’s focus on oppressing the opponent’s hand and board presence while Elminster leans towards enriching your side of the field with an assortment of magical surprises. Additionally, while Liliana might be favored in deck archetypes that aim to strip resources, Elminster thrives in an environment where casting multiple spells buffs its strength and impact on the game state.

In essence, placing Elminster in the panorama of MTG’s legendary creatures reveals its capacity to lead a deck with its unique brand of arcane manipulation and strategic depth, making it a prized asset for spellcasting connoisseurs.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions
Jace, the Mind Sculptor - MTG Card versions
Liliana of the Veil - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Elminster by color, type and mana cost

Teferi, Hero of Dominaria - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions
Teferi, Hero of Dominaria - MTG Card versions
Venser, the Sojourner - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elminster // Elminster MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series and Battle for Baldur's Gate Promos, 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 Elminster // Elminster and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elminster // Elminster Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 362015Art seriesBorderless
22022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate PromosPCLB 274s2015NormalBlackViktor Titov
32022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 2742015NormalBlackViktor Titov
42022-06-10Battle for Baldur's Gate Art SeriesACLB 642015Art seriesBorderless
52022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 3622015NormalBorderlessTyler Jacobson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elminster has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal