Elrond, Lord of Rivendell MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Noble
Abilities Scry
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Elrond provides strategic card draw potential, enabling more informed gameplay decisions and resource management.
  2. It encourages efficient resource use, reducing casting costs and improving the deployment speed of spells.
  3. Elrond’s instant speed abilities grant players tactical flexibility and reactive play, vital for MTG matches.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elrond, Lord of Rivendell MTG card by a specific set like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, 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 Elrond, Lord of Rivendell and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Whenever Elrond, Lord of Rivendell or another creature enters the battlefield under your control, scry 1. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, the Ring tempts you.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elrond, Lord of Rivendell enables you to peek at the top card of your library at any given time, ramping up the potential for strategic card draws and bolstering your hand with the right tools when you need them.

Resource Acceleration: Embodying the quintessence of elvish wisdom, this powerful ally permits the efficient utilization of resources by potentially reducing the casting cost of your spells. This attribute acts as a catalyst for deploying more threats on board swiftly.

Instant Speed: The versatility of Elrond’s abilities shines at instant speed, allowing deft maneuvers and responses to your adversary’s actions. Operate with the element of surprise and control the flow of play by making pivotal decisions reactively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, you may face situations where maintaining card advantage is crucial. The discard requirement can challenge your game plan, especially when your hand is already depleted from earlier exchanges. You’ll need to weigh the cost of discarding potentially useful cards against the benefits Elrond offers on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Elrond calls for a very specific mana combination to cast, which can be limiting. If your deck isn’t optimized to produce the right colors efficiently, you could find yourself with an Elrond in hand but unable to cast him at the most strategic moment. This specific mana cost makes deck building around Elrond a careful balancing act.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost stands on the higher side, which may deter some players. For the amount of mana invested, it’s important to consider other alternatives in the same cost tier. Sometimes, the immediate impact of other cards on the game could overshadow the potential long-term advantages of Elrond, reflecting a trade-off in strategic deck composition and tempo.


Reasons to Include Elrond, Lord of Rivendell in Your Collection

Versatility: Elrond can seamlessly integrate into a variety of deck archetypes. Its ability to bolster your hand while manipulating library draws makes it a flexible option for both aggressive and control strategies.

Combo Potential: With Elrond’s unique skill set, it serves as an excellent combo enabler. Its interaction with cards that benefit from spell casting or those that manipulate the library elevates potential synergies in your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where adaptability is key, Elrond’s capacity to provide consistent deck performance is particularly valuable. Its relevance in the current competitive scene can give play strategies the edge they need to thrive.


How to beat Elrond, Lord of Rivendell

When facing off against Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, players must prioritize efficiency. As a card that potentially draws you multiple cards each time you cast a Spirit, Elf, or Shapeshifter spell, Elrond can quickly become overwhelming. To counteract, consider using instant speed removal spells that can disrupt your opponent’s momentum before the card advantage becomes insurmountable. Cards like Fatal Push and Path to Exile can efficiently deal with Elrond before the draw engine starts.

Additionally, graveyard disruption spells such as Rest in Peace prevent the recursion of creatures that Elrond may capitalize on. Enchantment removal like Disenchant can deal with Elrond itself if set as an enchantment. Counter magic also proves essential; a well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Elrond from entering the battlefield at all. Understanding the meta and adapting your sideboard to include cards that can target Elrond directly ensures that this powerful commander does not tip the scales too far in your opponent’s favor.

Every match requires a blend of foresight and adaptability. Keying into Elrond’s dependence on tribal synergies allows for strategies that can dismantle your opponent’s game plan and tilt the odds in your favor.


Cards like Elrond, Lord of Rivendell

In the realm of powerful creatures, Elrond, Lord of Rivendell stands out as a remarkable leader figure in MTG decks. It can be likened to other legendary creatures like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. While Thalia is known for taxing noncreature spells, giving you an edge in play timing, Elrond’s unique abilities offer unparalleled board control and potential card advantage.

Another resonant comparison is with Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, which similarly influences the board by buffing your creatures and weakening opponents’. However, Elrond’s influence extends beyond the battlefield with his synergies in Elf-focused decks, promoting dynamic play styles centered around Elf creature synergies. The card’s blend of versatility and tribal leadership set it apart, despite lacking Elesh Norn’s immediate impact on the board.

Overall, Elrond, Lord of Rivendell carves a niche in the MTG universe. His role in supporting and strengthening specific tribal decks, especially those composed of Elves, demonstrates significant strategic worth. As a hallmark of legendary cards, Elrond’s multifaceted abilities ensure that he can alter the course of the game, making him a competitive choice for players crafting high-synergy decks.

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions

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Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
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Printings

The Elrond, Lord of Rivendell Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 7992015NormalBorderlessAnato Finnstark
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3072015NormalBorderlessAnato Finnstark
32023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 5002015NormalBlackRyan Yee
42023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 492015NormalBlackRyan Yee
52023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth Art SeriesALTR 402015Art seriesBorderless

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elrond, Lord of Rivendell has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-06-16 As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
2023-06-16 Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
2023-06-16 If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
2023-06-16 Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
2023-06-16 The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
2023-06-16 The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.