Elvish Archivist MTG Card
2023-09-08 - Number 168
2023-09-08 - Number 168s
2023-09-08 - Number 355
2023-09-08 - Number 168p
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Elf Artificer |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Whenever one or more artifacts enter the battlefield under your control, put two +1/+1 counters on Elvish Archivist. This ability triggers only once each turn. Whenever one or more enchantments enter the battlefield under your control, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn.
Cards like Elvish Archivist
The Elvish Archivist is a unique creature card that brings utility to various Magic: The Gathering decks. It stands alongside other mana-generating creatures such as Llanowar Elves, one of the most popular and basic mana dorks. While Llanowar Elves provides a straightforward tap for green mana, Elvish Archivist offers a twist by allowing players to reshuffle their library into their draw pile. This is an ability it shares with cards like Feldon’s Cane but built into a creature, which can be a significant advantage.
Analogous to Elvish Archivist in terms of reshuffling the library is the Elixir of Immortality. Though it’s an artifact with a similar library-resetting ability, Elvish Archivist offers this as a repeatable creature effect, which can be far more disruptive and synergistic in creature-focused decks. It might not gain you life like the Elixir, but it gives you the flexibility in use during the game. Another similar card is Junktroller, a defensive creature with the unique ability to put an opponent’s graveyard card on the bottom of their library, although it lacks the broader reshuffling effect of the Elvish Archivist.
Despite its moderate mana cost and fragility as a creature, the Elvish Archivist holds its ground in decks where recycling the library and utilizing creatures are key strategies. The combination of abilities it offers can often be a game-changer in the long-term strategy of a match.
Cards similar to Elvish Archivist by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Elvish Archivist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Abzan Combo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024 | |
 | Abzan Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 08 2024 | |
| Five-color Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 06 2024 | |
 | Simic Cauldron | Standard | Simic Artifact Aggro | ReCQ - Standard - SCG CON Hartford - Saturday - 2:00 pm (Bronze) |
 | Golgari Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elvish Archivist offers continuous card cycling, giving you the ability to refresh your hand and sift through your library for key cards more efficiently. This ensures you’ll have the right answers or threats when you need them.
Resource Acceleration: Through its ability to accelerate your draw, Elvish Archivist indirectly boosts your resource acquisition. By drawing more cards, you’re naturally more likely to hit your land drops and have a wider array of spell choices to play earlier in the match.
Instant Speed: Elvish Archivist’s activation at instant speed gives you the flexibility to wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to make a move. This keeps your options open, allowing for surprise plays and better-informed decisions based on your opponent’s actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Elvish Archivist requires you to discard a card. This can present a strategic drawback, especially when your hand is depleted or contains valuable cards pivotal for maintaining an edge in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Elvish Archivist demands both green and a generic mana, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks that heavily or exclusively feature forests. Players running multicolored or mana-specific decks might find it challenging to meet this requirement consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that involves two mana types, Elvish Archivist sits at a higher mana bracket. For the same or lower mana investment, there are alternative creatures or spells that might yield immediate board presence or more versatile utility.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Elvish Archivist offers utility in various deck types, particularly ones that prize card selection and graveyard manipulation. This card can seamlessly integrate into elf-centric decks, increasing their adaptability.
Combo Potential: Its ability to reshuffle your graveyard into your library complements strategies revolving around card recursion or using the graveyard as a resource, enhancing decks that capitalize on such synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state where long, grindy matches predominate, Elvish Archivist can be a key component. It helps not only to maintain card quality in longer games but also counters strategies that target your library, demonstrating its significance in particular metagames.
How to beat
The Elvish Archivist card offers a unique advantage to those who wield it in the vast world of Magic: The Gathering. This resourceful elf taps to allow its controller to dig through their library, reshuffling it and potentially drawing into more advantageous plays. However, like all cards, it has vulnerabilities that can be exploited by savvy opponents.
To effectively neutralize this elf’s ability, consider using removal spells that can dispatch creatures at instant speed, so you can respond to the activation before the owner reaps the benefits. Spot removals like “Swords to Plowshares” or “Doom Blade” can be particularly effective. Furthermore, since Elvish Archivist must tap to activate, cards such as “Frost Breath” that freeze a creature’s abilities can lock down this nuisance card without resorting to outright removal.
For those playing blue, countering creature spells can prevent the Elvish Archivist from hitting the board at all. “Counterspell” and “Negate” are excellent choices for maintaining control. In the broader strategy, prioritize maintaining a board state that pressures your opponent, forcing them to defend rather than utilizing the Archivist’s ability. By understanding these strategies, players can diminish the impact of Elvish Archivist and keep the upper hand in their duels.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elvish Archivist MTG card by a specific set like Wilds of Eldraine and Wilds of Eldraine 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 Elvish Archivist 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 Elvish Archivist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-09-08 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by Mila Pesic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 168 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mila Pesic | |
| 2 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Promos | PWOE | 168s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mila Pesic | |
| 3 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine | WOE | 355 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mila Pesic | |
| 4 | 2023-09-08 | Wilds of Eldraine Promos | PWOE | 168p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mila Pesic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elvish Archivist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |