Elvish Mariner MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Pilot
Abilities Scry
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Elvish Mariner excels in card advantage, resource acceleration, and instant speed plays, enhancing strategic depth.
  2. Challenges include a discard requirement, a specific mana cost that may limit deck inclusion, and a high casting cost.
  3. Its versatility, combo potential, and meta-relevance make Elvish Mariner a worthy addition to green-focused MTG collections.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elvish Mariner 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 Elvish Mariner and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Whenever Elvish Mariner attacks, scry 1. Whenever you scry, tap up to X target nonland permanents, where X is the number of cards looked at while scrying this way.

In the days of the Kings, most of the High Elves dwelt with Círdan or in the seaward lands of Lindon.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Delving into the strengths of Elvish Mariner, strategic players will appreciate its capability to enhance card advantage. This remarkable card can potentially draw you additional cards or let you play extra cards, ensuring your hand remains full, and options plentiful as you navigate the evolving complexities of each match.

Resource Acceleration: Elvish Mariner shines as a beacon of resource acceleration for those deck strategies that aim to deploy their threats early and swiftly. By providing an extra boost of mana or enabling the summoning of creatures sooner than usual, it solidifies your presence on the battlefield, ensuring you’re always one step ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: The utility of Elvish Mariner is further amplified by its ability to operate at instant speed. This flexibility empowers players to adapt their tactics in real-time, responding to an opponent’s moves with precision or optimizing their own strategy during the slightest of openings, all without having to commit resources during their own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Elvish Mariner requires players to discard another card from their hand as part of its casting cost. This can put the player at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage, especially if their hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost includes a requirement for green mana, which means it may not fit seamlessly into multicolored decks that could struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the card’s casting cost being on the higher side for its abilities, players might find that there are other elves or creatures in green that offer more utility or board presence for a similar or lower investment of mana resources.


Reasons to Include Elvish Mariner in Your Collection

Versatility: Elvish Mariner is a multifaceted addition capable of slotting into numerous deck builds. Its elf subtype ensures it has a natural home in elf tribal decks, while its creature interaction abilities offer broader utility in green decks focused on creature synergy.

Combo Potential: This card serves as a linchpin in various combos, particularly in green-based synergistic strategies that prize creature abilities. Its potential to untap creatures or lands can be exploited in numerous ways, fueling both aggressive and intricate combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-centric decks are common, Elvish Mariner’s contribution to board presence and its tactical abilities can significantly impact matches. Its role in pertinent meta games underscores its worth as a collection staple for green deck enthusiasts.


How to beat

The Elvish Mariner proves to be a resilient force on any battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a creature that shines in elf-centric decks, it offers both an offensive presence and strategic defenses. In order to effectively navigate against this card, players must be savvy in disrupting elf synergy. It’s imperative to focus on removal spells that can bypass the Mariner’s inherent protections or to exploit weaknesses before the board state becomes overwhelming.

Utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the field, negating the advantage gained by numerous elf creatures. If the situation allows for targeted removal, cards like Path to Exile offer a solution that avoids triggering protection mechanisms the Mariner may have. Alternatively, controlling the game’s pace through counterspells and setting up deterrents early on can prevent an elf-heavy deck from ever hitting its stride, thereby keeping the Elvish Mariner from becoming a significant threat.

In summary, while the Elvish Mariner can be a cornerstone in the right deck, a combination of timely removal, control elements, and strategic planning, can ensure its impact is minimized. This creates a pathway for countering the momentum it could potentially generate on the MTG battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic world of MTG with the Elvish Mariner, a card offering more than just an ordinary play. This unique addition bolsters your strategic options, granting the chance to not just react, but to proactively shape the battlefield. While it elevates green decks with synergy and combo potential, some facets like its mana specificity and discard requirement require careful deck building and playstyle adaptation. With its potential to contribute to various strategies, the Elvish Mariner is poised to be a valuable asset. Expand your knowledge and optimize your deck with our in-depth insights. Don’t wait; discover how the Elvish Mariner can revolutionize your game today.


Cards like Elvish Mariner

The Elvish Mariner’s entry to the world of MTG creature cards brings to mind other elves that have found a home in many players’ decks. A notable parallel can be drawn with Elvish Visionary, a fellow elf who shares the ability to provide an extra draw upon entering the battlefield. While the Mariner doesn’t offer the card draw directly, its sneaky replacement effect can lead to advantageous board states.

Peering into the realm of elf synergy, Llanowar Elves is a classic that also taps for mana. Although it doesn’t have the potential to disrupt opponents’ strategies like Elvish Mariner, its simplicity in providing an immediate mana boost can be crucial for tempo. Elvish Mystic operates on the same principle, underlining the basic utility of mana dork elves.

Evaluating the Elvish Mariner against these similar cards, it’s clear that it offers a unique blend of disruption and synergy for elf-themed decks. Its strength doesn’t lie in raw power, but in the subtle interplay with the opponent’s actions, making it a fascinating addition to MTG’s vast array of elves.

Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Elvish Visionary - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions

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Prodigal Sorcerer - MTG Card versions
Apprentice Wizard - MTG Card versions
Homarid - MTG Card versions
Daring Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Time Elemental - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Shaman - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions
Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Wall - MTG Card versions
Wall of Air - MTG Card versions
Phantom Warrior - MTG Card versions
Wormfang Drake - MTG Card versions
Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions
Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions
Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions
Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Warchief - MTG Card versions
Blind Phantasm - MTG Card versions

Printings

The Elvish Mariner Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-06-23 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by Axel Sauerwald.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 2832015NormalBlackAxel Sauerwald
22023-06-23The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthLTR 3842015NormalBlackAxel Sauerwald

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elvish Mariner has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elvish Mariner 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 Elvish Mariner's last ability cares about the number of cards you actually looked at. For example, if you were supposed to scry 3 but only had two cards in your library, X would be 2.