Wickerbough Elder MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Treefolk Shaman
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Wickerbough Elder provides disruptive instant-speed removal of non-land permanents, influencing the board state.
  2. Instant speed action allows tailored responses to an opponent’s plays, offering strategic control.
  3. Though powerful, it requires setup to optimize its ability, demanding strategic deck building.

Text of card

Wickerbough Elder comes into play with a -1/-1 counter on it. , Remove a -1/-1 counter from Wickerbough Elder: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.

"Living scarecrows make a mockery of the natural order. Dead ones make fine hats."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Wickerbough Elder provides players with the ability to remove troublesome artifacts or enchantments from the board, which can potentially disable an opponent’s combo or pivotal strategy. Even though the Elder itself does not draw cards, gaining the upper hand by removing key pieces from play can be a significant shift in card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that can be played earlier in the game, Wickerbough Elder sets you up for future turns by keeping the board clear of non-land permanents that could otherwise accelerate your opponent’s resources or hinder yours. Though it doesn’t directly provide mana, it helps maintain a state of play that is conducive to your own resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Wickerbough Elder’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, meaning you can respond to your opponent’s actions during their turn or at the end of their turn. This flexibility allows you to make the most informed decisions possible, holding up the ability to disrupt opponent strategies without needing to commit to a play on your own turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating Wickerbough Elder’s ability necessitates the removal of a -1/-1 counter, which may not be readily available without additional setup in your deck.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires both green mana and additional generic mana, making it less flexible for decks not heavily invested in green.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For four mana, including one green, some players might find its enter-the-battlefield ability less impactful compared to other options, especially in fast-paced games where mana efficiency is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Wickerbough Elder can adapt to various deck archetypes since it’s a useful tool against enchantments and artifacts, almost universal fixtures in games. Its live removal ability can unsettle numerous strategies, making it a valuable inclusion for any green decks.

Combo Potential: With its ability to remove a -1/-1 counter to destroy a noncreature permanent, Wickerbough Elder pairs well with cards that benefit from destroying your own artifacts or enchantments or those that multiply counters for added utility.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta often cycles through phases where artifacts and enchantments dominate, having Wickerbough Elder at your disposal ensures you’re ready to dismantle key pieces of opponents’ strategies, keeping you competitive.


How to Beat Wickerbough Elder

Adept players might run across Wickerbough Elder in a Magic: The Gathering match, facing a card known for its flexibility in dealing with artifacts and enchantments. This creature comes into play with a -1/-1 counter, which can be removed to destroy any pesky noncreature permanent of those types. To overcome this, timing is key. Engaging the Elder when it’s least beneficial for your opponent is a smart strategy. Additionally, since its ability isn’t a mana ability, players can respond to it. Use this window to either counter the ability or save your important artifact or enchantment with a bounce or protection spell.

Protecting your key permanents beforehand with cards that grant hexproof or shroud can safeguard them from the Elder’s destructive touch. It’s crucial to maintain board presence, as the Elder must be on the field to use its ability. Swift removal spells or taking advantage of the Elder’s summoning sickness before it becomes active can prevent its ability from being a thorn in your side. Remember that Wickerbough Elder’s ability is a one-and-done deal; once used, the threat is gone unless it’s recurred from the graveyard.

Understanding the inherent limitations of Wickerbough Elder will help you mitigate its effect on your strategy and maintain control of the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depth of MTG’s vast card pool brings us to the Wickerbough Elder, a creature that exemplifies adaptability in green decks. Balancing your deck’s response to artifacts and enchantments is essential in evolving gameplay and Wickerbough Elder serves as a prime candidate for this role. Its ability to disrupt at instant speed spells trouble for opponents leaning heavily on non-creature permanents. Yet, remember to consider the synergy within your own deck and the current meta to truly harness its potential. For insights into perfecting your strategy with versatile cards like Wickerbough Elder, join our community’s ongoing quest for mastery and in-depth discussion.


Cards like Wickerbough Elder

Wickerbough Elder stands out as a versatile card in Magic: The Gathering, offering unique utility among creatures with the ability to deal with artifacts and enchantments on the board. Drawing parallels to Reclamation Sage, another creature card with a similar enter-the-battlefield ability that destroys an artifact or enchantment, Wickerbough Elder differs by providing flexibility through its persist ability, allowing it to be used multiple times under the right conditions.

On examining Acidic Slime, we also observe its shared capability to handle multiple permanent types, yet it comes with a deathtouch bonus and can target lands, giving it an edge in certain strategies. Despite its higher mana cost, it compensates with wider destruction options. Alternatively, we have Caustic Caterpillar, which, like Wickerbough Elder, has an inherent artifact and enchantment removal attached to a creature. However, it boasts a lower casting cost and can be sacrificed without needing additional mana, albeit without the resilience offered by persist.

In scrutinizing Wickerbough Elder alongside its counterparts, this card clearly provides a vital role with its persistent presence and adaptable destruction ability, positioning it as a strong selection for decks that require repeated interaction with non-creature permanents.

Reclamation Sage - MTG Card versions
Acidic Slime - MTG Card versions
Caustic Caterpillar - MTG Card versions
Reclamation Sage - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)
Acidic Slime - Magic 2010 (M10)
Caustic Caterpillar - Magic Origins (ORI)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Wickerbough Elder MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Archenemy, 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 Wickerbough Elder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Wickerbough Elder Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-07-25EventideEVE 802003normalblackJesper Ejsing
22010-06-18ArchenemyARC 742003normalblackJesper Ejsing
32010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 A882003normalblackJesper Ejsing
42018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 1922015normalblackJesper Ejsing
52020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 4402015normalblackJesper Ejsing
62022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3202015normalblackJesper Ejsing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Wickerbough Elder has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-12-07 If an effect puts Wickerbough Elder onto the battlefield with one or more +1/+1 counters, its -1/-1 counter and one of those +1/+1 counters are removed as a state-based action before you can activate its ability.
2018-12-07 You must choose a target artifact or enchantment to activate Wickerbough Elder's last ability. You can't pay just to remove a -1/-1 counter from it without a legal target.

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