Llanowar Augur MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elf Shaman
Released	2007-05-04
Set symbol
Set name	Future Sight
Set code	FUT
Power	0
Toughness	3
Number	129
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tsutomu Kawade

Key Takeaways

Llanowar Augur enhances creatures with trample, offering strategic advantages in close matches.
Card requires a sacrifice and precise timing, making it a complex yet impactful play.
Effective removal spells or strategy can counteract Llanowar Augur’s game-changing abilities.

Text of card

Sacrifice Llanowar Augur: Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains trample until end of turn. Play this ability only during your upkeep.

"I am irrelevant. The future I hold in my hands is everything."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Llanowar Augur can be sacrificed to grant trample to another creature, effectively using one card to enhance another, this strategic trade can lead to beneficial board states and potential game-winning plays.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a mana source, the Augur’s ability to give trample could expedite the game in your favor, effectively accelerating your path to victory through enhanced creature performance.

Instant Speed: The sacrificial ability of Llanowar Augur can be activated at instant speed, allowing for unexpected plays and the element of surprise during combat, shifting the tide in critical moments.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Llanowar Augur can provide a substantial boost by granting trample to a creature, it asks a player to discard a card. This can be a setback, especially in situations where card advantage is pivotal or the player’s hand is nearly empty.

Specific Mana Cost: Llanowar Augur incurs a cost that is exclusively green mana, which means that it is strictly used in green or green-inclusive decks. If your deck doesn’t align well with green mana sources or tends to be mana-scarce, this card can become unusable.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the cost-to-benefit ratio, the Llanowar Augur’s requirement of two green mana for its activation can be seen as high. Considering its modest 0/3 body and one-shot effect, it competes with other cards that could potentially offer more persistent board presence or versatile abilities for a similar investment.

Reasons to Include Llanowar Augur in Your Collection

Versatility: Llanowar Augur is a flexible card that can slip into numerous deck archetypes, particularly those looking to capitalize on creature buffs or requiring sacrifice outlets.

Combo Potential: This elf druid presents opportunities to combo with cards that leverage +3/+3 buffs or demand sacrificing a creature, unlocking various strategic plays for the savvy deck builder.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where small creatures are prevalent or the ability to quickly enlarge a creature for a decisive attack is paramount, Llanowar Augur could prove to be a highly impactful addition.

How to beat

Llanowar Augur is a unique green creature card in Magic the Gathering that offers both a boost to your attacking creatures and a self-sacrifice mechanism. Featuring the ability to sacrifice it to give a target creature trample and +3/+3 until end of turn, it presents a temporary but significant threat on the battlefield. Fortunately, dealing with it before your opponent can fully utilize its potential stops them from achieving an advantageous combat situation.

To counter Llanowar Augur, instant-speed removal spells are highly effective. By waiting for your opponent to activate the Augur’s ability, and responding with removal before it resolves, you can nullify the effect and leave them a creature short. Efficient spells that deal with small creatures, such as Fatal Push or Shock, can handle the task at a low mana cost. Additionally, employing counterspells when the Augur is cast prevents it from ever reaching the battlefield, stripping away its contribution to combat synergy altogether.

Strategy is key in Magic the Gathering, and sometimes the simplest methods, like carefully timed removal or denial, can dismantle an opponent’s plan, restoring balance to the match and positioning you for the win.

Cards like Llanowar Augur

Llanowar Augur is a green creature card that bestows a valuable trample ability and offers a boost to a creature’s power through its sacrifice ability. It’s similar to other MTG cards like Giant Growth, which also temporarily increases a creature’s power and toughness. In contrast, Llanowar Augur requires a sacrifice to achieve the effect, granting trample in addition to the power boost, albeit on a temporary basis until the end of the turn.

Exploring other parallels, Karametra’s Blessing defends creatures with a buff and added protection features. Although it doesn’t strictly compare with Llanowar Augur’s sacrifice and trample benefits, it serves as a quick way to strengthen creatures in a pinch. Incremental Growth is another similar card that enhances multiple creatures and can be a game-changer in multitudes compared to Llanowar Augur’s focus on individual creature enhancement.

Understanding the trade-offs between these enchantments and creature buffs reveals the unique position of Llanowar Augur in MTG strategies, with its distinctive blend of power boost and trample, making it a situational yet potent asset in creature-focused decks.

Karametra's Blessing - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Llanowar Augur by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Llanowar Augur MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight, 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 Llanowar Augur and other MTG cards: