General Marhault Elsdragon MTG Card


Offers card advantage and resource acceleration for controlling game pace and overwhelming opponents with creature plays. Instant speed usage provides reactive play and mana efficiency, but mana cost specificity requires careful deck-building. While potent in battle, disruption through sacrifice effects, counterspells, or mana interference can effectively counter it.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Warrior
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control becomes blocked, it gets +3/+3 until end of turn for each creature blocking it.

Driven by rage, directed by his emperor's claw.


Cards like General Marhault Elsdragon

General Marhault Elsdragon stands out in the realm of Magic: The Gathering for its blend of creature and ramp abilities. When drawing parallels, one might consider the resemblance to Gruul Ragebeast. Both cards allow creatures to fight opponents’ creatures upon entering the battlefield. However, General Marhault Elsdragon takes a unique approach by permitting only your own creatures to fight, and only when you have an abundance of lands, thus limiting its utility in contrast to the unconditional trigger of Gruul Ragebeast.

Apart from that, Dragonlord Atarka emerges as a creature with a somewhat related effect, offering a direct damage ability when it enters the battlefield that can target creatures or planeswalkers, which provides greater flexibility than the General’s fight mechanic. Moreover, Atarka’s impact is immediate and doesn’t depend on the land count, making it a more reliable option in various situations.

In summary, while General Marhault Elsdragon provides a unique twist to creature combat strategies in Magic: The Gathering, its conditional use and resemblance to other cards that trigger fights or deal damage upon entry make it a specialized choice for players crafting a very particular type of deck.

Gruul Ragebeast - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Atarka - MTG Card versions
Gruul Ragebeast - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Atarka - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With General Marhault Elsdragon’s ability to boost your hand by recovering creatures from the graveyard, you solidify your card advantage. This is especially impactful in prolonged matches where resources become scarce, giving you the edge to outlast your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: General Marhault’s ramping abilities can be a game-changer, setting the stage for early high-cost plays. By facilitating resource acceleration, the card lays the groundwork for a dominant presence on the battlefield, quickly overwhelming opponents with superior forces.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of using General Marhault Elsdragon at instant speed means you can adapt swiftly to the dynamic flow of the game. This enables reactive play, allowing you to respond to threats effectively or to simply utilize your mana efficiently at the end of your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: General Marhault Elsdragon requires a particular combination of mana to cast—two generic, one green, and two red. This specificity in mana cost constraints deck-building options, as it must be included in a deck that can reliably produce both green and red mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cumulative cost of five mana for a 4/4 creature can be considered steep, especially in formats where the board state progresses quickly, and more impactful creatures or spells might be available at or before this cost threshold.

Discard Requirement: The activation of General Marhault Elsdragon’s abilities necessitates discarding a card. While it can be a strategic play in some scenarios, it also means relinquishing potential resources. In situations where hand size is already diminished, this additional cost can hinder the player’s ability to maintain card advantage.


Reasons to Include General Marhault Elsdragon in Your Collection

Versatility: General Marhault Elsdragon offers flexibility in deck-building, with its potential to serve as a commander in EDH or to add muscle in various aggressive red and green deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Deckbuilders might find this card’s rampaging nature quite synergistic with strategies that emphasize creature buffs and attack-phase enhancements, creating opportunities for explosive turns.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where creature-heavy decks prevail, General Marhault Elsdragon could prove invaluable, standing tall against other formidable creatures while delivering consistent damage. Its relevance increases in metas favoring creature-based combat.


How to beat

General Marhault Elsdragon stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable legendary creature, often turning the tide of battle with its ability to become nearly untouchable. Battling against such a creature requires a strategic approach. Since removing it through combat or targeted spells can be tricky once it has rampaged, you’ll want to look at alternative strategies like edict effects, which force your opponent to sacrifice a creature. In this way, cards like Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can be effective tools to clear Marhault from the board.

Control players may focus on countering Marhault Elsdragon before it ever touches the battlefield. With a cost of six mana, it leaves the caster vulnerable to counter spells for a significant time, making it an opportune target for cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak. Planning ahead and controlling the pace of the game is essential. Moreover, exploiting its heavy reliance on red and green mana can be pivotal, giving room for blood moon effects to disrupt Marhault’s summoning altogether.

Ultimately, while General Marhault Elsdragon can dominate games, it isn’t without weaknesses. By leveraging sacrifice effects, counter strategies, or mana disruption, one can effectively neutralize this imposing force on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the intricate world of MTG is a testament to both strategic acumen and creative deck building. Whether you’re enhancing your current arsenal or embarking on constructing a new one, General Marhault Elsdragon makes for an intriguing addition with both strengths and challenges. As you’ve seen, this card swings the tide of resource and combat dynamics, often determining the victor in a tightly contested match. We encourage seasoned and new players alike to consider the potential of General Marhault Elsdragon in their collections and evaluate whether its unique abilities can unlock new victorious strategies. Delve into our resources for deeper insights and become a formidable player in the ever-evolving battlefield of MTG.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase General Marhault Elsdragon MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria United Commander and Dominaria United Commander, 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 General Marhault Elsdragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The General Marhault Elsdragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Heonhwa Choe.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 532015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe
22022-09-09Dominaria United CommanderDMC 312015NormalBlackHeonhwa Choe

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where General Marhault Elsdragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 The ability triggers only once, no matter how many creatures are blocking it. The number of creatures blocking it is determined as the ability resolves.