Elder Cathar MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 12
2016-02-26 - Number 9
2023-03-21 - Number 6
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Elder Cathar enhances gameplay with death-triggered buffs, making creature sacrifices more impactful.
- Requires careful play due to its sacrifice condition and specific mana cost, limiting some strategies.
- Despite cons, offers flexibility and meta-relevance in creature-based decks, enriching collections.
Text of card
When Elder Cathar dies, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. If that creature is a Human, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead.
"My greatest hope is that you will surpass me in every way, consigning my name to some forgotten corner of history."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Elder Cathar’s ability to be sacrificed from the battlefield not only triggers its own effect but can also work in tandem with other cards that benefit from creature deaths to optimize card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Upon dying, Elder Cathar bestows a valuable boost to another creature you control, potentially transforming a small threat into a significant one without needing extra mana investment. This effective use of resources can accelerate your board state and pressure your opponent.
Instant Speed: While Elder Cathar itself may not operate at instant speed, its death-triggered ability can unexpectedly enhance your creatures during combat or in response to removal, leveraging instant speed tactics indirectly to surprise an adversary.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For the Elder Cathar, sacrificing a creature is part of its ability cost. This prerequisite can be particularly painful if you’re short on creatures or rely heavily on the ones you have for your game strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Elder Cathar requires both white and generic mana to cast. This specific mana combination can be restrictive for multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana available at the needed time.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its ability tied to a death trigger, its cost-to-effect ratio is less favorable compared to other low-cost creatures that could provide immediate benefits or have more impactful abilities upon entering the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Elder Cathar is a card that seamlessly integrates into many strategies, particularly in decks that thrive on creature sacrifice or require fuel for graveyard synergies. Its ability to grant a boost to another creature upon death makes it a multipurpose asset in gameplay.
Combo Potential: With its death-triggered ability, Elder Cathar partners well with mechanics that capitalize on creatures dying, such as morbid or persist. It also works in tandem with human and soldier tribal themes, enabling various strategic combinations for a stronger board presence.
Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Elder Cathar can be a cost-effective inclusion. It holds its ground by providing value even when removed from the battlefield, maintaining relevance in numerous match-ups and keeping pace with shifting metas.
How to beat
Elder Cathar is a staple white creature card known for its afterlife utility, turning a potential loss into an advantage. When Elder Cathar dies, it boosts another creature with a +1/+1 counter, which can be a key tactic in white weenie or token strategies. Yet, every card has its Achilles heel, and in the case of Elder Cathar, that weakness is exile effects. By removing it from the game rather than sending it to the graveyard, you negate the death-triggered ability, thereby muting its impact.
Another strategy is to apply control effects that neutralize creatures without destroying them. Cards like Pacifism or enchantments that remove abilities can effectively turn Elder Cathar into a non-threat. Counterspells are also effective, ensuring that Elder Cathar never even enters the battlefield in the first place. Timing and knowing when to deal with creatures like Elder Cathar, either before they can bolster other creatures or before their death-trigger effects can create a game-altering advantage, is critical to maintaining control.
In summary, Elder Cathar presents a challenge but can be tactically circumvented in gameplay. By employing exile, control strategies, or preemptive counterspells, you can mitigate the benefits it provides to your opponent in MTG and maintain the upper hand.
Cards like Elder Cathar
Elder Cathar is a notable addition to the suite of sacrifice-geared creatures within MTG. It finds a close comparison with cards like Doomed Traveler, which also provides value upon death by creating a token creature. While Doomed Traveler focuses on creating a single 1/1 spirit creature token with flying, Elder Cathar takes a different route by bolstering other creatures you control, offering a potentially larger impact on the board state.
Another card often matched with Elder Cathar in terms of functionality is Perilous Myr. This artifact creature, upon its demise, delivers damage directly to any target, providing a more immediate effect compared to Elder Cathar’s focus on long-term strength boost. Morrowind’s synergy with Elder Cathar shines with cards like Unruly Mob, which grows stronger with each creature’s death, embracing the sacrificial strategy that Elder Cathar promotes.
Considering these comparisons, Elder Cathar stands out for its ability to turn the tide of a creature-focused combat strategy, adding layers of complexity and decision-making to gameplay. Its unique attribute of empowering other creatures upon leaving the battlefield grants it a solid place among MTG’s sacrifice-related cards.
Cards similar to Elder Cathar by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Elder Cathar MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed, 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 Elder Cathar and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Elder Cathar Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2023-03-21. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 12 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 2 | 2016-02-26 | Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed | DDQ | 9 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn | |
| 3 | 2023-03-21 | Shadows of the Past | SIS | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Chris Rahn |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Elder Cathar has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
