Thicket Elemental MTG Card

Invasion (INV)
2000-10-02 - Number 214

Thicket Elemental - Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis (DDR)

Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis (DDR)
2016-09-02 - Number 21

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Kicker
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Thicket Elemental gives card advantage by fetching creatures directly from the library.
It enables tempo gain by placing two creatures for one’s mana cost.
Instant-speed synergies add surprise elements and strategic depth to matches.

Text of card

Kicker o1o G (You may pay an additional o1o G as you play this spell.) When Thicket Elemental comes into play, if you paid the kicker cost, you may reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature card. If you do, put that card into play and shuffle all other cards revealed this way into your library.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: One of the primary benefits of Thicket Elemental is its ability to give you a leg up in the card advantage game. When it enters the battlefield, its kicker effect allows you to reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature card, which you can then put directly onto the battlefield. This not only potentially puts a powerful creature into play but also thins your deck, increasing the quality of your future draws.

Resource Acceleration: Thicket Elemental can act as a form of resource acceleration in your deck. When played with its kicker, you’re effectively putting two creatures into play for the price of one. This can be a huge tempo swing, allowing you to accelerate your board presence and apply pressure to your opponent much faster than usual.

Instant Speed: Although Thicket Elemental itself does not have instant speed, it synergizes well with effects that grant your creature spells flash. This allows you to pass the turn with mana open and play Thicket Elemental at the end of your opponent’s turn, which can lead to unexpected swings in board state and can be used strategically to surprise an unprepared opponent.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One limitation of Thicket Elemental is its Kicker cost, which often requires you to discard another card to fully utilize its ability. This can be a setback when your hand is already running thin, forcing tough decisions about resource management.

Specific Mana Cost: Thicket Elemental has a specific mana cost including both generic and green mana, which could potentially limit its integration in decks that have a stricter color base or operate on a more multicolor-friendly mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a base casting cost of five mana, Thicket Elemental may come into play later than other creatures with similar effects. This higher mana investment sometimes puts it at odds with a deck’s tempo, especially in formats where speed and efficiency reign supreme.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Thicket Elemental’s ability to potentially bring another creature onto the battlefield without paying its mana cost makes it a valuable asset in decks that capitalize on creature synergies or need to establish a board presence swiftly.

Combo Potential: The Kicker mechanic of Thicket Elemental allows it to not just summon a creature but can also act as a catalyst for enter-the-battlefield effects or other combo enablers, creating opportunities for powerful plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to cheat substantial creatures into play, Thicket Elemental maintains relevance in various MTG formats where creature-based strategies are prevalent, making it a smart pick for adaptive deck-building.

How to beat

Thicket Elemental is a creature card with a unique potency in the realm of Magic the Gathering gameplay. Its kicker ability to potentially put another creature onto the battlefield at no additional mana cost makes it a threat not to be underestimated. However, with strategy, this creature can be managed. One of the most effective tactics is to use instant-speed removal spells before the kicker ability resolves, thus preventing further board development. Cards like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can efficiently handle the Elemental without heavy resource investment.

Counterspells also offer a reliable defense against Thicket Elemental. Cards such as Counterspell or Mana Leak can disrupt the opponent’s plans early on and maintain control of the game. In addition, an enchantment like Pacifism or Journey to Nowhere can neutralize the Elemental’s threat while it’s on the battlefield, limiting your opponent’s ability to leverage its power.

Overall, while Thicket Elemental presents a challenge with its ability to bring additional creatures into play, swift removal, strategic countering, and incapacitating enchantments create effective countermeasures for any MTG player facing this formidable adversary.

Cards like Thicket Elemental

Thicket Elemental has its own unique place in the world of creature spells in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out with its Kicker ability, giving you the chance to put a creature card from your deck onto the battlefield when it’s played with the kicker cost. This can be compared to the creature spell Greenwarden of Murasa, which also interacts positively with the battlefield by providing a retrieval function for cards from the graveyard.

When evaluating effectiveness, Woodland Bellower comes to mind, fetching a nonlegendary green creature with lesser mana cost directly into play, yet it lacks the surprise element that Thicket Elemental offers. Deranged Hermit is another creature that can flood the battlefield, by creating multiple tokens upon entry. However, it doesn’t have the potential for immediate impact at higher mana values that Thicket Elemental possesses.

The flexibility and board presence that Thicket Elemental provides are unparalleled in certain decks, making it a competitive option among cards designed for direct creature play advantages. Whether optimizing for an immediate impact or late-game strength, Thicket Elemental can adapt to various strategic needs, setting it apart in the creature-rich environment of Magic: The Gathering.

Greenwarden of Murasa - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Thicket Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Thicket Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis, 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 Thicket Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Thicket Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2016-09-02. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2000-10-02	Invasion	INV		214	1997	Normal	Black	Ron Spencer
2	2016-09-02	Duel Decks: Nissa vs. Ob Nixilis	DDR		21	2015	Normal	Black	Ron Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Thicket Elemental has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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