Elvish Archdruid MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Elf Druid
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Elvish Archdruid excels in card advantage, strengthening each elf you control on the board.
  2. It offers significant mana ramping, crucial for quick deployment of high-cost spells and creatures.
  3. Its ability to enable instant-speed plays adds a strategic layer to the game.

Text of card

Other Elf creatures you control get +1/+1. : Add to your mana pool for each Elf you control.

He knows the name of every elf born in the last four centuries. More importantly, they all know his.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elvish Archdruid enhances your hand by empowering other elves, effectively multiplying the value of each elf card you control. This synergy creates a domino effect of utility, generating more potential plays as your elfish arsenal grows.

Resource Acceleration: As a notable mana dork in the MTG realm, Elvish Archdruid accelerates your mana pool significantly. Each elf on the battlefield translates to additional green mana, streamlining the deployment of high-cost creatures and spells, thereby ramping up your board’s threat level.

Instant Speed: Whilst not an instant itself, Elvish Archdruid’s mana boost can be a game-changer, enabling instant-speed plays. With a surplus of mana at your disposal, it allows you to react swiftly during any phase of the game, unlocking strategic depth and surprise moves against your opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Elvish Archdruid does not have a discard requirement, making this point inapplicable for its evaluation.

Specific Mana Cost: The Elvish Archdruid comes with a specific need for two Green mana in its casting cost. This restricts the card to Green-centric or multicolored decks that can meet this mana demand, which may not always align with a player’s strategy or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two that must be Green, Elvish Archdruid presents a moderately high investment in the early game. In a fast-paced environment, this can be a decisive factor, as players might prefer other lower-cost mana dorks or elves that allow for quicker plays or more flexible mana arrangements.


Reasons to Include Elvish Archdruid in Your Collection

Versatility: Elvish Archdruid serves as both an effective mana generator and a power boost for other Elves, making it a staple in Elf-based decks. Its dual functionality means it can support a range of strategies from aggressive swarms to big mana plays.

Combo Potential: This card is the linchpin in many Elf-combo decks, allowing for explosive turns by generating vast amounts of mana. Combine it with other Elves and synergistic spells to unlock powerful board states or even combo off for the win.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where tribal decks shine, Elvish Archdruid is an MVP. Against control decks, it helps you recover by deploying threats quickly post-clearance. Its value in ramping lets you keep up or outpace other creature-based strategies, maintaining its competitive edge.


How to beat

The Elvish Archdruid is a powerful inclusion in elf-based decks within Magic: The Gathering, noted for its ability to significantly boost both mana generation and the power of other elves. To counteract this potent leader, targeted removal spells are your best bet. Removing the Elvish Archdruid is essential, as it reduces the mana available to your opponent and their overall board presence.

Using instant-speed removal gives you an edge, allowing you to wait until your opponent is tapped out or has committed to a play reliant on the Archdruid’s abilities, before striking. In a broader strategy, incorporating board wipes can disrupt elf synergies, clearing multiple threats at once. It’s also worth considering the timing of such removals, as eliminating the Elvish Archdruid before your opponent can utilize the mana or the buff can swing the momentum in your favor, potentially stalling their development and giving you a considerable advantage in the match.

Beating the Elvish Archdruid requires a blend of strategic removal and timing, ensuring that this keystone of elf decks doesn’t get the chance to snowball and overwhelm you with a formidable elven army.


BurnMana Recommendations

Elvish Archdruid stands as a torchbearer for elf enthusiasts in MTG, bringing a blend of aggressive synergy and strategic depth to the table. Building a deck around this iconic card can lead to prolific mana generation and turns your elvish cohort into a substantial force. Whether you are curating a new elf deck or optimizing an existing one, consider how Elvish Archdruid could serve as a pivotal asset. With careful play and a keen sense of timing, this card is a game-changer. Dive deeper into its potential and refine your strategy by learning how Elvish Archdruid can command your next victory.


Cards like Elvish Archdruid

Elvish Archdruid stands out among mana dorks in Magic: The Gathering, serving as a cornerstone in elf-based decks. It’s often compared to Priest of Titania, which also generates a significant amount of green mana depending on the number of elves on the battlefield. However, Elvish Archdruid provides an added bonus of pumping up fellow elves’ power and toughness, a feature that Priest of Titania lacks.

Another card that enters the comparison is Marwyn, the Nurturer. Marwyn gains strength with each elf summoned and taps for mana equal to her power, presenting a single-target power growth potential, unlike the Archdruid’s collective elf empowerment. Heritage Druid also deserves a mention, bypassing summoning sickness to tap three elves for three mana, it offers instant resource availability which the Archdruid cannot compete with.

In evaluating these options, Elvish Archdruid is a versatile choice. It not only accelerates your mana production but also turns your swarm of elves into a more formidable army, making it a pivotal card in many elf synergistic strategies in Magic: The Gathering.

Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Marwyn, the Nurturer - MTG Card versions
Heritage Druid - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - Urza's Saga (USG)
Marwyn, the Nurturer - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)
Heritage Druid - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Elvish Archdruid by color, type and mana cost

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Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
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Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Leatherback Baloth - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Pincher Beetles - Tenth Edition (10E)
Yavimaya Elder - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elvish Archdruid MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Elvish Archdruid and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elvish Archdruid Magic the Gathering card was released in 11 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 1762003normalblackKarl Kopinski
22010-07-16Magic 2011M11 1712003normalblackKarl Kopinski
32011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1722003normalblackKarl Kopinski
42012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1682003normalblackKarl Kopinski
52014-11-07Commander 2014C14 1902015normalblackKarl Kopinski
62017-06-09Commander AnthologyCMA 1022015normalblackKarl Kopinski
72020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3912015normalblackKarl Kopinski
82020-09-26The ListPLST DDU-52015normalblackRaymond Swanland
92021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 572015normalblackRaymond Swanland
102022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 932015normalblackRaymond Swanland
112023-06-23Tales of Middle-earth CommanderLTC 2372015normalblackAnastasia Balakchina

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elvish Archdruid has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
GladiatorLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2009-10-01 Elvish Archdruid's first ability affects only other Elves you control. However, Elvish Archdruid's second ability counts all Elves you control — including itself.
2011-09-22 Elvish Archdruid's activated ability is a mana ability. It doesn't use the stack and players can't respond to it.

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