Marwyn, the Nurturer MTG Card


Acts as a resource engine in elf decks, offering card advantage and mana acceleration. Demands strategic hand management and can be limited by specific mana requirements. Offers potential for combos and remains relevant in creature-centric competitive play.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Druid
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Whenever another Elf enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Marwyn, the Nurturer. : Add an amount of equal to Marwyn's power.

Midwife to mothers and leader to all.


Cards like Marwyn, the Nurturer

Marwyn the Nurturer carves out a unique spot in the rich tapestry of mana dorks within Magic: The Gathering. Sharing a thematic kinship with elves that generate mana, such as Llanowar Elves that straightforwardly taps for green, Marwyn has the bonus of potentially growing larger with every other Elf played. This scalability sets her apart from the singular mana-generation of her Llanowar counterparts.

Elvish Archdruid sits as a comparison, boasting not only a mana-boost per elf in play but also a buff to the power and toughness of other elves. While Marwyn’s growth is personal and potentially more exponential, Elvish Archdruid amplifies the might of the whole team. Then comes Rishkar, Peema Renegade, who enters the fray empowering only two creatures with the ability to tap for mana, while also placing counters to bolster their strength. While both appeal to counter-centric strategies, Marwyn’s direct synergy with elf tribal decks offers a more focused strategy for those looking to capitalize on that creature type.

While balancing the benefits of elf synergies and individual power growth, Marwyn the Nurturer stands as a solid choice for players aiming to cultivate a potent board presence and accelerate their mana in MTG elf-themed decks.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Rishkar, Peema Renegade - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Rishkar, Peema Renegade - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Marwyn the Nurturer is designed to give elf-centric decks an edge by providing a substantial benefit each time another elf enters the battlefield under your control. This dynamic card empowers players to tap into a larger pool of resources, potentially turning each elf played into a new card or opportunity.

Resource Acceleration: As a legendary elf druid, Marwyn is not just a creature but also a powerful tool for mana ramping. Her ability to generate a green mana for each +1/+1 counter on her means that with each elf summoned, your mana pool can snowball, opening up the doors to cast high-cost spells sooner than your opponents can handle. This acceleration can be the linchpin in outpacing the competition and securing victory.

Instant Speed: While Marwyn herself doesn’t operate at instant speed, her ability to ramp up mana can empower MTG players to utilize instant speed spells and abilities more effectively. Having a larger mana reservoir thanks to Marwyn’s ability means you’ll be ready to react with instant spells when it’s most critical, such as during an opponent’s turn or in response to a game-changing threat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Marwyn the Nurturer doesn’t have a discard effect herself, it’s important to note the elf synergy necessary to optimize her tap ability may require you to discard other potentially useful cards to maintain a more focused strategy, potentially decreasing your hand options.

Specific Mana Cost: Marwyn the Nurturer demands a dedicated green mana amount for casting, which could constrain her to mono-green or two-color decks, thus limiting her flexibility in various multi-colored deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Marwyn stationed at three green mana, she sits at a mana slot that competes with other impactful three-cost creatures and spells. This cost might seem steep considering that her effectiveness is contingent upon other Elves being played, which can slow down your game pace when needing to establish a board presence quickly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Marwyn the Nurturer can be the cornerstone of elf tribal or green-based commander decks, offering incremental mana advantage turn over turn.

Combo Potential: This Elf Druid grows stronger with each elf summoned, allowing for explosive mana generation. Pair her with untap effects or other elves to unlock her full potential.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-heavy decks remain a mainstay in various formats, Marwyn’s ability to scale up and turn creatures into abundant mana makes her an enduring choice for competitive play.


How to beat

Marwyn, the Nurturer is a powerhouse in Magic: The Gathering, thriving in the Elf tribal archetype. Her ability to accumulate +1/+1 counters and generate a wealth of green mana makes her a formidable foe. To overcome Marwyn’s influence on the battlefield, a strategic approach that includes removal spells or effects that deny mana abilities is vital. Tapping into instant-speed removal allows you to react swiftly to her entry onto the field or in response to her ability being activated. Consider using cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile for an efficient solution.

Another strategy is to apply pressure early in the game. By doing so, you can prevent Marwyn from leveraging her full potential and keep the opponent on the back foot. Cards that can momentarily halt creature abilities, such as Phyrexian Revoker or Linvala, Keeper of Silence, are essential tools in your arsenal against Marwyn. Furthermore, ensuring that you have ways to deal with a board full of Elves, such as board clears like Wrath of God, will help you maintain control and prevent any exponential growth of mana and creatures on your opponent’s behalf.

In essence, timely removal, disruptive elements, and strong board control are key factors when aiming to neutralize Marwyn, the Nurturer’s impact in a match, keeping her nurturing capabilities in check and paving the way for your victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

As we’ve seen, Marwyn the Nurturer stands as a formidable force in MTG, especially for those dedicated to the elf archetype. This legendary creature ushers in a new era of mana ramping possibilities and combo potential, making your deck not just a collection of cards, but a well-oiled machine poised for victory. For players eager to optimize their elf-centric strategies, incorporating Marwyn could be the turning point towards consistent wins. We encourage exploring the various synergies and deck builds she enables. Join us to delve deeper into the strategic nuances of utilizing Marwyn the Nurturer in your MTG endeavors and advance your gameplay to the next level.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Marwyn, the Nurturer MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria Promos and Dominaria Promos, 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 Marwyn, the Nurturer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Marwyn, the Nurturer Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-04-27 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Chris Rahn.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-04-27Dominaria PromosPDOM 172s2015NormalBlackChris Rahn
22018-04-27Dominaria PromosPDOM 172p2015NormalBlackChris Rahn
32018-04-27DominariaDOM 1722015NormalBlackChris Rahn
42021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 682015NormalBlackChris Rahn

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Marwyn, the Nurturer has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2018-04-27 Marwyn’s activated ability is a mana ability. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.