Glistener Elf MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Elf Warrior
Abilities Infect
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Glistener Elf offers card advantage by applying pressure without additional resource expenditure.
  2. Mana-efficient one-drop with infect, accelerates your strategic plays and board presence.
  3. Synergizes with instant-speed spells, enhancing its lethality and forcing cautious opponent play.

Text of card

Infect (This creature deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters.)

"Beg me for life, and I will fill you with the glory of Phyrexian perfection."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Glistener Elf doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it compensates by offering a persistent threat that demands an answer. Every turn it remains on the battlefield is an opportunity for you to pull further ahead by applying pressure without expending additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: Glistener Elf’s strength lies in its low casting cost, requiring only one green mana to summon. This efficiency allows you to deploy threats early and save your mana for other strategic plays or to cast multiple spells in a single turn, effectively accelerating your board presence and resource utilization.

Instant Speed: While the Elf itself isn’t an instant, its infect ability synergizes with instant-speed buffs and tricks. Casting a pump spell at instant speed can unexpectedly turn the Elf into a lethal threat, forcing opponents to always play cautiously as long as it’s in play. This instant-speed interaction maximizes the potential of your turn and keeps opponents on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Glistener Elf doesn’t exact a discard cost from its controller, placing it a notch above other cards that do. This ensures that your hand isn’t depleted when playing this efficient creature.

Specific Mana Cost: Glistener Elf requires green mana to cast. This specificity can sometimes restrict deck building, confining it primarily to mono-green or green-inclusive decks, which may not always align with a player’s strategy or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its cost being just a single green mana, Glistener Elf proves to be one of the most mana-efficient creatures in MTG, especially considering its potent infect ability. Other cards with infectious capabilities often demand more mana, making the elf a strong competitive option.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Glistener Elf is a staple in any infect deck, known for its ability to adapt to various play styles. This card can serve as an early threat in aggressive decks or as an enabler in more strategic, combo-based decks that aim to deliver poison counters quickly to opponents.

Combo Potential: With the right mix of pump spells and protection, Glistener Elf can turn into a devastating win condition. Pair it with cards like ‘Might of Old Krosa’ or ‘Vines of Vastwood’ to elevate its combo potential, transforming a single unblocked attack into a lethal blow.

Meta-Relevance: As meta evolves, the need to close games quickly can become imperative. The presence of Glistener Elf in a collection provides a meta-relevant option against slower, control-heavy decks, as it pressures the opponent from the onset and can win the game in just a few turns if left unchecked.


How to beat

Glistener Elf is a card that can be quite intimidating for Magic: The Gathering players due to its infect ability and speedy mana cost. To conquer this threat, effective strategies are paramount. Consider employing removal spells at your earliest convenience, as letting the elf linger on the battlefield allows an opponent to accumulate poison counters rapidly. Instant-speed interaction spells like Shock or Fatal Push can be powerful tools to remove Glistener Elf before it deals any damage.

Utilizing blockers with higher toughness is another viable way to mitigate the impact of Glistener Elf. By setting up a defensive that it cannot easily penetrate, you impede its ability to translate its infect ability into a winning advantage. Furthermore, cards that offer a blanket removal, such as board wipes, can reset the playing field and nullify the elf’s presence. When approaching a game that features Glistener Elf, maintaining vigilance and prioritizing its removal are key tactics to ensure it doesn’t become an unstoppable force.


BurnMana Recommendations

For any MTG player looking to sharpen their infect strategy, Glistener Elf has undoubtedly caught your eye. Its efficiency, synergies, and forceful impact on the game make it a must-have for fast-paced, aggressive decks. Whether you’re optimizing your play or scouting potent additions for your collection, consider the robust utility this card brings to the table. If you’re intrigued by the dynamics of infect-focused gameplay or seeking to diversify your approach against varying metas, Glistener Elf is a key component to explore. Enhance your collection and strategy – delve deeper into the infect archetype with us and master the art of swift victory.


Cards like Glistener Elf

Glistener Elf stands out as a powerful one-drop creature in the realm of infectious strategies in MTG. A comparison to other one-mana creatures such as Ichorclaw Myr shows Glistener Elf’s immediate board presence advantage. While Ichorclaw Myr potentially becomes more formidable when blocked, Glistener Elf’s lack of buildup allows for a faster and more aggressive start, particularly in a format like Modern where speed can be critical.

Moving into costlier alternatives, we find Blighted Agent, which shares the infectious trait and wields unblockable to ensure consistent damage. Despite being slower due to its two-mana cost, Blighted Agent bypasses the need for combat tricks to connect with an opponent, making it predictable yet reliable. On the contrary, Glistener Elf’s lower cost and the surprise factor of pump spells can often catch an opponent off-guard, leading to swift victories.

In assessing the playability of similar infect creatures within MTG, Glistener Elf definitely holds a unique position. It sets the pace for infect-centric decks by combining efficiency with infect’s inherent potential to end games rapidly through poison counters, proving its value in competitive play.

Ichorclaw Myr - MTG Card versions
Blighted Agent - MTG Card versions
Ichorclaw Myr - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Blighted Agent - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Glistener Elf by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Rime Dryad - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Willow Dryad - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Norwood Ranger - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Llanowar Elves - 30th Anniversary History Promos (P30H)
Ghazbán Ogre - Masters Edition (ME1)
Shanodin Dryads - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Wall of Wood - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Rime Dryad - Ice Age (ICE)
Village Elder - Mirage (MIR)
Willow Dryad - Portal (POR)
Spike Drone - Tempest (TMP)
Skyshroud Elite - Exodus (EXO)
Elvish Berserker - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Tree Monkey - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Norwood Ranger - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wild Dogs - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Elvish Herder - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pouncing Jaguar - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taunting Elf - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Llanowar Elite - Invasion (INV)
Scavenger Folk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Willow Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glistener Elf MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and New Phyrexia, 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 Glistener Elf and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Glistener Elf Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 430672003normalblackMark Zug
22011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 1112003normalblackSteve Argyle
32012-01-01Friday Night Magic 2012F12 12003normalblackMark Zug
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12052015normalblackSteve Argyle

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glistener Elf has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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