Plant Elemental MTG Card


Card advantage with Plant Elementals means more resources and better board control through strategic deck manipulation. These creatures accelerate resource availability, key for deploying high-cost threats earlier than opponents. Combining Plant Elementals with instant-speed spells bolsters both defense and unexpected offensive plays.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Plant Elemental
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Plant Elemental comes into play from your hand, destroy one of your forests or destroy Plant Elemental.


Cards like Plant Elemental

When we analyze the unique value of Plant Elemental in the world of MTG, it’s worth considering how it stacks up against related elemental creatures. The well-known Vinelasher Kudzu is a card that shares similarities with our focal Plant Elemental, as both capitalize on the growth mechanic—thriving from land drops and embodying the ever-expanding force of nature. Vinelasher Kudzu, specifically, gains a +1/+1 counter each time a land enters the battlefield under your control, highlighting a vital synergy for deck-builds based on landfall strategies.

Another card with a kindred spirit to Plant Elemental is the Avenger of Zendikar. This card not only aligns with the theme of summoning plant creatures but also scales its power with the number of lands played, offering an immediate and potentially overwhelming board presence through its plant tokens, each of which has the potential to grow over time. Avenger of Zendikar however, claims a loftier mana cost in contrast to typical Plant Elementals, which could sway one’s choice depending on their mana curve strategy.

Ultimately, Plant Elemental cards present a solid and often cost-effective option, mingling both resilience and offensive capability in tune with dynamic land-play strategies, carving their own niche within the MTG elemental ensemble.

Vinelasher Kudzu - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Vinelasher Kudzu - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions

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

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invoker - MTG Card versions
Oran-Rief Survivalist - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invoker - MTG Card versions
Oran-Rief Survivalist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Having a Plant Elemental in your deck can provide significant card advantage as these creatures often facilitate drawing extra cards or allow you to manipulate your deck to find the resources you need. This can help you maintain a stronger hand throughout the game, putting you in a position more likely to outmaneuver your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Plant Elementals excel in ramping up your available resources. Many of these creatures are designed to unlock additional lands or generate mana, which can be pivotal for deploying larger threats ahead of schedule. This acceleration is a cornerstone for strategies that rely on outpacing the opponent and deploying heavy hitters early on.

Instant Speed: While Plant Elementals may not typically have abilities at instant speed, MTG provides a myriad of supporting spells that can complement your Plant Elemental’s strategy. Instant-speed spells can protect your valuable creatures from threats or unexpectedly swing a battle in your favor, all without sacrificing the progression of your Plant Elemental-themed game plan.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For some Plant Elemental cards, activating key abilities might come at the cost of discarding another card from your hand. This can lead to a disadvantageous trade-off, especially when your hand is already struggling with card availability.

Specific Mana Cost: The nature of Plant Elementals often ties them firmly to green mana. While flavorful and thematic, this creates a deck-building constraint—these cards are less flexible for multi-colored decks not centered around green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The essence of Plant Elementals usually reflects in their growth and resilience, which translates to a higher mana cost for a strong presence on the board. However, this level of investment can be restrictive early in the game and might not always align with the necessity for a more immediate board impact when compared to other creatures with similar costing.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plant Elemental cards are known for their capacity to adapt to a variety of deck strategies. Whether you’re looking to enhance your defense with tough blockers or seeking to exploit land-based synergies, Plant Elementals can serve multiple roles on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Many Plant Elemental cards harbor latent combo potential. They can be potent when paired with cards that benefit from creature death, landfall triggers, or even those that tap or untap your creatures for strategic advantages.

Meta-Relevance: A Plant Elemental card can really shine in a meta that values resilience and staying power. Their ability to often survive board wipes, coupled with synergies inherent in green-heavy metas, can provide a steady path to victory.


How to beat

Encountering a Plant Elemental card on the battlefield can be a substantial obstacle due to its innate resilience and potential for growth. These cards often possess abilities that allow them to accumulate +1/+1 counters, making them progressively sturdier adversaries as the game advances. However, there are strategies to outmaneuver such a steadfast opponent. To start, utilizing removal spells that overcome the creature’s toughness, regardless of how many counters it has accrued, can effectively neutralize it. Examples of such spells include Path to Exile, which exiles the creature, or Doom Blade, which destroys it outright provided it isn’t a black card.

Additionally, you can employ board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation that unconditionally clear the battlefield of creatures, thereby bypassing the Elemental’s defensive strengths. Cards that prevent counter accumulation or reduce the creature’s power and toughness can also be decisive. Look out for cards with “prevent all damage” abilities or those that impose conditions which could lock out the Elemental’s abilities, such as Solemnity or Melira, Sylvok Outcast. A well-timed counter spell could also intercept any utility spells aiming to support the Elemental’s growth. As always, adapting your game plan to the situation at hand and the composition of your deck is key to overcoming the stout Plant Elemental.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Plant Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Treasure Chest, 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 Plant Elemental and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Plant Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2016-11-16. Illustrated by Ted Naifeh.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 1811997NormalBlackTed Naifeh
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 658252015NormalBlackTed Naifeh

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Plant Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal