Leaf Arrow MTG Card


Leaf Arrow - Rise of the Eldrazi
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set nameRise of the Eldrazi
Set codeROE
Number194
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byEric Deschamps

Key Takeaways

  1. Leaf Arrow is cost-effective removal for flying creatures, crucial for maintaining board advantage.
  2. Its instant speed allows for flexible and reactive gameplay, disrupting opponent strategies.
  3. While powerful against flyers, its utility may diminish without prevalent flying threats.

Text of card

Leaf Arrow deals 3 damage to target creature with flying.

"Those who think the trees shall remain bystanders throughout this conflict shall be sorely mistaken." —Sutina, Speaker of the Tajuru


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Leaf Arrow enables precise control over the battlefield by allowing you to eliminate an opponent’s flyer. This targeted removal can be a turning point in maintaining or shifting the balance of card advantage in your favor during a match.

Resource Acceleration: Not directly linked to resource acceleration itself, Leaf Arrow boasts a low mana cost. This efficient use of mana allows players to keep resources available for other strategies and spells that may require a more significant investment.

Instant Speed: The capacity to cast Leaf Arrow at instant speed provides exceptional flexibility. You can decisively respond to threats post your opponent’s deployment, potentially disrupting their strategy and conserving your turn for proactive plays. Additionally, the option to wait until the most opportune moment, in response to an opponent’s action or at the end of their turn, emphasizes the tactical advantage of instant speed removal in your gameplay arsenal.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Leaf Arrow, you may encounter the challenge of having to discard another card. This can be particularly troublesome in situations where your hand is already running low, diminishing your strategic options and potentially costing you the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The Leaf Arrow card demands a precise combination of mana types to cast. This requirement could potentially restrict the card’s integration into a varied range of decks, especially those that may not align with its color identity or mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Leaf Arrow comes at a cost that some players may find fairly steep for its effects. Competitive environments often showcase a variety of alternatives that may execute similar functions at a lesser mana investment, thereby providing more efficiency in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Leaf Arrow in Your Collection

Versatility: Leaf Arrow offers a nice fit for decks focusing on spell efficiency and creature control. Its ability to target flying creatures makes it a handy tool against a common threat in numerous deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: With its instant speed and low cost, Leaf Arrow easily slots into turns where mana is being preserved for other spells. It can also form part of a suite of spells designed to disrupt opponent plays while setting up for a winning combo.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where flying creatures are prevalent or where maintaining tempo is crucial, Leaf Arrow can provide significant leverage. Its potential to remove key threats or blockers for just one green mana can make it a staple in sideboards tailored to address specific matchups.


Understanding Leaf Arrow’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Leaf Arrow serves as an efficient tool for players who wish to maintain board control against flyers. This instant green spell provides a low-cost solution to deal with troublesome flying creatures by dishing out a notable 3 damage for just a single mana. Its specific targeting makes it an excellent inclusion in a sideboard, especially in a meta where airborne threats are prevalent.

How to beat

When facing off against Leaf Arrow, the key is to diversify your threats. Not relying solely on creatures with flying can mitigate the card’s impact, making it less potent and often stranded in your opponent’s hand. Additionally, employing spells or abilities that grant hexproof or indestructibility can provide your creatures with a safeguard against removal spells like Leaf Arrow. Lastly, taking advantage of the card’s specificity by playing a more varied creature base or deploying non-flying heavy-hitters can often bypass the narrow focus of this particular green spell.

In the dance of spells and counterspells, Leaf Arrow remains a situational choice, powerful within its scope but limited in versatility. Knowing how to navigate around its strengths will give you an upper hand, ensuring that your key creatures remain a consistent threat on the board.


Cards like Leaf Arrow

Leaf Arrow is a clever piece of design within Magic: The Gathering’s spectrum of creature removal spells. It’s akin to other instant speed removal spells such as Plummet, which allows you to destroy target creature with flying for the same mana cost. However, Leaf Arrow edges out with its additional ability to deal damage to planeswalkers, a versatility that’s not available with Plummet.

Comparing Leaf Arrow to another removal option, Windstorm provides a wider net by dealing damage to each creature with flying for a scalable mana cost. While Windstorm can address multiple threats at once, it lacks the direct planeswalker interaction that Leaf Arrow offers. Crushing Canopy, meanwhile, presents a split card advantage allowing the player to choose between destroying an enchantment or a creature with flying for one additional mana over Leaf Arrow.

Evaluating the gamut of choice against flying threats, Leaf Arrow provides a strategic, low-cost option. Its dual-purpose functionality affords MTG deck builders flexibility and a surprise element against aerial assaults and the ever-present danger of planeswalkers dominating the board.

Plummet - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Crushing Canopy - MTG Card versions
Plummet - MTG Card versions
Windstorm - MTG Card versions
Crushing Canopy - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Leaf Arrow MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Leaf Arrow and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Leaf Arrow has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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