Rockshard Elemental MTG Card

Rockshard Elemental grants card advantage through deck interaction and strategic instant-speed casting. Mana specificity and discard requirements present deck-building and hand management constraints. Offers trample, growth potential, and remains a relevant force in red-green MTG strategies.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Elemental
Abilities	Double strike,Morph
Released	2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set name	Legions
Set code	LGN
Power	4
Toughness	3
Number	109
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Anthony S. Waters

Text of card

Double strike (This creature deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.) Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Cards like Rockshard Elemental

Rockshard Elemental is recognized for its resilience and adaptability in the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. In reflection, cards like Rubblebelt Raiders exhibit a comparable growth ability. However, Rockshard Elemental distinguishes itself with first strike and mountainwalk, giving it a tactical advantage in combat and making it difficult for opponents to block when mountains are in play.

Analogous to Rockshard Elemental is Aetherborn Marauder, with its capacity to manipulate +1/+1 counters. While the Marauder can siphon and increase its power through counters, it lacks the unblockable potential provided by mountainwalk. Another peer in this space is the Kiln Fiend, a creature that dramatically increases in strength with each instant or sorcery spell cast. Despite its potential for explosive damage, Kiln Fiend misses out on Rockshard Elemental’s inherent first strike and evasion abilities.

Ultimately, in the ecosystem of red creatures with progressive abilities, Rockshard Elemental stands out. It blends combat advantages with strategic movement across the terrain, a feature underscoring its unique position among MTG cards with growth and evasion capabilities.

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

Yidaro, Wandering Monster - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rockshard Elemental presents an opportunity to outmaneuver opponents by replacing itself with a card from your deck upon entering the battlefield. This trait is beneficial to players as it helps maintain hand size without sacrificing board presence.

Resource Acceleration: The card can be a crucial component of a deck that aims for rapid development by ramping up your available resources. Its ability to convert mana into immediate board impact can accelerate the pace of the game, putting opponents on the back foot from the get-go.

Instant Speed: Rockshard Elemental can be cast at instant speed, granting players the flexibility to react deftly to an opponent’s moves. This feature also allows players to maximize mana efficiency by making strategic decisions during an opponent’s turn, thus gaining tempo and strategic advantage.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rockshard Elemental demands that players discard a card to activate its abilities. This prerequisite may deplete the player’s hand, especially in situations where card retention is vital for maintaining a competitive edge.

Specific Mana Cost: Rockshard Elemental’s casting cost is highly specific, requiring both red and green mana. This limitation restricts its integration solely to decks that can reliably generate both types of mana, potentially excluding it from a broader range of strategic deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Rockshard Elemental offers substantial power and toughness, the combined mana cost to both cast and utilize its abilities is quite steep. This factor makes it a less appealing option when compared to other creatures in the same mana range that may provide immediate impact or possess inherently powerful abilities without additional costs.

Reasons to Include Rockshard Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Rockshard Elemental offers a flexible role in various deck builds due to its inherent trample ability and potential to become a formidable blocker or attacker with its firebreathing capability.

Combo Potential: This card excels in decks that can manipulate +1/+1 counters or take advantage of red mana, making it a key piece in fiery combos and synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, a creature like Rockshard Elemental can be a game-changer, especially in environments ripe for red-based strategies that reward aggressive plays and mana efficiency.

How to beat

Overcoming the Rockshard Elemental in MTG is a tactical puzzle that many players will face. This formidable creature boasts both the menace and double strike abilities, making it a challenging opponent to tackle in combat. The key to defeating the Elemental lies in cleverly maneuvering your creatures and using removal spells efficiently.

Players can opt for strategies such as deploying creatures with enough toughness to survive the initial double strike hit, or creatures with reach to block it if it gets the flying ability. Enchantment removal spells are also integral as they can strip the Elemental of boosting auras that could make it more dangerous. Furthermore, instant-speed removal spells that can eliminate it before it deals its damage are particularly advantageous against this threat.

Timing is crucial when playing against Rockshard Elemental. For instance, using removal spells after it’s declared as an attacker but before it deals damage can prove to be an optimal point of counteraction. Ultimately, building a deck with adequate removal options and maintaining a stance ready to intercept such threats is paramount to claiming victory over Rockshard Elemental.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rockshard Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Rockshard Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rockshard Elemental has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal