Llanowar Elite MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf
Abilities Kicker,Trample
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Llanowar Elite excels in card advantage, creating multiple tokens for significant battlefield impact with a single play.
  2. Its synergy with mana acceleration is key, enabling faster play of high-cost cards and advantageous ramp strategies.
  3. Offers flexibility and surprise factor in gameplay by allowing instant speed development into a threatening creature.

Text of card

Kicker o8 (You may pay an additional o8 as you play this spell.) Trample If you paid the kicker cost, Llanowar Elite comes into play with five +1/+1 counters on it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Llanowar Elite’s kicker ability to create three tokens bolsters your battlefield presence, essentially granting you multiple creatures with a single card and paving the way for overwhelming your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: As elves are well-known for their synergy with mana production, playing Llanowar Elite can enhance strategies focused on ramping up your resources quickly, enabling you to cast high-cost spells earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The flexibility to invigorate your Llanowar Elite at instant speed ensures tactical adaptability, letting you surprise opponents by turning a harmless creature into a substantial threat during combat or at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with the Llanowar Elite’s abilities means you’ll have to contend with additional costs that could require you to discard cards. For players focusing on maintaining a full hand of options, this card’s demands could prove to be a strategic setback.

Specific Mana Cost: Hailing from the green mana pool, Llanowar Elite demands a certain dedication to forests and green mana sources. This can potentially restrict the card’s inclusion to mostly mono-green or green-heavy decks, as opposed to more versatile mana-based cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you pit Llanowar Elite against other creatures in its mana range, the cost of admission — especially when considering the admittedly impressive but costly kicker ability — stands out. Players may find that when it comes to efficient mana expenditure for creature impact, there are other contenders that could make more sense for a well-rounded deck strategy.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Llanowar Elite’s scalable ability to kick for additional mana makes it adaptable for various phases of the game. It operates well in decks that prioritize ramping capacity and board presence.

Combo Potential: Its kicker ability, when utilized, can create an overwhelming force of 1/1 token creatures. This mechanism can synergize with effects that benefit from a large number of creatures entering the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game that often values efficient creature plays, Llanowar Elite offers a relevant choice for strategies like token generation and go-wide tactics, fitting smoothly into green-focused aggro or midrange decks.


How to beat

Llanowar Elite is an intriguing card that, under the right circumstances, proves to be a formidable force on the battlefield. To successfully counter it, players should focus on disrupting the ramp strategies often employed to maximize the card’s kicker ability. Eliminating the Elite before its kicker cost can be met is key. Tactics might include using efficient removal spells to take the creature out early or employing counterspells to prevent it from ever entering the battlefield.

Moreover, since Llanowar Elite depends on a large amount of mana to become a significant threat, land destruction or denial strategies can also be effective. This can prevent your opponent from ever reaching the critical mass of mana required to kick the Elite into its more powerful state. In essence, maintaining control over the pace and resources of the game can greatly reduce the impact that Llanowar Elite has, keeping you one step ahead of your opponent’s strategy.

In summation, understanding and anticipating the strategies that enable Llanowar Elite to thrive will give you the upper hand, whether through direct removal, control strategies, or resource denial, thus safeguarding your position in the game.


Cards like Llanowar Elite

Llanowar Elite is a unique creature in the midst of mana acceleration options within Magic: The Gathering. It draws parallels with other mana-efficient creatures like Llanowar Elves, which similarly aid in ramping up your resources. However, Llanowar Elite stands out with its kicker ability that allows for an end-game mana sink, potentially turning it into a sizable threat on the battlefield.

Comparatively, we have Elvish Mystic, which serves the early game mana acceleration role just like Llanowar Elves. Despite being a functional reprint, it doesn’t provide the late-game growth capability of Llanowar Elite. Another card to consider is Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary. Rofellos can tap for a considerable amount of mana depending on the number of forests you control, which is consistent with Llanowar Elite’s potential for a late-game impact but through a different mechanism.

After vetting these cards side by side, Llanowar Elite offers a blend of early utility and late-game potential, making it a versatile pick for decks that aim for a strong mana curve and eventual board presence not commonly found in simple mana dorks.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Elvish Mystic - MTG Card versions
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Elvish Mystic - Magic 2014 (M14)
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary - Urza's Destiny (UDS)

Cards similar to Llanowar Elite 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
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Safekeeper - MTG Card versions
Elvish Lyrist - 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)
Village Elder - Mirage (MIR)
Spike Drone - Tempest (TMP)
Skyshroud Elite - Exodus (EXO)
Elvish Berserker - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Tree Monkey - 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)
Scavenger Folk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Willow Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fyndhorn Elves - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nimble Mongoose - The List (PLST)
Sylvan Safekeeper - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Elvish Lyrist - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Llanowar Elite MTG card by a specific set like Invasion and Salvat 2005, 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 Llanowar Elite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Llanowar Elite Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-10-02 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by Kev Walker.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12000-10-02InvasionINV 1961997normalblackKev Walker
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL B172003normalwhiteKev Walker
32005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL B162003normalwhiteKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Llanowar Elite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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