Southern Elephant MTG Card
1999-05-01 - Number 146
1999-07-01 - Number 142
2011-01-10 - Number 167
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Cards like Southern Elephant
The Southern Elephant card presents a unique dynamic in the creature lineup of Magic: The Gathering. With its substantial power level and special abilities, it invites comparison to other large creatures such as Plated Crusher. While Plated Crusher offers a significant 7/6 body with trample and hexproof, making it a formidable force on the battlefield, the Southern Elephant stands out with its own blend of might and tactical advantages tailored to specific deck types.
Another creature worth mentioning is the Woolly Loxodon. Both cards are green, with the Loxodon bringing a formidable morph ability to the table. This can mislead opponents and provide strategic benefits. However, the Southern Elephant often carves its niche by synergizing with other cards that benefit from its specific attributes, potentially resulting in impactful combinations and board presence.
When considering strength and utility, the Southern Elephant holds its own against comparable cards in MTG. Its distinct characteristics enable players to exploit various strategies, ensuring it finds a place in numerous decks that value its unique offering of power and synergistic potential.
Cards similar to Southern Elephant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With the Southern Elephant card, you can consistently bolster your hand, as it includes an effect that provides card draw. This ensures that you’re able to maintain a strong presence on the board by having more options at your disposal each turn.
Resource Acceleration: The Southern Elephant also contributes to resource acceleration. It brings to the field additional resources which can be pivotal for overpowering your opponent through superior mana availability, enabling you to cast more demanding spells sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of instant speed cannot be overstated, and the Southern Elephant card shines by allowing strategic players to optimize their turn sequences. Operating at instant speed gives you the luxury of timing your plays to disrupt opponent strategies, all while building your own board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Southern Elephant card demands that you discard another card to unleash its ability. This condition could diminish your hand advantage, especially during the later stages of the game when every card in hand counts.
Specific Mana Cost: To cast Southern Elephant, you need a precise combination of mana colors that may not seamlessly integrate with every deck archetype. Its specific mana requirement could deter inclusion in decks that don’t support its color identity with ease.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Southern Elephant stands on the more expensive side of the mana curve. Considering this, players could find themselves at a tempo disadvantage, possibly foregoing more impactful plays or efficient mana utilization in a turn.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Southern Elephant can effortlessly adapt to diverse playstyles, finding its place in decks that value high-powered creatures at a reasonable mana cost. Its ability to charge into battle or bolster defenses makes it a solid pick for any collection.
Combo Potential: This card holds immense promise for synergizing with other cards that either empower creatures or require substantial creatures for triggering potent effects. Its sheer presence on the battlefield can act as a linchpin for dynamic combo plays.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where board presence often dictates the tide of victory, Southern Elephant holds a distinct place. As the meta-game cycles through various phases, having a reliable creature like Southern Elephant ensures your deck can adapt and thrive in a competitive environment.
How to beat
The Southern Elephant, a formidable presence on the battlefield, can pose a serious challenge to overcome in Magic: The Gathering. Its strength lies in its considerable size, making it a tough obstacle for many decks. Tactical resource management often plays a key role in outmaneuvering this beast. It’s essential to withhold your removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Murder, until the Southern Elephant makes its appearance.
Since the Southern Elephant also often impacts the board by its sheer power, it requires a strategy that can either overpower or circumvent it. Consider utilizing cards that can bypass combat, such as evasion abilities like flying or unblockable. Cards that offer control elements, such as Ice-Fang Coatl, with its deathtouch ability, can also serve as a deterrent or a way to deal with the hefty creature efficiently. Additionally, board sweepers like Wrath of God can reset the state of play, negating the advantages the Southern Elephant provides.
In summary, patience, precision timing with removals, and including cards that can either control or evade the combat phase, are all strategic approaches to successfully deal with the Southern Elephant in MTG plays. By following these strategies, players can turn the tables and claim victory even when facing this powerful card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Southern Elephant MTG card by a specific set like Portal Three Kingdoms and Starter 1999, 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 Southern Elephant and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Southern Elephant Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-05-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Wang Yuqun.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-05-01 | Portal Three Kingdoms | PTK | 146 | 1997 | Normal | White | Wang Yuqun | |
| 2 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 142 | 1997 | Normal | White | Wang Yuqun | |
| 3 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 167 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Wang Yuqun |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Southern Elephant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |