Tel-Jilad Archers MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Archer |
| Abilities | Protection,Reach |
| Released | 2003-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirrodin |
| Set code | MRD |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 131 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Marcelo Vignali |
Text of card
Protection from artifacts Tel-Jilad Archers may block as though it had flying.
They are extensions of the Tangle, stretching its vines into the furthest reaches of the sky.
Cards like Tel-Jilad Archers
Tel-Jilad Archers finds its niche within Magic: The Gathering as a defender with reach, designed to thwart flying creatures. It shares traits with cards like Giant Spider, both equipped with reach and intended as a defensive bulwark against airborne threats. However, Tel-Jilad Archers stands out with its ability to regenerate, offering a resilience that Giant Spider lacks.
When compared to another similar card, Sentinel Spider, the differentiation becomes more apparent. Sentinel Spider boasts vigilance alongside reach, allowing it to attack without tapping, a feature the Tel-Jilad Archers do not possess. Yet the regenerative advantage carried by Tel-Jilad Archers can be a deciding factor in its favor, offering longevity in drawn-out battles.
Canopy Spider is another comparable card that, like Tel-Jilad Archers, is a green creature with reach. Although Canopy Spider is more mana-efficient, the Archers’ superior strength and toughness coupled with the regeneration capability generally make it a stronger choice in direct confrontation with fliers.
Assessing Tel-Jilad Archers in the company of its counterparts reveals that while it may not be the swiftest or most offensively oriented, its defensive utility, especially with the added layer of regeneration, solidifies its role in MTG decks designed to endure and counter flying strategies.
Cards similar to Tel-Jilad Archers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Tel-Jilad Archers offers tactical superiority by potentially negating-flyers out of combat. By destroying or deterring aerial threats, it maintains your card advantage effectively on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly generating mana or tokens, it preserves your life total and board presence. This indirect resource acceleration ensures you can deploy your hand without the pressure of losing to quick, evasive creatures.
Instant Speed: The reach ability of Tel-Jilad Archers behaves like an instant speed response. It allows you to surprise opponents by blocking unexpected flying creatures, providing you with strategic flexibility during the combat phase.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Tel-Jilad Archers have no discard requirement, their setup cost can be high as they necessitate a board presence to be fully effective. Without other creatures, their potential is not maximized.
Specific Mana Cost: Tel-Jilad Archers require both green mana and generic mana. This specific mana cost means they align mostly with mono-green or green-centric decks, potentially limiting their inclusion in multi-color decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three generic mana and one green mana, Tel-Jilad Archers can be seen as costly for their stats and effects. Cards of equivalent cost often come with more impactful abilities or provide greater versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Tel-Jilad Archers offer a flexible defensive option for decks looking to protect against fliers. Their reach ability allows them to block airborne threats, making them a useful inclusion for any strategy that might struggle against decks heavy in flying creatures.
Combo Potential: As a creature with both protection from artifacts and the ability to deal with flying creatures, Tel-Jilad Archers fit well into decks that take advantage of these unique traits. They can be particularly effective in green-based decks that focus on creating creature synergies and exploiting protection abilities.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifact creatures are prevalent, or where flying attackers dominate the skies, Tel-Jilad Archers become an increasingly essential card. Their niche protection allows them to serve as a sturdy defender in an artifact-heavy meta, blunting the offensive capabilities of many popular decks.
How to beat
Tel-Jilad Archers steps into the battlefield with an ability that can shape the course of the game in Magic: The Gathering. With a reach attribute, this creature is adept at taking down aerial threats, making it a steadfast defender against flying creatures. Residing primarily in green decks, these archers serve as a strategic piece, especially against decks heavy on flying strategies.
When considering how to overcome the Tel-Jilad Archers, direct removal spells are a reliable go-to. Spells such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile can swiftly take the Archers out of play, negating their defensive capabilities. Board wipes like Wrath of God can also reset the playing field, stripping the green deck of its arboreal sniper. If an immediate response is not within reach, an alternative approach would involve boosting your own creatures’ strength beyond the Archers’ defense or employing strategies that bypass creatures entirely, such as direct life-point attacks or non-combat damage sources.
In essence, facing down Tel-Jilad Archers requires a blend of timely removal, board control, or inventive tactics that circumvent their defensive position. With forethought and the appropriate responses, these formidable archers can be outmaneuvered in the intricate dance of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Tel-Jilad Archers MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin, 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 Tel-Jilad Archers 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
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Tel-Jilad Archers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |