Teneb, the Harvester MTG Card


Brings substantial card advantage by resurrecting multiple creatures with a single card. Can rapidly deploy powerful creatures, circumventing mana costs and accelerating gameplay. Presence forces opponents to strategize differently due to its reanimation threat.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dragon
Abilities Flying
Power 6
Toughness 6

Text of card

Flying Whenever Teneb, the Harvester deals combat damage to a player, you may pay . If you do, put target creature card in a graveyard into play under your control.


Cards like Teneb, the Harvester

Teneb, the Harvester offers a unique angle on graveyard recursion within the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering gameplay. Its closest relatives in this domain include Karador, Ghost Chieftain, who also allows you to cast creatures from your graveyard, yet focusing on a once-per-turn basis and with a cost reduction mechanism. The subtle difference lies in Karador’s broader range, as Teneb requires an attack trigger to reanimate creatures directly onto the battlefield, providing a more immediate impact compared to Karador’s sustained value.

Meren of Clan Nel Toth presents another intriguing comparison, granting experience counters and leveraging them to bring creatures back to your hand or straight onto the battlefield for free, rewarding a long-term growth strategy within the game. While Teneb demands life payment for its services, Meren bypasses additional costs beyond the creatures’ mana value. The strategies diverge as Teneb applies direct pressure on opponents, contrasting with Meren’s incremental advantage that accumulates over time.

When evaluating the efficiency and synergy of these commanders in MTG, Teneb stands out with its aggressive reanimation approach, carving a distinct niche among its counterparts by melding offensive tactics with the powerful ability to cheat creatures from the graveyard back into play.

Karador, Ghost Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions
Karador, Ghost Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Teneb the Harvester has the ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard to the field. This generates significant card advantage, as you’re effectively using one card to recover and deploy multiple threats over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: Teneb’s reanimation skill allows you to bypass the traditional mana cost associated with your most powerful creatures. This accelerates the deployment of your game-altering creatures, impacting the board state much faster than usual.

Instant Speed: Although Teneb itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the sheer threat of its ability can alter your opponent’s gameplay. They must constantly consider the potential for you to reanimate a powerful creature at any moment, especially when you have untapped mana and Teneb on the battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Teneb the Harvester necessitates a player to discard another creature card to utilize its reanimation ability. This can notably affect decision-making, especially when your hand is filled with vital cards you’d prefer not to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: Teneb’s mana cost is not only specific but also diverse, requiring one black, one green, and one white mana alongside three other mana of any type. This could potentially restrict the card’s compatibility with many decks and challenge mana base consistency, particularly in formats where mana fixing is less accessible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of six mana, Teneb the Harvester is on the higher end of the mana curve. This makes it a slower option when compared to other creatures in the reanimator strategy that might hit the battlefield earlier or provide reanimation effects at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Teneb the Harvester offers a broadly applicable skill set that can be integrated into a variety of deck archetypes. As a reanimator, he has the capacity to bring creatures back from the graveyard, putting him right at home in strategies that rely on graveyard mechanics or high-value creatures.

Combo Potential: This card opens up numerous combo possibilities. By resurrecting key combo pieces from the graveyard directly onto the battlefield, Teneb can serve as both an enabler and a potent threat that opponents must immediately address, giving you a strategic edge.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent or control decks that slowly build toward a powerful late-game are the norm, Teneb the Harvester’s ability to repeatedly put high-impact creatures into play can be a game-changer, thereby making it a valuable asset in various competitive scenarios.


How to Beat Teneb the Harvester

Teneb the Harvester presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. As a powerful creature that can reanimate other creatures from graveyards, it’s crucial to strategize effectively to thwart its potential. Understanding its strengths is key for players aiming to counteract this formidable card in their MTG duels.

Preventing graveyard interaction is a pivotal strategy. Graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void can neutralize Teneb’s ability by removing creatures from the game instead of allowing them to hit graveyards where Teneb could harvest them. Similarly, instant-speed removal spells like Path to Exile can exile Teneb before its ability triggers, ensuring it never gets the chance to reanimate anything.

Control decks excel in maintaining dominance over powerful creatures like Teneb. Counter spells prevent it from ever entering the battlefield, while direct damage spells and board wipes can manage the dragon effectively if it does. By prioritizing these elements, players can find success against Teneb the Harvester, creating an engaging and dynamic game experience.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the depth of MTG gameplay through the lens of Teneb the Harvester can be truly rewarding. While its capacity to reanimate creatures enhances strategic diversity, its mana cost and deck compatibility are aspects to consider carefully. If you’re looking to capitalize on graveyard mechanics or vigorize your reanimator deck, Teneb could be a worthy addition. Interested in diving deeper into the synergies and constructing a deck around Teneb, or simply eager to discover how to harness its full potential in your current builds? Immerse yourself in our resources to elevate your MTG sessions and embrace the reanimating prowess of Teneb the Harvester.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Teneb, the Harvester MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos and Commander 2011 Oversized, 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 Teneb, the Harvester and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Teneb, the Harvester Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2007-02-02 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 7 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12007-02-02Planar ChaosPLC 1632003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22011-06-17Commander 2011 OversizedOCMD 2302003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2302003NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42017-08-25Commander 2017C17 1982015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2822015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5432015NormalBlackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Teneb, the Harvester has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Teneb, the Harvester card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2007-02-01 You choose the target when the ability is put on the stack, and you choose whether to pay when it resolves.