Metathran Elite MTG Card

Urza's Destiny (UDS)
1999-06-07 - Number 38

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number UDS-38

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Metathran Soldier
Power	2
Toughness	3

Key Takeaways

The Metathran Elite becomes unblockable, sustaining attack momentum and pressuring opponents.
Its synergy with combat success and instant spells can indirectly boost your resources.
Despite being mana-specific and having a discard requirement, it’s valuable for strategy.

Text of card

Metathran Elite is unblockable as long as it's enchanted.

If the eyes are windows to the soul, their souls are not of this world.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Metathran Elite offers a straightforward advantage with its ability to become unblockable. This trait ensures that your attacks land, keeping the pressure on your opponent and potentially drawing out their resources to handle the threat.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration, its synergy with cards that benefit from combat success or unblockable creatures can lead to increased tempo and board presence, indirectly accelerating your resource development.

Instant Speed: Although Metathran Elite is a creature, instant speed spells and abilities in your deck gain added value as they protect this pivotal attacker or disrupt opponent plays while you maintain an aggressive stance. Strategizing with the Elite’s unblockable nature at the right moment can create optimal conditions for your instant speed interactions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Metathran Elite demands the disposal of another card from your hand as part of its token-generating ability. This stipulation can put players at a disadvantage, especially in late-game scenarios where hand size and options are crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring two blue mana to cast, this card is primarily viable in mono-blue or two-color decks that can reliably produce the necessary mana. This specificity can potentially restrict its integration into more diverse deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two that must be blue, Metathran Elite’s utility is debated when compared with other creatures in the same curve. Players may find alternative creatures or spells that provide a better balance of cost versus benefit, especially in fast-paced games where efficiency is paramount.

Reasons to Include Metathran Elite in Your Collection

Versatility: Metathran Elite offers a flexible role in both offensive and defensive strategies, as it can become unblockable when you control a non-token creature alongside it. This attribute allows it to fit seamlessly into creature-focused decks that capitalize on synergy and pressure.

Combo Potential: With an ability that is easily enabled in creature-heavy decks, Metathran Elite works well with mechanics that play off the number of creatures you control or specific creature types, aligning with both tribal and thematic builds that look to maximize board presence for a strategic edge.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where board states can be cluttered and getting through with damage is crucial, Metathran Elite earns its spot. Given its evasion potential, it can be a key player in formats where establishing a consistent attacking threat is necessary to outpace control and combo decks.

How to beat Metathran Elite

Metathran Elite is a unique creature in the vast roster of cards from MTG. This card possesses an ability that can make it unblockable as long as it’s enchanted. In one-on-one play, being able to bypass creatures is a remarkable advantage, which makes dealing with this Elite a top priority. To outsmart a player who uses the Metathran Elite, you’ll want to focus on strategies that neutralize enchantments or remove the creature before enchantments come into play.

Consider using spells that strip enchantments from creatures or even better, cards that prevent enchantments from sticking in the first place. Disenchant effects can abruptly stop the Elite in its tracks, rendering it far less threatening. Moreover, cards that can exile or force a sacrifice circumvent the Elite’s unblockable trait, effectively clearing the path for you to press your advantage. Efficient removal such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile are excellent for managing such threats early on.

Ultimately, while the Metathran Elite has the potential to cause significant damage if not checked, deploying precise disruption and maintaining control of the board state can easily diminish its impact, allowing you to secure your dominance in the game.

Cards like Metathran Elite

Metathran Elite stands as an intriguing creature card within the MTG universe. Its closest kin in functionality is the Llanowar Elite, which also brings to the board the potential for enhanced power. However, Metathran Elite’s uniqueness is seen through its conditional enhancement, requiring the presence of an island to unlock its full strength. Llanowar Elite, conversely, gains its might through mana investment, offering a more straightforward if sometimes costly, power boost.

Examining other relatives, Benalish Hero shares the Metathran Elite’s flare for banding, providing a strategic edge in combat scenarios. Yet, it doesn’t naturally possess the same offensive capabilities. The Veteran Swordsmith offers a different take on boosting capabilities, granting additional power to other soldiers but lacking the Metathran Elite’s personal growing abilities. Silver Knight could be seen swinging in the same battlefield with its protection from red, offering a form of resilience where Metathran Elite offers adaptability.

Ultimately, Metathran Elite’s requirement to have an island present for its peak performance sets it on a distinct pedestal amongst creatures of a similar vein, providing strategic flexibility and an adaptative advantage that is distinctive within the realm of MTG creatures.

Cards similar to Metathran Elite by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions

Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Metathran Elite MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny and The List, 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 Metathran Elite and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Metathran Elite Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-06-07 and 1999-06-07. Illustrated by Jim Nelson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1999-06-07	Urza's Destiny	UDS		38	1997	Normal	Black	Jim Nelson
2	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST		UDS-38	1997	Normal	Black	Jim Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Metathran Elite has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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