Village Elder MTG Card
1996-10-08 - Number 251
1999-11-12 - Number 94
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Druid |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
o G, oc T, Sacrifice a forest: Regenerate target creature.
"Enchant me with your tale-telling. Tell about Tree, Grass, River, and Wind. / Tell why Truth must fight with Falsehood, and why Truth will always win." —"Love Song of Night and Day"
Cards like Village Elder
Village Elder might not be the most recognized card in player arsenals, but it serves a role that resonates with other notable options within the trading card game milieu. Drawing a parallel to Village Elder, Sakura-Tribe Elder commands attention, both being creatures that can be sacrificed for land ramp. Unlike the Village Elder, Sakura-Tribe Elder allows you to search for a basic land and put it directly onto the battlefield, giving it a leg up in terms of immediate mana acceleration.
Burnished Hart is another creature with similarities to the Village Elder. It, too, can be sacrificed—although at a higher activation cost—to directly search for not one, but two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. While the Village Elder might not fetch lands as efficiently, it counters with a lower casting cost and the added flexibility of drawing those lands into your hand, potentially offering later-game card advantage.
While the Elder might seem underwhelming at first glance, it’s important to recognize its utility in the context of MTG’s broad spectrum of land-fetching cards. Its unique place in the game’s mechanics ensures it can be a strategic fit in various deck builds that capitalize on hand manipulation and land-based synergies.
Cards similar to Village Elder by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Village Elder can be a subtle powerhouse in your deck by letting you sift through the top cards of your library, effectively filtering your future draws for more impactful plays.
Resource Acceleration: The Elder shines by providing a potential increase in your mana resources, inviting you to tap into additional mana earlier than usual, setting the stage for a swifter execution of your strategy.
Instant Speed: The ability of the card to be activated at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to react to the state of the board at the most advantageous moment without compromising your turn’s plans.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Village Elder mandates a card be discarded to trigger its effect, posing a challenge when your hand is nearly empty or the discarded card is vital to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting of Village Elder requires a mix of mana, potentially restricting its integration in decks without a reliable mana base for its colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment for Village Elder can be steep when weighed against other cards with similar or more impactful abilities at a lesser mana threshold.
Reasons to Include Village Elder in Your Collection
Versatility: Village Elder’s ability to sacrifice for land search makes it a versatile inclusion in decks that require consistent land drops, ensuring you never miss a vital play due to mana shortages.
Combo Potential: This card has potential in combo decks focusing on landfall triggers or requiring specific land types on the battlefield to execute a winning combo. Its sacrificial nature can synergize with graveyard strategies as well.
Meta-Relevance: Given that land-based strategies often play an important role in various MTG metas, the Village Elder can be an under-the-radar addition that strengthens your deck’s resilience against land destruction or mana disruption tactics, keeping you competitive in diverse game environments.
How to beat
The Village Elder might seem like a humble creature, but in the right deck, it can be a real headache to deal with. This card primarily sees play in formats where long games are common, and its ability to convert creatures into life points and card advantage can be leveraged turn after turn.
To effectively counter a Village Elder, your strategy should include ways to manage both the board and the graveyard. Playing cards that exile or provide targeted removal can ensure this pesky Elder doesn’t keep coming back. Graveyard hate cards, like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can also be invaluable in this scenario, as they neutralize the Village Elder’s ability from the get-go.
Alternatively, taking advantage of the fact that Village Elder isn’t a highly aggressive card, you can capitalize on faster, more aggressive strategies to close out the game before your opponent can benefit from the incremental gains Village Elder provides. In conclusion, knowing your opponent’s deck and having a plan to counter their key cards like Village Elder is crucial for securing victory in the game of Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Village Elder MTG card by a specific set like Mirage and Battle Royale Box Set, 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 Village Elder 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 Village Elder Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-10-08 and 1999-11-12. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-10-08 | Mirage | MIR | 251 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola | |
| 2 | 1999-11-12 | Battle Royale Box Set | BRB | 94 | 1997 | Normal | White | Donato Giancola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Village Elder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |