War Elephant MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 11†
1993-12-17 - Number 11
1995-07-01 - Number 13
1995-08-01 - Number 14
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elephant |
| Abilities | Banding,Trample |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Trample, bands
"When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers." —Kikuyu Proverb
Cards like War Elephant
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the War Elephant card stands out for its advantageous blend of stats and abilities. When compared to Benalish Hero, another card with banding, War Elephant boasts superior power and toughness, providing a stronger offensive presence on the battlefield. Although Benalish Hero is lower in mana cost, War Elephant’s added strength makes it a compelling option for players looking to enhance their combat strategy.
Exploring further, Gray Ogre presents a different perspective. While it shares the same mana cost as War Elephant, it fails to offer any special abilities, making War Elephant a more dynamic choice for its ability to potentially allow unblockable damage through banding. Additionally, War Elephant competes with Pegasus Charger, a creature with flying. Despite the Charger’s evasion capability, the War Elephant’s higher toughness and banding ability once again put it in a favorable position for particular deck styles focused on combat tactics.
Comparing these cards demonstrates that War Elephant can be a significant game piece for players who value robust creatures with strategic combat abilities. Its distinctive combination of power, multi-faceted defense, and banding place it as a noteworthy contender among its peers in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to War Elephant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the War Elephant card itself does not draw cards, its trample ability potentially allows you to maintain board presence by dealing excess damage to an opponent, creating indirect card advantage by requiring multiple blockers or forcing disadvantageous trades for your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: War Elephant doesn’t directly accelerate resources, but it can offer a competitive edge on the battlefield. Its decent stats mean it can be an early threat, potentially pressuring your opponent and impacting their resource allocation for creature control.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature card, War Elephant’s advantages at instant speed come into play when considering synergy with cards that flash, allowing you to potentially cast it unexpectedly during an opponent’s turn, creating surprise blockers or attackers depending on your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For War Elephant’s inclusion, your deck may require a strategic setup to mitigate the loss from its discard requirement, making it a less flexible choice if you’re managing a dwindling hand.
Specific Mana Cost: War Elephant demands a precise mana combination to cast, which can be a hurdle in decks that run a more diverse color palette or those that strive for mana efficiency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be deemed steep for its stats and abilities, War Elephant may not be the most mana-efficient creature, especially when evaluated against other creatures in its mana range that bring more to the battlefield.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: War Elephant offers a reliable creature card that can be easily integrated into decks focused on combat strength and resilience. Its trample ability allows it to push through damage past chump blockers, making it a solid choice for aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that amplify creature abilities. Combining War Elephant with cards that increase its power or provide additional buffs can maximize its battlefield impact, turning it into a formidable threat.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta-game where ground-based combat is prevalent, War Elephant’s ability to trample can be a game changer. It’s a practical addition to any collection for players anticipating creature-heavy matchups or those looking to strengthen their creature-based decks against similar strategies.
How to beat
The War Elephant is a classic creature card that has seen play in Magic: the Gathering. It’s appreciated for its trample ability, allowing excess damage to be dealt to an opponent even if the creature is blocked. When up against War Elephant, a successful strategy is to manage board control. Using spells that can prevent it from attacking or blocking effectively, such as those that tap creatures or remove them from combat, can neutralize its trample capability.
Another approach is employing removal spells that can deal with the creature before it becomes an overwhelming presence on the battlefield. Board wipes that clear multiple creatures or targeted removal spells are particularly useful. Additionally, since War Elephant comes with a relatively high casting cost for its stats, playing more efficient creatures or those with abilities specifically designed to counteract trample can give you the upper hand in the matchup.
Ultimately, beating War Elephant involves foresight and keeping the right answers in your hand to deal with it swiftly. Efficient creature management and smart spell utilization can prevent this stomping threat from running over your game plan. With careful deck design and strategic gameplay, you can overcome the might of War Elephant on the battlefield.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase War Elephant MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Arabian Nights, 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 War 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
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Printings
The War Elephant Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 1995-08-01. Illustrated by Kristen Bishop.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 11† | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kristen Bishop | |
| 2 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 11 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kristen Bishop | |
| 3 | 1995-07-01 | Chronicles | CHR | 13 | 1993 | Normal | White | Kristen Bishop | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Rinascimento | RIN | 14 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Kristen Bishop |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where War Elephant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering War Elephant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | A maximum of one nonbanding creature can join an attacking band no matter how many creatures with banding are in it. |
| 2008-10-01 | Creatures in the same band must all attack the same player or planeswalker. |
| 2008-10-01 | If a creature with banding attacks, it can team up with any number of other attacking creatures with banding (and up to one nonbanding creature) and attack as a unit called a “band.” The band can be blocked by any creature that could block a single creature in the band. Blocking any creature in a band blocks the entire band. If a creature with banding is blocked, the attacking player chooses how the blockers’ damage is assigned. |
| 2009-10-01 | If a creature in combat has banding, its controller assigns damage for creatures blocking or blocked by it. That player can ignore the damage assignment order when making this assignment. |