The Elderspell MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Destroys multiple planeswalkers, offering substantial card advantage and potential game dominance.
  2. Can accelerate loyalty counters on your planeswalkers, pushing towards ultimate abilities rapidly.
  3. Momentous impact similar to instant spells, perfect for a strategic board state shift.

Text of card

Destroy any number of target planeswalkers. Choose a planeswalker you control. Put two loyalty counters on it for each planeswalker destroyed this way.

The path to power is often paved with atrocities.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When casting The Elderspell, you directly target opposing planeswalkers, potentially removing multiple key pieces from your opponent’s board. This strategic decimation not only disrupts their play but can also shift the balance in your favor, offering a significant card advantage as one spell efficiently addresses several threats.

Resource Acceleration: The Elderspell excels in decks that harness the power of planeswalkers. By destroying others, you can swiftly accumulate loyalty counters on your own planeswalker, accelerating you towards a potent ultimate ability. This not only offers a tactical edge but also paves the way for a faster victory.

Instant Speed: Although The Elderspell is a sorcery, its impact on the game can be as momentous as an instant-speed action. By waiting for the perfect moment when the board is replete with planeswalkers, casting The Elderspell can drastically alter the game in your favor, reminiscent of the unforeseen swings that instant spells provide.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Elderspell doesn’t have a discard requirement per se, but it does ask for a very specific action—removing loyalty counters from planeswalkers you control. For players not running a planeswalker-heavy deck, this can become a dead card with no real upside.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black mana can be restrictive for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana fixing, making it less flexible in non-monocolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a cost of two black mana, The Elderspell offers a powerful effect in the right circumstances, yet it’s considerably niche. Other removal spells in the same cost range can deal with a wider array of threats on the board.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Elderspell fits into various decks, particularly those utilizing planeswalkers. It can act as a removal spell or an accelerant for your own planeswalker’s ultimate ability, making it adaptable in different game scenarios.

Combo Potential: With the ability to destroy any number of target planeswalkers and put loyalty counters on your own, The Elderspell enables explosive combinations. It easily partners with cards like “Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God” or “Gideon Blackblade” to reach their full potential rapidly.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where planeswalkers are prominent, The Elderspell becomes not just a tactical choice but a necessity. It keeps decks with multiple planeswalkers in check and can swiftly tip the scales of a game in your favor when played at the opportune moment.


How to beat

The Elderspell is a powerful force in the MTG universe, attracting players with its game-altering capabilities. Primarily designed to decimate planeswalkers, this card can shift the balance of power in a player’s favor, especially when the battlefield is teeming with these mighty allies. A deft move leveraging The Elderspell can escalate your own planeswalker towards ultimate ability activation.

Countering this potent spell involves strategic planning. Including instant-speed removal or counterspells in your deck can provide protection for your planeswalkers. Cards like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can stop The Elderspell before it wreaks havoc, reinforcing the necessity of holding mana in reserve during crucial turns. Additionally, deploying creatures with abilities to protect planeswalkers, such as Shalai, Voice of Plenty, can offer an extra layer of defense against this destructive sorcery.

It’s about anticipating your opponent’s moves and being ready to thwart their strategies. Understanding the timing and the context of when The Elderspell could most likely be played gives you the upper hand, allowing you to safeguard your board state and continue your quest for victory in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

The magic of MTG transcends just individual cards, reaching into the synergies and strategies that define a player’s pathway to victory. The Elderspell serves as a dark horse, with its unique ability to disrupt opponents and empower your planeswalker arsenal. It’s a card that demands understanding and finesse—when to cast, how to optimize, and where it fits within the meta. Whether you’re a seasoned planeswalker summoner or looking to add a strategic twist to your deck, considering The Elderspell is a wise move. Curious about weaving it into your game plan? Dive deeper with us to unlock the full potential of this spellbinding card.


Cards like The Elderspell

The Elderspell is a unique card within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, standing out with its ability to wreak havoc on planeswalkers. Its closest relation is arguably Dreadbore, which offers the targeted removal of a creature or planeswalker for less mana. Where The Elderspell shines, however, is in its capacity to eliminate multiple planeswalkers and bolster your own, a strategic advantage that Dreadbore does not provide.

Hero’s Downfall also enters the conversation when discussing planeswalker removal. Like Dreadbore, it destroys a creature or planeswalker but at instant speed, granting players quicker response times during critical moments. Unlike The Elderspell, though, it doesn’t offer the potential loyalty boost. Ruinous Path is another competitor, affording the option to awaken a land creature but at sorcery speed and a higher mana cost compared to Dreadbore and Hero’s Downfall.

In summary, while there are several cards in Magic: The Gathering capable of dispatching planeswalkers, The Elderspell distinguishes itself. It can dramatically alter the state of the game by clearing multiple planeswalker threats at once and empowering your own, a potent combination not replicated by its counterparts.

Dreadbore - MTG Card versions
Hero's Downfall - MTG Card versions
Ruinous Path - MTG Card versions
Dreadbore - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Hero's Downfall - Theros (THS)
Ruinous Path - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)

Cards similar to The Elderspell by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Demonic Tutor - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Binding - Renaissance (REN)
Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dry Spell - Portal (POR)
Hymn to Tourach - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mind Knives - Portal (POR)
Shattered Crypt - Weatherlight (WTH)
Disturbed Burial - Tempest (TMP)
Death Stroke - Stronghold (STH)
Exhume - Jumpstart (JMP)
Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Diabolic Intent - Planeshift (PLS)
Decompose - Odyssey (ODY)
Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Walk the Plank - The List (PLST)
Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nausea - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Distress - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase The Elderspell MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and War of the Spark Promos, 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 The Elderspell and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The The Elderspell Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2019-05-04. Illustrated by Daarken.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-05-03War of the SparkWAR 892015normalblackDaarken
22019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 89p2015normalblackDaarken
32019-05-04War of the Spark PromosPWAR 89s2015normalblackDaarken

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where The Elderspell has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-05-03 You can cast The Elderspell without controlling any planeswalkers. The target planeswalkers will still be destroyed. You can also cast it without targeting any planeswalkers if you really want to do so.
2019-05-03 You choose the target planeswalkers to destroy as you cast The Elderspell, but you don’t choose a planeswalker to receive loyalty counters until The Elderspell is resolving.

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