Fungus Elemental MTG Card


Fungus Elemental - Weatherlight
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Fungus Elemental
Released1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set nameWeatherlight
Set codeWTH
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number128
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byScott M. Fischer

Key Takeaways

  1. Card advantage and resource acceleration make Fungus Elemental a strategic asset in MTG matches.
  2. Some drawbacks to play include specific mana requirements and potential hand depletion.
  3. Its unique growth ability with +1/+1 counters offers significant advantage in creature-heavy metas.

Text of card

o G, Sacrifice a forest: Put a +2/+2 counter on Fungus Elemental. Use this ability only if Fungus Elemental came into play this turn.

I rot growth and grow rot. What am I? —Elvish riddle


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Fungus Elemental card can be a powerful addition to a deck looking to build card advantage. With abilities that may include drawing cards upon entering the battlefield or from other synergistic interactions, it helps to ensure a steady flow of options in your hand, keeping you a step ahead of your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Fungus Elemental often comes with benefits that can ramp up your resources. This might manifest as additional lands or tokens that represent mana, bolstering your available resources and allowing you to play more potent spells earlier in the match or deploy multiple threats in quick succession.

Instant Speed: Some variations of Fungus Elemental cards can be cast at instant speed, providing tactical flexibility that is essential in MTG. This reactive playstyle enables you to optimize your mana usage and adapt to the unfolding game, unleashing surprises on your opponent when they least expect it.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing a Fungus Elemental, you may find that the card demands the discarding of another card from your hand as part of its casting cost or ability. This can put you at a disadvantage by depleting your hand, particularly if you’re already struggling to maintain card advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana requirement for a Fungus Elemental often includes both green mana and another type. This dual necessity can sometimes complicate your mana base, making it more challenging to play this card in a timely manner, especially if your deck runs multiple colors and you don’t draw the right lands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With elementals of this type, you may notice a higher mana cost in comparison to other creatures with similar stats or abilities. This can slow down your game plan, as you might spend your entire turn casting it, leaving you without enough mana for other spells or abilities that could be vital for maintaining board presence or protecting yourself.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Fungus Elemental brings a unique dynamic to green decks with its ability to synergize with +1/+1 counter strategies and potentially grow into a sizable threat on the board.

Combo Potential: With elements that support both fungus and elemental synergies, Fungus Elemental can be the linchpin in combos that exploit these tribal connections or that amplify the effects of +1/+1 counters.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts to accommodate creature-based tactics, having Fungus Elemental could position a deck to take advantage of its adaptable nature and the way it strengthens long-term board presence.


How to beat

The Fungus Elemental is a unique creature in the world of MTG, known for its ability to grow by harnessing the power of fungus counters. Tackling the Fungus Elemental involves a strategic approach. Ensuring you have removal spells handy is vital. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder can dispatch this growing threat before it becomes unstoppable. Given its reliance on counters, using spells that negate these effects, such as Solemnity, can also stifle the Fungus Elemental’s potential. Additionally, keeping pressure on your opponent and controlling the board state is key, as it prevents them from easily accumulating the much-needed counters to strengthen their Fungus Elemental.

Moreover, instant speed interaction spells tend to be very effective. They can respond directly to counter-adding abilities, keeping the elemental’s power in check. If the creature has already grown beyond manageable proportions, board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the field. The goal is to prevent the Fungus Elemental from gaining momentum, as a large creature can quickly become an insurmountable obstacle. Overall, maintaining control and eliminating the Fungus Elemental swiftly is crucial for ensuring it doesn’t take over the game.


Cards like Fungus Elemental

The Fungus Elemental card makes for an intriguing presence in the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem of creature cards. It shares kinship with other Elementals, like the Thicket Elemental, in that they both cater to players fond of utilizing creatures that synergize with nature and land types. Concretely, Fungus Elemental’ distinctive element revolves around its potential to grow stronger with +1/+1 counters, a feature mirrored by the likes of the Scavenging Ooze.

Other analogs include the Spike Tiller, which not only gains counters but also has a land-related utility, turning lands into creatures. While the Spike Tiller offers this unique terrain manipulation, it doesn’t have the self-strengthening ability of the Fungus Elemental. Another comparable card is the Forgotten Ancient, an Elemental that accrues counters whenever a player casts a spell, highlighting the Elemental’s adaptability to the dynamic nature of spells during each turn.

Analyzing these relatives, Fungus Elemental holds a special niche. With its potential for growth and straightforward power boost mechanics, it stands strong among other green creatures that share its capacity for evolution and land-centric synergy.

Thicket Elemental - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Spike Tiller - MTG Card versions
Forgotten Ancient - MTG Card versions
Thicket Elemental - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Spike Tiller - MTG Card versions
Forgotten Ancient - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Fungus Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Fungus Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Fungus Elemental has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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