Yavimaya's Embrace MTG Card

Grants control of a creature while enhancing it, tipping the scales favorably in your direction. Demands UUGG mana, suiting dual-colored decks and accentuating the need for diverse mana bases. Despite the high mana cost, it’s a compelling pick for its unique ability to alter the game state.

Apocalypse (APC)
2001-06-04 - Number 127

Yavimaya's Embrace - Mystery Booster (MB1)

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 1514

Yavimaya's Embrace - Double Masters (2XM)

Double Masters (2XM)
2020-08-07 - Number 229

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number APC-127

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant

Text of card

You control enchanted creature. Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has trample.

Cards like Yavimaya's Embrace

Yavimaya’s Embrace is a unique inclusion among aura enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, offering a distinct combination of control and buffing abilities. Like Control Magic, Yavimaya’s Embrace allows players to take possession of an opponent’s creature, but it even goes a step further by granting the creature +2/+2 and trample. This is significant as it not only shifts board control but also turns the captured creature into a larger threat.

Comparatively, Treachery shares the capacity to take over creatures without a mana cost at the enchantment’s entry to the battlefield, though it lacks the buffing prowess found in Yavimaya’s Embrace. On another front, there’s Dragon Grip, which also confers the trample ability and can be cast with ferocious for an instant speed advantage, albeit without the creature stealing effect.

Gauging the synergy and impact of such cards, Yavimaya’s Embrace shines for its triple threat of control, stat boost, and evasion granting. For players looking to command the battlefield while enhancing their creatures, this card packs a powerful blend of functionality in MTG.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Yavimaya’s Embrace allows players to not only gain control of an opponent’s creature but also to power up one of their own, providing a significant swing in card value. This effectively disrupts the opponent’s board while bolstering yours.

Resource Acceleration: This card can be a pivotal move in accelerating your resources. By taking control of an opponent’s creature, you potentially deprive them of a mana dork or another utility creature, which can be paramount in resource-driven matches.

Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Yavimaya’s Embrace pairs well with cards that can be cast at instant speed, setting up unforeseen traps and interactions that can turn the tide of a game. It synergizes with flash enablers, making its timing less predictable and more disruptive during complex game states.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Yavimaya’s Embrace doesn’t require a discard directly, it demands a significant investment of cards to be effective. To truly capitalize on its ability, players often need a critical mass of creatures on the battlefield, which can be equivalent to a discard in terms of resource allocation.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a UUGG cost, Yavimaya’s Embrace necessitates a deck committed to both blue and green mana sources. This can limit its flexibility, only fitting comfortably within dual-colored or multi-colored decks that can reliably produce both types of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an eight-mana total cost, comprising three general and five of green and blue, it’s a substantial investment. Even in the late game, this cost can restrict a player’s ability to perform other actions during their turn. Other enchantment options in the MTG universe can yield similar or better results for a smaller mana investment.

Reasons to Include Yavimaya’s Embrace in Your Collection

Versatility: Yavimaya’s Embrace adapts to various decks, offering both creature control and augmentation. Its flexible use allows it to be a worthy addition to decks that aim to dominate the board.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with strategies that leverage control and buff effects. The ability to steal a creature and strengthen it complements numerous combos and interactions, enriching your tactical approach.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Yavimaya’s Embrace becomes a game-changer. It can break stalemates and turn the tides by capturing key creatures and swinging momentum in your favor.

How to beat

Yavimaya’s Embrace is a powerful aura that can turn the tide of any Magic: The Gathering game by taking control of an opponent’s creature and boosting it. To counter this card, tactical foresight and the right card choices are key. Consider running instant-speed removal spells that can dismantle auras or directly target the enchanted creature. Cards such as Naturalize or Krosan Grip can efficiently dispose of Yavimaya’s Embrace before its effects become overwhelming.

Moreover, employing counterspells like Counterspell or Negate when Yavimaya’s Embrace is cast prevents the aura from hitting the board altogether. Enchantment removal like Disenchant also provides a safety net against such threats, allowing you to return control of the creature to its owner. Additionally, protection abilities that make a creature untargetable by spells or abilities can nullify Yavimaya’s Embrace’s effect, as it relies on targeting a creature to be effective.

Lastly, strategic deck building to incorporate cards that benefit from your opponent’s auras can turn their advantage into your victory. Understanding the dynamics of control and removal and preparing your deck to defend against game-changing auras like Yavimaya’s Embrace will ensure that you maintain dominance on the battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Yavimaya's Embrace MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse and Mystery Booster, 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 Yavimaya's Embrace and other MTG cards:

BUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Yavimaya's Embrace Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2001-06-04 and 2020-08-07. Illustrated by Eric Peterson.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2001-06-04	Apocalypse	APC	127	1997	Normal	Black	Eric Peterson
2	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	1514	1997	Normal	Black	Eric Peterson
3	2020-08-07	Double Masters	2XM	229	2015	Normal	Black	Eric Peterson
4	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	APC-127	1997	Normal	Black	Eric Peterson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Yavimaya's Embrace has restrictions

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