Plasma Elemental MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	2004-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Fifth Dawn
Set code	5DN
Power	4
Toughness	1
Number	34
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Plasma Elemental offers card advantage, making it a high-value target for opponents.
The card can fit into elemental decks, harnessing synergies for a powerful impact.
Despite its strengths, an exacting mana cost and high summoning price affect playability.

Text of card

Plasma Elemental is unblockable.

"I watched a ship sail right through it. I thought it was harmless . . . until I saw what it had done to the crew." —Bruenna, Neurok leader

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Plasma Elemental’s presence on the board can create a situation where your opponents must dedicate multiple resources to address it, frequently leading to advantageous two-for-one trades. This tactic keeps your hand healthy while debilitating your rival’s options, potentiating your position in the game.

Resource Acceleration: Plasma Elemental itself may not directly provide resource acceleration, but its elemental type can be part of synergistic deck strategies that promote mana generation. This can propel you towards playing high-impact spells sooner than expected, outpacing your opponent.

Instant Speed: With the capability to attack unexpectedly or disrupt block strategies instantaneously, Plasma Elemental thrives in decks that value surprise and adaptability. Its utility at instant speed lets you smartly navigate the ever-shifting landscape of a match, keeping opponents on their toes and second-guessing their tactics.

Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Plasma Elemental demands a certain combination of mana types for its casting, which may not align with every player’s deck construction, potentially limiting its utility across various play styles.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a substantial mana investment for its power and toughness, Plasma Elemental may struggle to compete for a slot in your deck against other creatures with more impactful abilities or stats that offer a better return on resources spent.

Discard Requirement: Incorporating this elemental into your strategy could mean having to part with valuable cards in your hand, a requirement that can set you back in terms of card advantage and strategic options during the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Plasma Elemental boasts flexibility as it can be easily slotted into blue-based control or aggressive elemental decks, adapting to a variety of playstyles while offering a substantial power boost.

Combo Potential: This card, with its elemental typing, works well with other cards that care about elemental creatures, allowing for powerful synergies and potentially game-changing combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Against certain metagame compositions, Plasma Elemental’s solid body for its mana cost can be a meaningful threat, matching up against popular creatures in the current environment.

How to beat

The Plasma Elemental in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge with its evasion abilities and potentially high damage output. To effectively counter this threat, it’s essential to focus on its weakness – the lack of protection from spells or abilities. Utilizing removal spells can efficiently dispatch the Plasma Elemental before it has the chance to swing in for significant damage. Cards like Doom Blade, Path to Exile, or Fatal Push are highly effective, as they bypass the elemental’s high power and can be used regardless of whether it’s your turn or your opponent’s.

Another strategy is to control the battlefield with enchantments or abilities that restrict the combat phase or block creature attacks. Ghostly Prison or Propaganda can impose a cost on attacking, which could hinder the Plasma Elemental’s ability to pressure your life total. Additionally, clever deck builders often include cards that can neutralize creatures without destroying them, such as Pacifism or the more recent Bound in Gold, preventing the Plasma Elemental from attacking or blocking.

Victory against a Plasma Elemental involves preparation and choosing the right cards. Strategic deck building, coupled with timely plays, can keep this formidable force at bay, showcasing the depth and complexity of Magic: The Gathering’s gameplay.

Cards like Plasma Elemental

Exploring the vast array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Plasma Elemental stands out with its fiery presence on the battlefield. It draws a parallel to other elemental creatures such as Flamekin Brawler, both sharing the elemental creature type and a spirit of aggression. Yet, Plasma Elemental diverges with its distinctive ability to deal damage to a player via its power, a trait that Flamekin Brawler lacks.

A closer relative to Plasma Elemental can be seen in Water Elemental. Both have the raw power and toughness that define elemental creatures, but Plasma Elemental burns brighter with its potential for direct damage, a feature not mirrored by the aquatic cousin. This elevates Plasma Elemental in situations where player life totals are teetering on the brink.

Considering the broader range of elemental beings within the game, Plasma Elemental finds itself in a unique niche. Its prowess and trait of inflicting damage directly position it as a formidable force. When assessing the value it brings to the table, Plasma Elemental is a card that can turn the tides in a player’s favor with its impactful, yet nuanced, board presence.

Cards similar to Plasma Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions

Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Sphinx of the Chimes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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