Elemental Bird MTG Card

Type	Token Creature — Elemental Bird
Abilities	Flying
Released	2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set name	Core Set 2020
Set code	M20
Power	4
Toughness	4
Number	4
Frame	2015
Layout	Token
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jana Schirmer

Key Takeaways

Elemental Birds provide card advantage, ramp up resources and surprise opponents with instant speed plays.
They require precise mana and possibly discarding cards, which can complicate gameplay strategies.
These cards are valuable for their versatility, combo potential, and relevance in the flying creature meta.

Text of card

Flying

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing an Elemental Bird card often means you’re not just summoning a creature to the battlefield; you’re also likely triggering abilities that can net you additional cards. This kind of effect keeps your hand full and your options open, allowing you to maintain pressure on your opponent and respond to their moves effectively.

Resource Acceleration: Many Elemental Bird cards synchronize well with decks focused on ramping up mana. They frequently have abilities that untap lands or generate mana, giving you the boost needed to cast high-impact spells ahead of curve. This acceleration can be a game-changer by enabling big plays that can swing the match in your favor.

Instant Speed: The versatility of an Elemental Bird card often comes from its instant speed capabilities. The ability to flash in a flying blocker or to generate a surprise factor during combat adds a layer of depth to gameplay. This not only disrupts opponents’ strategies but also allows you to maximize the effectiveness of your turns and manage resources more fluidly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A notable downside of this Elemental Bird card is the necessity to discard another card from your hand to unleash its potential. This can be particularly challenging when your hand is nearly empty or if you’re holding onto key pieces for your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature demands a precise combination of mana to be cast, often involving multiple colors. While this adds to its elemental flare, it can be a stumbling block in mono-color or color-restricted decks that can’t easily meet the mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its captivating abilities, the casting cost of this Elemental Bird is on the higher side. For the hefty investment of mana, players might find that there are alternatives that provide a similar or greater impact on the battlefield without depleting their mana resources as significantly.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The adaptability of an Elemental Bird MTG card lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate into various deck themes, from flying-centered synergies to those utilizing elemental or bird traits for strategic advantages.

Combo Potential: Elemental Bird cards often possess abilities that can pair well with other cards to generate powerful effects, from creating token copies to manipulating the battlefield in favor of the player’s other creatures.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where flying creatures can dominate, including an Elemental Bird in your deck can be crucial for countering those strategies, or conversely, reinforcing your own aerial assault where opponents may be challenged to defend effectively.

How to beat

Confronting an Elemental Bird card in Magic: The Gathering often means dealing with a combination of flying mobility and potent enter-the-battlefield effects. These winged wonders can swiftly dominate the skies and deliver game-changing abilities or buffs to other creatures on the board. To effectively counter these avian adversaries, incorporating removal spells that can target flying creatures is critical.

Ensnaring aerial creatures like Elemental Birds often relies on spells such as “Silkwrap” which can exorcise these creatures from play or “Airborne Aid” which can negate the advantages of a sky-bound army. With flying creatures reigning supreme in aerial combat, ground-based defenses are typically fruitless. Hence, prioritizing spells in your deck dedicated to dealing with flying creatures can turn the tide. Moreover, instant-speed removals allow you to react during your opponent’s turn, potentially saving you from airborne onslaughts. Ultimately, understanding and preparing for Elemental Bird cards’ inevitable ascent can ensure that you’re never caught off guard by their lofty lunges.

Whether it’s through evenly matched flying blockers or strategic spell casts, securing your deck against aerial threats is an essential strategy for maintaining control of the board and navigating towards victory in your Magic: The Gathering matches.

Cards like Elemental Bird

The allure of flying creatures in Magic the Gathering can bring a strategic edge to any deck, and the Elemental Bird card is no exception. Its kinship can be seen with cards like ‘Stormscape Familiar’, another feathered ally that reduces the cost of certain spells. Both share the advantage of taking to the skies, granting you dominion over the aerial battlefield.

Examining ‘Mist Raven’, another bird in the MTG universe, reveals a utility-focused ability to return a creature to its owner’s hand upon entering the battlefield. While the Elemental Bird may not share this particular characteristic, it often boasts elemental synergies, enhancing its value within themed decks. Then there’s ‘Aven Wind Mage’, a spellcaster bird, which grows stronger with each instant and sorcery cast. This presents a different form of adaptability when compared to the tribal cohesion found in Elemental Bird type cards.

In essence, while each avian creature carries its unique aspects to the game table, Elemental Bird cards present a blend of flight, elemental synergy, and often, unexpected bonuses. Such combinations allow them to soar among their peers in Magic the Gathering, offering dynamic strategies to any player’s deck.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elemental Bird MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Elemental Bird and other MTG cards: