Silver Erne MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Bird
Abilities	Flying,Trample
Released	1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Ice Age
Set code	ICE
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	98
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Melissa A. Benson

Key Takeaways

Silver Erne excels in card economy and can boost land plays with successful attacks.
Instant speed play offers versatility, but requires strategic hand management.
While potent, its specific mana needs and high cost can limit deck compatibility.

Text of card

Flying, trample

"I've seen a larger Erne knock a Giant to the ground and stay airborne. They move not with the wind, but as the wind." —Arna Kennerüd, Skyknight

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Silver Erne provides a valuable opportunity to soar ahead in card economy with its flying prowess. This card not only offers a solid defense but can also trigger potent draw effects simply by inflicting combat damage to an opponent, enhancing your strategic viability during the match.

Resource Acceleration: Every turn with Silver Erne in play touches upon resource acceleration, as it can potentially convert a successful attack into an additional land drop. Seamlessly integrating offensive tactics with ramping prowess, this card ensures a steady growth in your resource pool, keeping you leagues ahead of your adversary.

Instant Speed: Silver Erne can truly shine when played at instant speed, offering a tactical edge by enabling deft maneuvers such as flashing in to block an unexpected attacker or appearing end of turn to surprise your opponent. This versatility can drastically alter the battlefield’s dynamics, casting doubt and uncertainty in your adversary’s strategy.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Silver Erne requires a card to be discarded whenever its ability is activated. This can rapidly deplete your hand, especially in game phases where maintaining card advantage is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: Silver Erne demands a precise mana combination to cast, restricting its inclusion to decks that can reliably generate both white and blue mana, potentially limiting its playability across various formats.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other creatures and spells in the game that offer similar or better abilities at a lower cost, Silver Erne’s mana investment may not yield the best returns, impacting its overall efficiency in a match.

Reasons to Include Silver Erne in Your Collection

Versatility: The Silver Erne card offers flexibility in deck building, able to serve as an early flying blocker or enabler for strategies revolving around bird and artifact synergies.

Combo Potential: The Silver Erne’s ability to untap a permanent can be exploited in numerous combos, unlocking potential across various deck types and playing styles.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that appreciates cost-effective creatures, Silver Erne’s low mana cost and ability to interact with other permanents on the board make it a potentially powerful addition to competitive play.

How to beat

Silver Erne can be quite a challenge to face in a game of Magic: The Gathering. This flying creature can make an impact with its ability to draw cards if it deals combat damage to a player. However, as with any card, there are strategies to negate its advantages. One effective method is to remove Silver Erne from the battlefield before it can deal damage. Instant removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be key assets in your arsenal for dealing with such threats swiftly.

Another strategy is to utilize cards that prevent Silver Erne from attacking or blocking. Pacifism or Claustrophobia can hinder its combat abilities, which directly affects its card-drawing capability. Additionally, employing creatures with reach or flying can serve as a defensive bulwark, making it harder for Silver Erne to break through your lines and trigger its effect. Finally, keeping pressure on your opponent’s life total can shift their focus from maximizing Silver Erne’s ability to defending themselves, potentially sidelining the Erne’s impact on the game.

In essence, managing to nullify Silver Erne’s influence involves timely removal, strategic disabling, and maintaining a strong board presence to keep the momentum in your favor.

Cards like Silver Erne

Silver Erne adds a unique dynamic to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. Comparable to other creatures like Welkin Tern, both have flying, but Silver Erne stands out with its added flexibility from the forecast ability, allowing subtle strategic plays from your hand. Unlike Welkin Tern, the forecast ability of Silver Erne can influence the game even when the card is not on the battlefield.

When considering other flyer options, Faerie Seer comes to mind. It brings an ETB (Enter The Battlefield) scry ability, which is valuable for deck manipulation. While it lacks the raw power of Silver Erne, Faerie Seer’s immediate deck insight can be a game-changer. Then there’s Spire Owl, a card that also lets you look at the top four cards of your library upon entering the battlefield. While Spire Owl can prepare future draws, Silver Erne’s potential to affect the board every turn with its forecast can apply consistent pressure on your opponent.

In sum, Silver Erne’s position among flying creatures is solidified not just by its airborne prowess but also by its recurrent forecast ability, providing sustained utility and tactical advantages.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silver Erne MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Silver Erne and other MTG cards: