Elven Rite MTG Card

Stronghold (STH)
1998-03-02 - Number 106

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 169

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Key Takeaways

Elven Rite shines in elf decks with card drawing and untapping abilities for faster plays.
It must be cast with specific mana and demands a card discard, limiting flexibility.
Despite a higher mana cost, its instant speed and buffs make it a versatile choice.

Text of card

Put two +1/+1 counters, distributed any way you choose, on any number of target creatures.

As the bough stretches, so shall you grow. As the roots spread, so shall you thrive.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elven Rite shines in providing card advantage by drawing cards and potentially revealing crucial pieces that align with your elf strategy.

Resource Acceleration: By untapping your Elves, the card facilitates a significant boost in mana production, allowing for an explosive growth in your board state or the casting of impactful spells ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: The capability to use Elven Rite at instant speed offers the flexibility to react to the changing battlefield, utilize it as a surprise element during combat, or in response to an opponent’s actions.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of Elven Rite is the discard requirement. This additional cost to play the card can be a setback, especially if your hand is already depleted or if you’re relying on each card you possess for a crucial combo or strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Elven Rite demands a certain mana combination to cast, which could potentially restrict deck-building options and make it less flexible. This specific mana requirement may not be easily accommodated in multi-colored decks, thus limiting the card’s versatility and playability outside of dedicated elf or green-centric decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Elven Rite can offer enticing benefits to elf-themed decks, its mana cost is relatively high. This cost can slow down your momentum as other cards with similar or lower costs might activate comparable or better effects, thereby putting this card at a disadvantage in terms of efficiency in a fast-paced game.

Reasons to Include Elven Rite in Your Collection

Versatility: Elven Rite shines in various deck archetypes, especially those centralized around Elves or creature-based strategies. Its ability to provide buffs or additional mana is a boon in both aggressive and ramp decks.

Combo Potential: Elven Rite’s dual modes facilitate potent combinations with cards that capitalize on +1/+1 counters or use creatures tapping for benefits. Integrating it into a combo chain can lead to game-winning plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating environment of competitive play, Elven Rite’s flexibility to either accelerate your board presence or amplify your creatures makes it a strong contender in numerous meta scenarios.

How to beat

Elven Rite is a potent spell for those who prefer to enhance their creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This card is designed to give a boost to an army of elves, ensuring your creatures can overwhelm opponents with increased strength and resilience. Appreciating its value in elf-centric decks is important, but so is understanding how to dismantle its advantage when faced against it.

Counterspells are your first line of defense, preventing Elven Rite from ever taking effect. Cards like Negate or Mana Leak are perfect for this role, as they can disrupt your opponent’s game plan efficiently. Should Elven Rite resolve, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act are effective ways to reset the battlefield and eliminate the buffed-up elves in one fell swoop. If you’re playing a more targeted approach, spot removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can take care of individual threats, reducing the impact of Elven Rite’s benefits.

Lastly, don’t overlook the power of strategic blocking and combat tricks. Sometimes, simply making smart choices during the combat phase can offset the enhancements that Elven Rite provides. With these strategies in mind, you can neutralize the threat and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Elven Rite

Elven Rite finds its place in the myriad of creature enhancement spells within Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to other spells like Might of the Masses, which also grants a boost to a creature based on certain conditions. The unique selling point of Elven Rite, however, is the dual nature of its ability to distribute two +1/+1 counters among one or two creatures. Might of the Masses, in contrast, provides a single, potentially larger, temporary buff depending on the number of creatures you control.

Comparably, we can look at a card like Blessing of Belzenlok, which has a similar scope, offering one creature a +2/+1 increase until end of turn. Elven Rite’s advantage lies in its flexibility, allowing the counters to be spread out or stacked, providing a permanent benefit rather than a temporary one. Furthermore, Incremental Growth stands out with the capacity to put a ladder of +1/+1 counters on three target creatures. This might seem superior, but it comes at a higher mana cost compared to the versatility and efficiency of Elven Rite.

Ultimately, when exploring choices within permanent creature buffs, Elven Rite shines in its simplicity and flexibility, making it a card that confidently holds its own against its counterparts in both casual and competitive Magic: The Gathering play.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elven Rite MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Tempest Remastered, 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 Elven Rite and other MTG cards: