Nath's Elite MTG Card


Nath's Elite - Lorwyn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Warrior
Abilities Clash
Released2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameLorwyn
Set codeLRW
Power 4
Toughness 2
Number231
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byWayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

  1. Nath’s Elite provides card draw and resource acceleration, critical for maintaining control and setting gameplay pace.
  2. Instant speed casting allows for dynamic play, while drawbacks include discard requirements and specific mana needs.
  3. Vital in creature-centric decks, it has combo potential and meta relevance, despite its comparably higher mana cost.

Text of card

All creatures able to block Nath's Elite do so. When Nath's Elite comes into play, clash with an opponent. If you win, put a +1/+1 counter on Nath's Elite. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Nath’s Elite possesses the ability to replenish your hand, giving you an upper hand by potentially drawing into more answers or threats, integral for maintaining control over the game’s flow.

Resource Acceleration: This card can accelerate your resources, allowing you to deploy more spells in a single turn than normally possible, thereby increasing your chances of outpacing the opposition.

Instant Speed: The versatility of casting Nath’s Elite at instant speed means you can strategically time your plays and react to your opponent’s actions on-the-fly, keeping them always guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Leveraging Nath’s Elite often means you need to discard another card, which can be quite detrimental when your hand is already sparce. This drawback reduces your capability to maintain pressure on the board and sustain enough options to respond to opponents’ threats effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: One cannot overlook that Nath’s Elite demands a precise mana configuration to cast. It requires green mana sources strictly, which isn’t always practical especially in multicolored or flexible mana base decks. Players must carefully consider their deck’s mana curve and composition to include this card without compromising deck consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Nath’s Elite boasts certain advantages, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other options available within the same category. Cards with a lower casting cost can provide similar or even better benefits sooner, which is crucial in matchups where tempo plays a decisive role.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Nath’s Elite provides flexibility in deck building, seamlessly integrating into elf tribal themes or acting as a standalone power card in various green builds. Its inherent strength lies in pumping itself and tapping into synergy with elf-focused mechanics.

Combo Potential: With its ability to generate tokens or bolster your board presence, Nath’s Elite has the capacity to trigger a cascade of combo plays, particularly when you’re harnessing elf synergies or strategies that thrive on wide, creature-heavy strategies.

Meta-Relevance: The current competitive landscape often sees the rise of creature-centric decks, where Nath’s Elite can become an essential piece. It holds its own across various match-ups and can swing games in your favor by providing a robust, scalable presence on the battlefield.


How to beat

Overcoming Nath’s Elite in Magic: The Gathering requires strategic insight into its strengths and weaknesses. This elusive card presents a dual challenge as a formidable creature with hexproof, making it resistant to targeted spells, and the potential to enhance its power through your opponent’s card discards. One approach to counteract Nath’s Elite’s hexproof feature is by using board sweepers or global effects that don’t target a single creature. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation can efficiently clear the board of Nath’s Elite without having to target it directly. Another tactic is to prevent your opponent from leveraging discard mechanics, which may involve using Leyline of Sanctity to protect yourself from targeted discard or applying symmetric effects with cards like Necrogen Mists to level the playing field.

An alternative strategy is to outpace the card’s strengthening ability by maintaining a robust board presence that can apply pressure regardless of the Elite’s growing size. Employ creatures with high toughness or those that provide beneficial effects even in death, reducing detriment from potential forced sacrifices. In essence, keeping the battlefield under your control and neutralizing Nath’s Elite’s advantages is key to mastering the upper hand in your matches.


Cards like Nath's Elite

Nath’s Elite is a noteworthy entity in the sea of creature cards within Magic the Gathering, offering players a unique blend of aggressive stats and utility. It has a kinship with cards such as Dwynen’s Elite which similarly creates additional Elf tokens upon entering the battlefield. However, Nath’s Elite’s ability to generate tokens without the need to have another Elf on the battlefield already gives it a slight edge in adaptability.

Another card to consider is Llanowar Tribe, known for its rapid mana ramp capabilities in the Elf archetype. While Nath’s Elite doesn’t directly boost your mana pool, the potential tactical advantage of its token generation can often pave the way for a more commanding board presence. Additionally, Elvish Archdruid stands tall as a beacon of synergy for Elf-based decks, providing both a stat boost to other Elves and a hefty mana ramp. Nath’s Elite, in concert with Elvish Archdruid, can rapidly expand an Elf player’s army and resource availability simultaneously.

Within the context of strategic Elf deck-building and gameplay flexibility, Nath’s Elite holds its ground as a valuable addition to the suite of creature cards aimed at dominating the board with numerous Elves and overwhelming the opponent through sheer numbers.

Dwynen's Elite - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Tribe - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions
Dwynen's Elite - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Tribe - MTG Card versions
Elvish Archdruid - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Nath's Elite MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Nath's Elite and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Nath's Elite has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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