Iron Tusk Elephant MTG Card


Iron Tusk Elephant - Mirage
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elephant
Abilities Trample
Released1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set nameMirage
Set codeMIR
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number22
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byTony Roberts

Key Takeaways

  1. Iron Tusk Elephant’s combat efficiency can lead to significant card advantage during play.
  2. Though lacking in resource acceleration, it enhances decks centered around its Trample ability.
  3. Works well with instant spells to clear a path for its powerful Trample damage.

Text of card

Trample

"The fury in the lion's eye; the patience in the hippo's yawn; the pride within the griffin's cry are one within the iron tusk's stride." —"Iron Tusk," Femeref song


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When deploying Iron Tusk Elephant to the battlefield, its robust presence often trades favorably with multiple opposing creatures, potentially yielding significant card advantage in combat scenarios.

Resource Acceleration: This creature doesn’t inherently accelerate resources. However, in decks that synergize with its Trample ability, it can catalyze game-ending combos or amplify the value of resource-boosting spells and abilities.

Instant Speed: While Iron Tusk Elephant itself does not have instant speed, it pairs well with spells of instant speed. Those spells can remove blockers or provide buffs, clearing the way for Iron Tusk Elephant’s Trample damage to have maximum impact.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Iron Tusk Elephant doesn’t ask you to discard a card, but it’s crucial to be aware that leveraging its full potential often hinges on using other cards that could deplete your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card necessitates a mana setup that includes white, which might not sync with the strategy of multicolored or non-white decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Iron Tusk Elephant boasts solid stats, its casting cost may overshadow its usefulness when compared to other creatures in the same mana range that bring additional abilities to the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Iron Tusk Elephant in Your Collection

Versatility: Iron Tusk Elephant’s ability to grant other creatures trample makes it a flexible addition to decks that aim to overwhelm opponents with hefty creatures. Its substantial size for its mana cost also provides a solid defense against early game aggression.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from creatures with high power or those that utilize the trample ability, Iron Tusk Elephant amplifies these synergies. It can be a key component in decks designed to execute powerful, game-ending moves.

Meta-Relevance: Should the game environment lean towards a lot of creature-based combat, Iron Tusk Elephant’s trample-enabling ability becomes increasingly valuable, allowing you to pressure opponents and maintain a board presence against a variety of strategies.


How to Beat Iron Tusk Elephant

The Iron Tusk Elephant card presents a sturdy challenge on the battlefield with its formidable presence. If you’re facing this trampling behemoth in MTG, the key lies in utilizing efficient removal spells or creatures with defense values high enough to withstand its attack. Consider cards like Doom Blade for a straightforward elimination, or enchantments like Pacifism to neutralize its combat capabilities without direct removal. Additionally, creatures with deathtouch can be effective deterrents, as they ensure that any attack from the elephant will be its last. While Iron Tusk Elephant’s trample might prove tricky, cards that provide your creatures with an additional toughness boost can help you absorb the damage and maintain your line of defense.

Alternatively, flying creatures offer an aerial advantage that the ground-bound Iron Tusk Elephant can’t contest. Implementing cards that can block and inflict damage from above serve as a strategic counter. Remember, in a game where strategy and resource management are vital, planning ahead and maintaining control of the board is essential. Whenever you’re drafting your deck or picking your hand, think one step ahead and ensure you have answers to challenges like the Iron Tusk Elephant card.


Cards like Iron Tusk Elephant

The Iron Tusk Elephant may not be the most illustrious creature card in Magic: The Gathering, but it certainly holds its ground within its niche. Primarily, it can be likened to cards such as War Elephant. Both share the same colors and a similar vibe steeped in strength and resilience. War Elephant, however, benefits from banding, a mechanic that allows a player to group creatures in combat for strategic advantages.

Moreover, there’s the Loxodon Warhammer which, albeit an equipment rather than a creature, enhances a player’s creature with trample and a substantial lifelink ability. This type of utility delivers both aggression and sustainability on the battlefield, similar to the tough presence the Iron Tusk Elephant offers, albeit through a different avenue.

Delving deeper into the comparisons, we find the Graypelt Refuge. This land mirrors the tranquil stability the Iron Tusk Elephant brings to a table, albeit through bolstering a player’s life total and mana pool rather than providing a sturdy creature. Overall, the Iron Tusk Elephant sits in a unique spot where it epitomizes the raw might of Green’s creature-based lineup, while offering a simple yet solid option for deck builders focusing on reliability and endurance.

War Elephant - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Graypelt Refuge - MTG Card versions
War Elephant - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Graypelt Refuge - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Iron Tusk Elephant by color, type and mana cost

Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Shu Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Shu Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Iron Tusk Elephant MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Iron Tusk Elephant and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Iron Tusk Elephant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
See more decks