Garbage Elemental MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elemental
Abilities Cascade
Power 3
Toughness 3
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Unpredictable abilities offer unique advantages, adapting to diverse game scenarios and surprising opponents.
  2. Can synergize with combos and enhance resource acceleration through deck-specific interactions.
  3. Demands strategic hand management due to discard requirements and specific red mana costs.

Text of card

Cascade (When you cast this spell, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card that costs less. You may cast it without paying its mana cost. Put the exiled cards on the bottom of your library in a random order.) When Garbage Elemental enters the battlefield, roll a six-sided die. Garbage Elemental deals damage equal to the result to target opponent.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Garbage Elemental offers a unique form of card advantage by coming into play with a multitude of abilities chosen at random. This can lead to unexpected benefits and can grind out value over the course of a game, providing a diversified threat that can adapt to various situations and make it difficult for your opponent to predict your strategy.

Resource Acceleration: While the primary version of Garbage Elemental doesn’t directly contribute to standard resource acceleration, it could interact favorably in decks built around utilizing creature abilities or sacrificing creatures for an advantage, potentially accelerating your game plan through synergies with other cards.

Instant Speed: Although Garbage Elemental itself is not an instant, it can synergize with cards that operate at instant speed, allowing you to maintain flexibility. For instance, using instant speed spells or abilities that manipulate the top of your library could potentially enhance the elements of surprise and advantage that Garbage Elemental brings to the table.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Garbage Elemental comes with the stipulation that another card must be discarded, which could deplete your hand and cost you valuable resources or strategic advantages.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s specific mana cost includes not just generic mana but also a strict red mana requirement, limiting its inclusion solely to red or multicolored decks and potentially hindering deck-building versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to get Garbage Elemental into play is weighty. With a casting cost that’s higher than some other creatures with similar or even more impactful abilities, it may not always make the cut when evaluating the efficiency of your deck’s mana curve.


Reasons to Include Garbage Elemental in Your Collection

Versatility: Garbage Elemental offers a unique form of adaptability since its abilities can vary depending on the game situation. This card can catch opponents off guard and adapt to a wide array of board states, making it a flexible choice for those looking for a wildcard addition to their deck.

Combo Potential: With the possibility of featuring any combination of abilities, Garbage Elemental can serve as a linchpin in creative combo decks. Its unpredictable nature can synergize with strategies that capitalize on specific keyword abilities or need a variable element to enhance the effectiveness of other combo pieces.

Meta-Relevance: As metagames evolve, Garbage Elemental can find its place in the shifting landscape, providing unexpected value against decks that might not be prepared for its chameleon-like properties. Its adaptability can give players an edge in a meta that prizes versatility and the ability to surprise.


How to beat

Garbage Elemental from Magic: The Gathering presents unique challenges with its unpredictability, brought on by its cascade ability which potentially casts another spell for free. To counter this card, understanding the importance of timing and removal spells is crucial. Since Garbage Elemental hits the board with a flurry of potential effects due to cascade, having an instant-speed response is key. Opt for removal spells that can be cast in response to the cascade trigger or after the creature has entered the battlefield, but before it can influence the game. Removal spells like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile are excellent choices as they can exile Garbage Elemental outright, mitigating any potential cascade outcomes. Additionally, counterspells are effective in nipping the issue in the bud by preventing the creature from ever hitting the board and initiating its cascade effect. Therefore, when facing a deck featuring Garbage Elemental, pack your deck with instant removal or countermeasures to maintain control over the game.


Cards like Garbage Elemental

Garbage Elemental brings a unique twist to creature cards within Magic: The Gathering with its unpredictable Un-set charm. An interesting parallel lies with Norin the Wary, a card whose elusive nature and reentry effect during every end step can be as erratic as Garbage Elemental’s ability to bring a new aspect to each game. Both cards thrive in a zone of controlled chaos, perfect for players who enjoy a level of randomness.

Another card that echoes this unpredictability is Goblin Test Pilot. This card, like Garbage Elemental, engages players in a game of chance, dealing damage to random creatures or players. While Test Pilot might be riskier with the potential to target yourself, Garbage Elemental’s variant effect promises variety and adaptability. Then there’s Grip of Chaos, a red enchantment that ensures every single spell or ability targets a random selection. This enchantment enshrines the essence of uncertainty, much like our Elemental friend.

Each of these cards finds its niche in decks that celebrate the unpredictable. The joy of playing with cards such as Garbage Elemental comes from the rush of not knowing exactly how the game will unfold, bringing a refreshing and entertaining dynamic to the MTG table.

Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Goblin Test Pilot - MTG Card versions
Grip of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - Time Spiral (TSP)
Goblin Test Pilot - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Grip of Chaos - Scourge (SCG)

Cards similar to Garbage Elemental by color, type and mana cost

Fire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Earth Elemental - MTG Card versions
Eron the Relentless - MTG Card versions
Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions
Hivis of the Scale - MTG Card versions
Hulking Cyclops - MTG Card versions
Flame Spirit - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions
Ravaging Horde - MTG Card versions
Covetous Dragon - MTG Card versions
Thundering Giant - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions
Savage Firecat - MTG Card versions
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Tephraderm - MTG Card versions
Avarax - MTG Card versions
Bonethorn Valesk - MTG Card versions
Frost Ogre - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Fire Elemental - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Earth Elemental - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Eron the Relentless - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Balduvian War-Makers - Alliances (ALL)
Hivis of the Scale - Mirage (MIR)
Hulking Cyclops - Visions (VIS)
Flame Spirit - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Flowstone Salamander - Tempest (TMP)
Ma Chao, Western Warrior - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Ravaging Horde - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Covetous Dragon - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Thundering Giant - Tenth Edition (10E)
Dwarven Strike Force - Odyssey (ODY)
Savage Firecat - Odyssey (ODY)
Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Tephraderm - Onslaught (ONS)
Avarax - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Bonethorn Valesk - Scourge (SCG)
Frost Ogre - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Heartless Hidetsugu - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Garbage Elemental MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Unstable, 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 Garbage Elemental and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Garbage Elemental Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2017-12-08. Illustrated by Hector Ortiz.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-12-08UnstableUST 82d2015normalsilverHector Ortiz
22017-12-08UnstableUST 82e2015normalsilverHector Ortiz
32017-12-08UnstableUST 82c2015normalsilverHector Ortiz
42017-12-08UnstableUST 82a2015normalsilverHector Ortiz
52017-12-08UnstableUST 82f2015normalsilverHector Ortiz
62017-12-08UnstableUST 82b2015normalsilverHector Ortiz

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