Llanowar Empath MTG Card
2007-05-04 - Number 130
2015-07-17 - Number 185
2019-11-07 - Number 1263
2020-09-26 - Number DDU-18
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elf Shaman |
| Abilities | Scry |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Llanowar Empath enhances deck visibility, offering a peek at upcoming draws and facilitating informed plays.
- It’s not just a creature; its scrying ability acts as a strategic tool, shaping the tempo of the game.
- Understanding Llanowar Empath’s strengths and weaknesses can optimize your MTG deck’s performance.
Text of card
When Llanowar Empath comes into play, scry 2, then reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card, put it into your hand. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: On entering the battlefield, Llanowar Empath allows you to peek at the top two cards of your library, picking one to put into your hand if it’s a creature card. This is a reliable way to sift through your deck and increase the number of valuable resources in your grasp.
Resource Acceleration: By potentially drawing a creature card, Llanowar Empath indirectly accelerates your resources, setting you up for more potent plays and giving you a better chance to deploy threats sooner than expected.
Instant Speed: While Llanowar Empath itself does not operate at instant speed, the information it provides can greatly inform your instant speed decisions. By knowing what’s coming up, you can better plan your reactions and strategies during your opponent’s turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Llanowar Empath does not necessitate discarding as a cost, it does require a revealing strategy that could potentially give away your next line of play to the opponent, impacting the surprise element of your game.
Specific Mana Cost: Llanowar Empath demands a precise mana cost consisting of one green, rendering it less versatile for multicolored or colorless decks. This can hinder its inclusion in decks that do not have a consistent green mana source.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including three of any color and one green, Llanowar Empath’s ability to scry and potentially draw a card may not be as efficient compared to other lower-cost creatures or spells with similar or better abilities. This can affect its playability in faster-paced games where mana efficiency is crucial.
Reasons to Include Llanowar Empath in Your Collection
Versatility: As a staple green creature, Llanowar Empath has the flexibility to slide into various green decks, offering card filtering and a decent body on the field. Its ability to scry and potentially draw a card makes it a beneficial inclusion in decks looking for consistent playability.
Combo Potential: With its scry ability, Llanowar Empath can help sift through your deck to find the pieces of your combo more efficiently. It works well with decks that thrive on creature-based synergies or those that aim to assemble specific interactions between cards.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowing your next draw can make the difference between victory and defeat, the Empath’s skill set keeps it relevant. Given the shifting nature of the meta, having reliable card advantage is a tool that can combat various strategies effectively.
How to beat
Llanowar Empath is an intriguing creature card that finds its home in the verdant decks of Magic: The Gathering. Upon entering the battlefield, its ability allows players to look at the top two cards of their deck, granting the option to reveal a creature card and put it into their hand, which can slightly bolster card advantage. Notably, Llanowar Empath also allows you to rearrange the top cards of your library.
Overcoming this green card’s influence begins with recognizing its role in the opponent’s strategy. Often used to smooth out draws and ensure a stronger hand, countering Llanowar Empath involves disrupting the deck manipulation it provides. Utilize instant-speed removal before the Empath’s ability resolves to prevent your opponent from gaining that advantage. Timing is crucial. Another strategy is to employ graveyard disruption to remove potential targets before the Empath triggers. As Llanowar Empath is not a high-impact threat by itself, focus your removal and counterspells on more critical targets that your opponent may draw into.
Essentially, by strategically controlling the timing of your spells and anticipating the plays that follow the Empath, you can successfully mitigate the card’s benefits and maintain the upper hand in your MTG matches.
Cards like Llanowar Empath
Llanowar Empath stands as a unique creature in MTG, bridging the gap between creature play and deck manipulation. When examining its contemporaries, Elvish Visionary is the first that comes to mind. Both cards facilitate card draw with Elvish Visionary allowing you to draw a card when it enters the battlefield. However, Llanowar Empath goes a step further by also allowing you to look at the top two cards of your library, potentially plotting future plays.
Another similar card is Wall of Blossoms, which, like Elvish Visionary, draws a card upon entry. Llanowar Empath has an edge with its scrying ability, providing strategic depth beyond the single card draw. On the other hand, Wall of Blossoms offers a defensive benefit with its higher toughness. Coiling Oracle is also in this league. Besides drawing a card, it might put a land from among the top cards of your library into play, which can be advantageous for ramp strategies.
Ultimately, Llanowar Empath adds value to green decks that thrive on both creature presence and deck knowledge. It not only contributes a body to the battlefield but also aids in sculpting the quality of your draws, setting it a notch above its fellow draw-and-reveal counterparts.
Cards similar to Llanowar Empath by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Llanowar Empath MTG card by a specific set like Future Sight and Magic Origins, 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 Llanowar Empath and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Llanowar Empath Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2007-05-04 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Warren Mahy.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-05-04 | Future Sight | FUT | 130 | 2003 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 2 | 2015-07-17 | Magic Origins | ORI | 185 | 2015 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1263 | 2015 | normal | black | Warren Mahy | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDU-18 | 2015 | normal | black | Warren Mahy |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Llanowar Empath has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
