Use him to get free mid- to high-cost creatures out on the field, then put out Doran, the Siege tower and you've got a capable fighter.
Forgeling
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I use this as one of my ways to put Doran into plat in my mono-green T-folk deck. works pretty well with T-Folk Harbinger.
Memorous
★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5.0)(5 votes)
Hi, Just wondering if a creature summoned this way would still have summoning sickness?
a7141988
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
A creature summoned that way would have summoning sickness. Also, this card is a must for any treefolk deck, because dropping this turn 3 (after a Bosk Banneret) really gets you moving if he's not dealt with. Also, combine this guy with Sensei's Divining Top to increase your chances of kinship.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(5 votes)
That's actually really epic as the second part of this creature has the type shaman. There are so many shamans to choose from in the game, certainly can find one worth playing for free.
billpasdmf
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
This guy + Hivestone = free slivers. Evil, very evil.
DarthKithkin
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
"If you have multiple creatures with kinship abilities, each triggers and resolves separately. You'll look at the same card for each one, unless you have some method of shuffling your library or moving that card to a different zone."
This is why this card is a must have in any treefolk deck! Have out more than one and pwn!
MasterOfEtherium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
wow And If You Have A Really Good Drawing Thing Going On In A Deck With Him Thats Alotta Left Over Mana!
Selez
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
3/5 for 4. Hard for red to kill. Bad to attack into. Card advantage engine. SIGN. ME. UP.
Stupid Lorwyn... Can anyone tell me if this guy was out and shared a type with any of the fat Eldrazi, say, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn would you get an extra turn? It says play, but not put into play, just play without paying costs, which sounds like what most cards were errata'd to cast, but this one wasn't but.... JUDGE?!
powerdude
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@OpenSeasonNoobs
it says play because if the top card is a land with creature types for whatever reason, then you can play it. ordinary creatures are casted.
Talcos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It's not just that the Kinship'd cards are free, it's that he works with so many different cards. Especially if he's got a Runed Stalactite on him.
But even if we just limit ourselves to Treefolk, getting a free Doran is pretty amazing in and of itself, especially considering that Leaf-Crowned Elder effectively becomes a 5/5 when that happens.
bijart_dauth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My favorite part of him is that his ability isn't redundant with multiple. As long as the top card of your library Is a treefolk or a shaman, when the next one triggers you can look at another card.
Twinsuit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@OpenSeasonNoobs: Yes indeed, if you somehow make this an Eldrazi, it will let you *cast* Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. The reason this text still says "play" that card is just in case you reveal Dryad Arbor which is a land. We still "play" lands even though we "cast" creature spells.
ROBRAM89
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The hilarious part is when you hit another Leaf-Crowned Elder. And another. And another. If your deck is packed with trees and shaman it will eventually get silly.
sonorhC
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy is absolutely insane in treefolk tribal; the heart and soul of the deck. 4 mana is about the going rate for something that gives you repeated card advantage, and also about the going rate for getting creatures out without paying their cost, as well as for a 3/5 body (the original treefolk was 5 mana for that body). But put all three together on the same card, that works automatically without any further costs? Whoa.
Powerful synergy with Oracle of Mul Daya. This gets the Oracle out for free if it's on your topdeck, and then the Oracle makes it so your topdeck is almost never a land.
Turn 2 Bosk Banneret into either of these turn 3 makes for a very nice bit of tempo.
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
just noticed the owl-fly-fox in the corner of the art. :P lorwyn animals rule.
The word "play" is not obsolete in Magic. "Play" means "cast it if it's a spell, otherwise put it onto the battlefield if it's a land." You cast spells, but you play cards. Magus of the Future demonstrates why the distinction is necessary, and Oracle of Mul Daya would be meaningless without it.
Man, those Lorwyn treefolk were not to be messed with.
Powerfully versatile card:
Put it in a treefolk deck, get your guys out for free; is cost effective; is a good blocker; and gets tribal support from its fellow treefolk (that it puts out for free).
Whats not to like?
Comments (28)
Evil, very evil.
This is why this card is a must have in any treefolk deck! Have out more than one and pwn!
it says play because if the top card is a land with creature types for whatever reason, then you can play it. ordinary creatures are casted.
But even if we just limit ourselves to Treefolk, getting a free Doran is pretty amazing in and of itself, especially considering that Leaf-Crowned Elder effectively becomes a 5/5 when that happens.
Turn 2 Bosk Banneret into either of these turn 3 makes for a very nice bit of tempo.
Oh hey, it's a Ghoultree.
Powerfully versatile card:
Put it in a treefolk deck, get your guys out for free; is cost effective; is a good blocker; and gets tribal support from its fellow treefolk (that it puts out for free).
Whats not to like?