This is one of the best green cards in the set, in my opinion. And what better way to power out Kahlni Hydra?
faisjdas
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(4 votes)
Since it can tap for 2 the second turn you have it out, you really don't lose any tempo with it.
Scar_Pa
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(6 votes)
Can level herself up by tapping... Yeah i like her!!!
Indeed best card in the set.
This is one of the few cards that makes me very happy.
DrZygfryd
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0)(9 votes)
Why. Why does this exist
bav123_2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
A leveler I may actually use. Even at second ability it's pretty good, but with the extra mana that's usually floating around from Arbor/Llanowar/other mana generating creatures, its last level is obtainable.
Exart
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Just love this girl. The things she makes possible at just uncommon rarity...
coyotemoon722
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hahahha as if Elves needed MORE mana ramp abilities, now your Elvish Visionaries tap for mana too??
Asparagus333
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is un-freaking real turn basically a 2 mana adder with haste love it 5/5
True_Mumin
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(10 votes)
This is one of the very few well-designed level-up critters. It's symmetrical and you don't fell like you've wasted the mana spent for the level counter, you get it right back. And then it pays for itself. Pretty cool.
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fyndhorn Elder can still learn something from this lady! (Although not regarding the mana-producing ability actually, since he already knows how to tap for ...)
kittyspit
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(3 votes)
@ DrZygfryd and Hairless Thoctar
what?
thornraven
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Noble Hierarch is a faster one drop. However, Mythic will replace Lanowar Elves with this beautifully built card. WILL enter T2. 4/5
Aun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The bad thing is: Once you have her totally up you don't need her anymore.
This is my new opening hand, drop down a forest then Joroga. Next turn drop down another land to lvl and tap for two mana to play whatever i have in my hand.
This card doesn't fit in a Blue Green Eldrazi deck. Levelers are too slow and could just be bolted anyway.
n00bmag1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Elegant leveler card, wish more were designed like this.
This, Kabira Vindicator and Coralhelm Commander make me sad there wasn't really a full cycle of leveler "lords".
How to: Attack with Emrakul on turn 3 1. Forest, joraga treespeaker 2. Forest, level up treespeaker, tap treespeaker for Lightning Greaves 3. Forest, Elfish Piper, give greaves to piper, tap Piper with the extra mana for Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, Equip Emrakul with Greaves. You win. Thanks to Curtis for this.
SolidSoldier
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Tried it in my elf deck, and it's actually slower (like just about all the levers in RotE) than if I just ran 8 Llanowar Elves (Arbor Elf in that equation). I mean, you spend the mana to level it up, and all they have to do is bolt it, or Terminate, or some other godly kill card that's running around these days, and you just lost two mana.
theis999
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
While the card is pretty good, it still isn't going in my legacy elf deck. Priest of Titania is still much stronger^^
None the less, i really like the card. but it just a bit to slow, when the aim is a turn 3 combo
TheSwarm
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
wow thats a good card.. same overall mana cost for greenweaver druid and it can produce its mana turn two
BioPrince
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(3 votes)
What is a good replacement for this to avoid the pyroclasm i use in my red green deck
The_Somnambulist
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
I think a card called Asceticism would do the trick for any Elf deck. Then screw lightning greaves, bolt, or any target removal spell.
Seasnan
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
okay say i have a lanowar elves down and tree speakers at lvl 5 does lanowar tap for 3green instead of one
JaxsonBateman
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
How to hard cast Kozilek on turn 4 in standard (heck, even in Rise or block constructed) T1. Forest, Joraga Treespeaker T2. Eldrazi Temple, counter on Joraga Treespeaker, cast another Treespeaker T3. Land, counter on the new Treespeaker, Overgrown Battlement, 3 mana spare (heck, you could even cast another Joraga Treespeaker and give it a counter, have 2 mana spare, and get Ulamog out on T4 instead!) T4. Land, Kozilek
A bit of a God hand, and it requires your critters not being removed, but it's totally sweet when you get it. You almost empty your hand out doing it, then on turn 4 you've got a 12/12 annihilator 4 with 5 cards in hand.
There's an obvious reason why she's better than Llanowar Elves though, even though the elves boost you to 3 mana on turn 2 - it's the ripple effect. She may only get you to 2 mana on turn 2, but let's say that the Llanowar elf player casts 3 more Llanowar Elves on turn 2 (I'm not including Archdruid because that card is just ridic), then on turn 3 if they hit the land they're up to 7 mana. If the treespeaker player plays 2 Llanowar Elves themselves with the 2 mana they have on turn 2, they end up with - yep, 7 mana on turn 3 if they hit their land drop. The thing is, they used one less card getting there.
Basically, it says "nuts to that" to 3 mana on turn 2, and instead opts for 5+ on turn 3. And Primeval Titans on turn 3 are sexy beasts.
@Seasnan - it would tap for either G or GG, not GGG, It has two separate abilities that both require tapping: it has T, add G to your mana pool, and T, add GG to your mana pool.
ZuesAscendant
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Llanowar Elves is better for Elf tribal, this is better for a non tribal ramp deck. My reasoning? Llanowar Elves gives you three mana on turn two, where this little guy only gives you two. In elvish tribal, you need three mana to stick the turn two Archdruid. However, for non tribal, the five mana turn three with only one body is more relevant.
Bursama
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(3 votes)
Makes sure that my elfdecks don't run out of green mana... Now if I only had something to use that mana for...
DacenOctavio
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
I'd {T} that.
bijart_dauth
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
ummm, elf tokens? seriously, now elvish promenade can be added to the list of elf cards that pay for them selfs. especially if you give 'em haste.
Duskdale_Wurm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
One word:
BROKEN
MrBarrelRoll
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Bursama, you need something to use all that mana on?
Wow. As soon as new phyrexia comes out, you'll be able to get a 5/6 turn 2 with her. Turn one, drop her. Turn 2, level once, add two, spend on Myr Superion. Watch your opponent bang their head against table. :)
When I saw this the first thing that popped into my head is how is this only common?
Kindulas
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
instantly a staple in elf ramp!
turn one: her
Two: level her- still have two mana on 2nd turn for something else. like maybe two lanowar elves.
Three: five mana, without using up a second turn on her. Seven if you played those lanowars. With that mana, you hit big wurms, well thats what i use it for. Or level her to four, then
Turn four: Level herself to five, still have 8 mana out.
Five: ten mana, assuming you have 5 land drops, and didn't ramp some more. Which you probably did. Hey, with ten, you can Genisis Wave them seven drops.
Absolutly up there with lanowar elves
TherealphatMatt
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If Rise of the Eldrazi wasn't about to rotate out I'd be all over this card like *CENSORED*.
And I just discovered that CENSORED in square brackets comes out to a fire mana symbol. The more you know.
endersblade
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Strictly better than the other : out there. Drop this turn one, and turn two unless for some ungodly reason you didn't drop a land, this guy gets leveled for free. Pay to level, then tap it for . Later on, when you get enough mana, you can make ALL of your elves tap for . Much better than waiting until turn 2 or 3 to pay for the other ones, eh?
MindAblaze
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Go go
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
endersblade: I can't shut down the other {T}: {G}{G} guys with Clockspinning during your upkeep. So not "strictly" better. Essentially better, but not strictly.
james2c19v
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very cool, but a few drawbacks compared to Arbor Elf and Llanowar Elves. The big one is that if you're trying to build a deck with very few forests, you totally can't keep an opening hand with her and only 1 forest. With 1 forest, you can play her, but then you're stuck. Whereas with Arbor Elf you can still get Leatherback Baloth out on turn 2.
So unless you're opening hand contains 2 forests or a forest and an Arbor Elf-ish card, you have to take a mulligan.
shotoku64
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'll say strictly better than llanowar elves due to the fact that I would never keep a 1 land hand, so I can turn 1 him, turn two level him up I still have 2 mana for the turn and I'm ramped up to 5 mana on turn 3 if I play a land, even more considering that I might ramp even more by that time
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What the Hey you're right realphatmatt! lol
rikuno
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It says it gives "tap for 2 green to all elves" when its fully leveled up. Does this add to what a Llanowar already has? For example, does it turn Llanowar Elves "tap for one green mana" to "tap for 3 green mana"?
Twinsuit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@rikuno: No, it's a separate new ability. For example, with Joraga Treespeaker at level 5, a Llanowar Elves would have two abilities: one that taps for and another one that taps for . It would be your choice which one to activate, but you wouldn't get both for a single tap.
Agent1103
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I really liked this mana elf while it was in Standard. Prior to the banning of Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Stoneforge Mystic, I made a mean G/W ramp deck that consisted of Joraga Treespeakers, Myr Superions, and Stoneforge Mystics fetching Batterskulls. I was mighty effective at dropping fast Batterskulls and Sun Titans. Then came the bannings... There went my deck. =/
nelsonngyn0
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is pretty amazing. If you have some Llanowar/Arbor/Fynhorn Elves out from turn one, you level her up twice in turn (one lvl form the elf, one from a land and one from herself or one lvl from lands and one from herself). Then, when she reaches LVL 5 (at least turn 4) instead of untapping land or tapping for you can get from all your elves.
twiddleman12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is great.
atemu1234
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I AM THE LORAX I SPEAK FOR THE TREES!
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Llanowar Elves is better for hitting 3 drops on turn 2. This is better if you skip 3 drops and stick with 1-2 drops, then ramp into something bigger.
HotHit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
It's almost better than Llanowar elves, ALMOST. Play it turn one, level it up turn two then tap for 2 mana. Llanowar elves provides 3 mana on turn two. Additionally, Llanowar elves usually better allows multicolour decks to function on turn two, as they can use a colour of mana that isn't green for their second land.
A downside which I shall fart in the general direction of. She provides you with two green mana turn two, coincidentally there are two spells which cost exactly two mana and can use green. Manamorphose and Burning-Tree Emissary of course!
Manamorphose will allow you to play any two mana spell in the game and will replace itself in your hand. Emi will let you play anything that costs a red and a green and gives you a more explosive start (yes you can even play multiple of her but let's not get too carried away). My favourite thing to follow up with? Zhur-Taa Druid.
But yes, with 5 to 6 mana available with 3 to 6 cards still in your hand, as well 2 to 3 creatures in play. On turn 3. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
mdakw576
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You can't say it's strictly better than anything because there's really nothing that has been printed with the same functions.
But it's quite a bit better than the 3-mana dorks (greenweaver druid and the like) and has very good upside when compared with llanowar elves. I like this card in my maelstrom wanderer EDH deck because it's a turn 1 play that can produce more than 1 mana, which helps reduce the clock on rushing Wanderer out.
DeepGreen
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This elf is awesome! It pays for itself on turn two and will only go on to give you more free mana, AND count towards Elvish Archdruid!! Ramp all day people!
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
5 mana on T3 with no assistance is pretty sweet. Things that are game-breaking on T3 with just him? -Stunted Growth -Sigarda or Thrun -Batterskull
T2? How about GSZ for a Deathrite Shaman or another mana-guy? You've just opened up 6-drops T3; which is a glorious thing to behold.
Manite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The perfect partner for Joraga Warcaller. When the Leafcaller is at level 5, each Elf you control taps for , just the right amount to pay for the Warcaller's multikicker.
slbunnies
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Okay so this card has been bothering me. It doesn't make sense that you could tap it for 2 forests and then use those 2 forests to level it up. To level it up you must do so only as a sorcery... isn't tapping for that mana an ability on the stack? Sorcery's can only be played if there is nothing on the stack first. It's like you get to use two separate abilities even though you're tapping it first. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way, I get that you don't have to tap to level it up, but why do you get to level it up after you've already used the card to gain mana? With other cards you can only choose one ability unless both abilities have : and you do not have to tap it. I'm confused, it seems stupid. I can understand leveling it up first and then tapping it for mana but not the other way around.
Comments (63)
and if you do manage to get it to Level 5, you have a one-drop Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro
5/5
Indeed best card in the set.
This is one of the few cards that makes me very happy.
(Although not regarding the mana-producing ability actually, since he already knows how to tap for
what?
This, Kabira Vindicator and Coralhelm Commander make me sad there wasn't really a full cycle of leveler "lords".
As far as Blue/Green Levelers starting off try this.
Turn 1- Forest, Joraga Treespeaker
Turn 2- Island, Training Grounds, level treespeaker, Beastbreaker of Bala Ged
Turn 3- Forest, Skywatcher Adept, level beastbreaker fully and attack with 6/6 trample
1. Forest, joraga treespeaker
2. Forest, level up treespeaker, tap treespeaker for Lightning Greaves
3. Forest, Elfish Piper, give greaves to piper, tap Piper with the extra mana for Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, Equip Emrakul with Greaves. You win.
Thanks to Curtis for this.
None the less, i really like the card. but it just a bit to slow, when the aim is a turn 3 combo
speakers at lvl 5 does lanowar tap for 3green instead of one
T1. Forest, Joraga Treespeaker
T2. Eldrazi Temple, counter on Joraga Treespeaker, cast another Treespeaker
T3. Land, counter on the new Treespeaker, Overgrown Battlement, 3 mana spare (heck, you could even cast another Joraga Treespeaker and give it a counter, have 2 mana spare, and get Ulamog out on T4 instead!)
T4. Land, Kozilek
A bit of a God hand, and it requires your critters not being removed, but it's totally sweet when you get it. You almost empty your hand out doing it, then on turn 4 you've got a 12/12 annihilator 4 with 5 cards in hand.
There's an obvious reason why she's better than Llanowar Elves though, even though the elves boost you to 3 mana on turn 2 - it's the ripple effect. She may only get you to 2 mana on turn 2, but let's say that the Llanowar elf player casts 3 more Llanowar Elves on turn 2 (I'm not including Archdruid because that card is just ridic), then on turn 3 if they hit the land they're up to 7 mana. If the treespeaker player plays 2 Llanowar Elves themselves with the 2 mana they have on turn 2, they end up with - yep, 7 mana on turn 3 if they hit their land drop. The thing is, they used one less card getting there.
Basically, it says "nuts to that" to 3 mana on turn 2, and instead opts for 5+ on turn 3. And Primeval Titans on turn 3 are sexy beasts.
@Seasnan - it would tap for either G or GG, not GGG, It has two separate abilities that both require tapping: it has T, add G to your mana pool, and T, add GG to your mana pool.
BROKEN
Enter Wolfbriar Elemental.
turn one: her
Two: level her- still have two mana on 2nd turn for something else. like maybe two lanowar elves.
Three: five mana, without using up a second turn on her. Seven if you played those lanowars. With that mana, you hit big wurms, well thats what i use it for. Or level her to four, then
Turn four: Level herself to five, still have 8 mana out.
Five: ten mana, assuming you have 5 land drops, and didn't ramp some more. Which you probably did. Hey, with ten, you can Genisis Wave them seven drops.
Absolutly up there with lanowar elves
And I just discovered that CENSORED in square brackets comes out to a fire mana symbol. The more you know.
So unless you're opening hand contains 2 forests or a forest and an Arbor Elf-ish card, you have to take a mulligan.
Hey you're right realphatmatt! lol
If you have some Llanowar/Arbor/Fynhorn Elves out from turn one, you level her up twice in turn (one lvl form the elf, one from a land and one from herself or one lvl from lands and one from herself). Then, when she reaches LVL 5 (at least turn 4) instead of untapping land or tapping for
This is better if you skip 3 drops and stick with 1-2 drops, then ramp into something bigger.
A downside which I shall fart in the general direction of. She provides you with two green mana turn two, coincidentally there are two spells which cost exactly two mana and can use green. Manamorphose and Burning-Tree Emissary of course!
Manamorphose will allow you to play any two mana spell in the game and will replace itself in your hand. Emi will let you play anything that costs a red and a green and gives you a more explosive start (yes you can even play multiple of her but let's not get too carried away). My favourite thing to follow up with? Zhur-Taa Druid.
But yes, with 5 to 6 mana available with 3 to 6 cards still in your hand, as well 2 to 3 creatures in play. On turn 3. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
But it's quite a bit better than the 3-mana dorks (greenweaver druid and the like) and has very good upside when compared with llanowar elves. I like this card in my maelstrom wanderer EDH deck because it's a turn 1 play that can produce more than 1 mana, which helps reduce the clock on rushing Wanderer out.
-Stunted Growth
-Sigarda or Thrun
-Batterskull
Other neat things on T3 without assistance:
-Garruk Wildspeaker + a 3-drop
-Wasteland + 4-drop (Master of the Wild hunt, Garruk Relentless, Lodestone Golem :))
T2? How about GSZ for a Deathrite Shaman or another mana-guy? You've just opened up 6-drops T3; which is a glorious thing to behold.