The Llanowar Elves just politely asked him to make like a tree...
blindthrall
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Because tempo is overrated.
Gelzo
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I can only see this being used in singleton formats.
scumbling1
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Cool -- that extra toughness is really relevant when he's tapped from producing mana.
DysprosiumJudas
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
The problem with this card is that it makes you pay for a redundant feature that you're not going to use. The card costs an extra mana for the extra toughness it has over Llanowar Elves, but odds are you're never going to use that toughness, because a mana utility card is going to be tapped at constant intervals to pay for your actual spells, and as you all well know, tapped creatures can't block. So the toughness goes to waste, and so does your mana.
Now, that's not to say the extra toughness NEVER comes in handy, because it does, but usually the only times you do block with a mana utility creature is if the game's gone far south and you need to buy time with chump blockers, in which case you're probably planning on your creature dying and you're probably not expecting to kill the things you're blocking, so the extra toughness doesn't really pay off. Only very rarely are you blocking a 1/X creature with a Wirewood Elf, and if that's not what you're doing, then you're better off with the classic Llanowar Elves.
Kryptnyt
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
THEY ALL LOOK LIKE ANTS FROM HERE!
james2c19v
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's not terrible so much as completely outclassed by Arbor Elf et al.
applecorn
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Leaf Gilder, if worried of attack vs defense. Yes, early game you'll want the mana, but mid-late it may make a difference.
Dabok
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Kinda saddens me to see all the negativity about this guy... I kind of understand all of it, but still, I used to play a lot several years ago. My friends and I played a lot but we weren't very competitive. So these guys were actually legit, they do their part well (producing extra mana to put your big stuff easier. Brings me memories just by seeing this card (here or on my collection).
PS :I said "easier" not necessarily "earlier" because of this isn't as effective tempo-wise like Llanowar Elves
Stuflames
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It survives some 1 damage board clearing effects, it's a bit of a tougher target for split damage like Flames of the Firebrand and survives 1 damage pingers like Prodigal Pyro. It'll never have the true advantage of a 1-drop, but it's not a bad choice against the right deck and should be rated a little higher than 2. If Llanowar Elves get a 4-4.5 rating this can get a 3, 2.5 at least. Searing Spear gets a 3 + rating and unlike this it's strictly worse than its 1 drop counterpart Lightning Bolt, among other burn cards.
Gandlodder
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Never noticed this before, but the motion lines under the tree branches suggest that the Elf is making it grow extra fast; no doubt causing it to produce the for his ability.
Comments (12)
Now, that's not to say the extra toughness NEVER comes in handy, because it does, but usually the only times you do block with a mana utility creature is if the game's gone far south and you need to buy time with chump blockers, in which case you're probably planning on your creature dying and you're probably not expecting to kill the things you're blocking, so the extra toughness doesn't really pay off. Only very rarely are you blocking a 1/X creature with a Wirewood Elf, and if that's not what you're doing, then you're better off with the classic Llanowar Elves.
I kind of understand all of it, but still, I used to play a lot several years ago.
My friends and I played a lot but we weren't very competitive. So these guys were actually legit, they do their part well (producing extra mana to put your big stuff easier.
Brings me memories just by seeing this card (here or on my collection).
PS :I said "easier" not necessarily "earlier" because of this isn't as effective tempo-wise like Llanowar Elves