Dawntreader Elk MTG Card


Boosts land consistency by searching for a basic land when sacrificed, keeping your plays on track. Acts as a deck thinner for resource acceleration, enabling more substantial plays earlier on. Flexible sacrifice timing allows for strategic mana use or bluffing potential interactions.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elk
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

, Sacrifice Dawntreader Elk: Search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.

Silent as winter snow, it seeks wild places unspoiled by the walking dead.


Cards like Dawntreader Elk

Dawntreader Elk stands out in MTG as a reliable mana ramp creature. This card allows players to sacrifice it and pay one Green mana to search their library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Its closest relatives in this slot include cards like Sakura-Tribe Elder, which serves a similar purpose without the mana cost, enabling the land search upon sacrificing it.

Exploring similar options leads us to Diligent Farmhand, yet another card that mirrors the Elk’s ability when sacrificed, providing the mana ramp effect. While the Elk requires an additional mana to activate, Diligent Farmhand also doubles as Muscle Burst fodder, which could be an upside in specific deck builds. Edge of Autumn is also noteworthy; it delivers a ramp or cycling effect depending on the land count, offering versatility that Dawntreader Elk lacks due to its single-focused ramp ability.

Assessing these comparable cards, Dawntreader Elk presents a balanced option for players seeking straightforward land ramp in green decks. Although it does not have the no-cost ramping of Sakura-Tribe Elder or the added utility of other comparatives, it’s still a solid pick for its simplicity and effectiveness in the right land-centric strategy.

Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Diligent Farmhand - MTG Card versions
Edge of Autumn - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Diligent Farmhand - MTG Card versions
Edge of Autumn - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Dawntreader Elk by color, type and mana cost

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Priest of Titania - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Grizzly Bears - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Dawntreader Elk. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Jund LandsJund Lands GladiatorGladiator Team Unified League

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Although Dawntreader Elk doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its ability to search for a basic land when sacrificed can be seen as a form of card advantage. This ensures that you’re not falling behind on your land drops, keeping you consistent with your plays each turn.

Resource Acceleration: Dawntreader Elk’s greatest strength lies in its contribution to resource acceleration. By sacrificing the Elk, you can thin your deck by fetching a basic land, effectively ramping up your mana availability for subsequent turns. This enables more significant plays earlier in the game, giving you a competitive edge.

Instant Speed: While Dawntreader Elk’s activated ability isn’t at instant speed, it’s flexible enough to be used either during your turn or at a tactically opportune moment during your opponent’s turn. This means you can pass with mana open, representing other interactions, and if none are needed, you can then use your mana to improve your board state by sacrificing the Elk.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating the ability of Dawntreader Elk comes with a sacrifice cost, necessitating you to plan your plays carefully to avoid an untimely loss of the creature.

Specific Mana Cost: Dawntreader Elk requires green mana to cast, which may not seamlessly fit into all deck types, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-coloured decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana ramp effect is useful, at two mana to cast and an additional one to activate its ability, some players might seek more cost-effective alternatives for acceleration in their green decks.


Reasons to Include Dawntreader Elk in Your Collection

Versatility: Dawntreader Elk is a flexible card that can be slotted into a variety of green decks. Its ability to search for a basic land card ensures that you maintain land drops and it can easily fit into strategies that require landfall triggers or threshold counts.

Combo Potential: Dawntreader Elk’s sacrifice ability has synergy with graveyard-based strategies. It can help to enable delirium or revolt triggers, and when combined with cards that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard, it becomes a valuable combo piece.

Meta-Relevance: The ever-fluctuating meta often sees decks that can benefit from efficient mana fixing and ramping capabilities. Whether it’s speeding up your game plan or ensuring your mana base is on track, Dawntreader Elk serves as a resourceful inclusion in many green-centric decks facing a varied field.


How to beat

Dawntreader Elk can be a persistent nuisance on the battlefield, offering flexibility with land ramp in MTG. This creature allows your opponent to sacrifice it and search their library for a basic land card, putting it onto the battlefield tapped. This kind of utility creature can give them a significant advantage, especially if they’re mana-hungry or looking to accelerate their game plan.

To effectively counter Dawntreader Elk, it’s wise to restrict the opponent’s ability to leverage its sacrifice effect. Direct removal before it’s utilized can be key, such as using instant-speed spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Additionally, graveyard disruption tools like Tormod’s Crypt can curb their ability to possibly recur the Elk from the graveyard for repeated use. Negating the land ramp by applying pressure through aggressive plays or contingency plans like land destruction may also disrupt their strategy and keep you in the driver’s seat.

By neutralizing their resources and maintaining control, you can diminish the advantage Dawntreader Elk brings to the table, ensuring that your opponent doesn’t gain the upper hand through this subtle but effective form of ramping.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the ins and outs of MTG can make the difference between a good player and a great one. Dawntreader Elk offers unique advantages for green deck enthusiasts aiming to optimize mana flow and landfall triggers. Integrating this card smartly could propel your strategy, providing you with the necessary edge over your competitors. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of enhancing your deck’s performance or just keen on expanding your collection with versatile cards, consider diving deeper into the world of mana ramping and resource acceleration. Expand your strategic horizons and adapt to various metas with informed choices. Discover more insights and strategies with us and enrich your MTG experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dawntreader Elk MTG card by a specific set like Dark Ascension and Jumpstart, 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 Dawntreader Elk and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dawntreader Elk Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2012-02-03 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by John Avon.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-02-03Dark AscensionDKA 1112003NormalBlackJohn Avon
22020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3872015NormalBlackJohn Avon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dawntreader Elk has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal