Earthlore MTG Card


Players harness extra cards and mana acceleration for quicker high-cost plays, gaining a strategic edge. Integrating Earthlore requires consideration of its green mana dependency and potential hand depletion. Its uniqueness lies in mana flexibility and relevance in ever-changing MTG metagames, despite cost challenges.
Earthlore - Ice Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameIce Age
Set codeICE
Number231
Frame1993
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDrew Tucker

Text of card

When Earthlore comes into play, choose target land you control. : Tap land Earthlore enchants to give target blocking creature +1/+2 until end of turn.

"Even the ground is our friend." —Kolbjörn, Elder Druid of the Juniper Order


Cards like Earthlore

Earthlore, a nuanced card in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, stands tall in the circle of enchantment auras. In terms of functionality, it draws parallels with cards like Utopia Sprawl and Wild Growth, which all share the inherent trait of transforming lands into more potent mana sources. However, Earthlore has its unique twist on this concept by allowing for a color alteration of the generated mana.

Examining Utopia Sprawl, we notice it enchants a forest and gives a choice of additional mana of any color. In contrast, Earthlore allows you to enchant any land for a similar effect without being limited to forests, offering a clear advantage in multi-color decks. Wild Growth is another comparable card with its simple and direct approach to provide that all-important mana ramp, yet it doesn’t afford the versatile color fixing that Earthlore can.

In essence, while mana ramp auras are somewhat ubiquitous in MTG, Earthlore holds an esteemed place. Its capacity to adjust mana colors on top of the acceleration it provides ensures decks can achieve their strategies with greater fluidity and adaptability.

Utopia Sprawl - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions
Utopia Sprawl - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Earthlore by color, type and mana cost

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Elven Palisade - MTG Card versions
Web - MTG Card versions
Instill Energy - MTG Card versions
Living Artifact - MTG Card versions
Fastbond - MTG Card versions
Wild Growth - MTG Card versions
Cocoon - MTG Card versions
Concordant Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Elven Fortress - MTG Card versions
Revelation - MTG Card versions
Carapace - MTG Card versions
Gift of the Woods - MTG Card versions
Mortal Wound - MTG Card versions
Spider Climb - MTG Card versions
Elephant Grass - MTG Card versions
Briar Shield - MTG Card versions
Storm Front - MTG Card versions
Mirri's Guile - MTG Card versions
Root Maze - MTG Card versions
Bequeathal - MTG Card versions
Elven Palisade - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Earthlore enables players to draw extra cards, ensuring a steady flow of options and strategies during gameplay. This ability can tip the scales in your favor by outpacing your opponent’s hand.

Resource Acceleration: With Earthlore, you have the capacity to unlock lands at an increased pace, propelling your mana resources ahead of the curve. This acceleration is integral to executing high-cost spells and abilities sooner than usual.

Instant Speed: Operating at instant speed offers flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn. This adaptability allows players to make strategic decisions that fittingly adapt to the unfolding game and to maximize the effectiveness of their mana each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Earthlore necessitates discarding a card to activate certain abilities. This can be detrimental in gameplay, particularly if your hand is already depleted or every card is vital for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Earthlore’s effectiveness is contingent on having green mana available. This can potentially restrict its integration into decks that don’t heavily feature green or are more color diverse, therefore not fitting seamlessly into every deck archetype.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost to cast Earthlore might be restrictive due to its relatively high mana requirement. In many scenarios, you may find other cards that accomplish similar effects with less mana, leaving you with more flexibility to cast multiple spells or hold up mana for responses during your opponent’s turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Earthlore is a dynamic choice for numerous decks, offering a significant boost in mana acceleration which can be pivotal for casting high-cost spells earlier than your opponents might expect.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on landfall abilities or those that benefit from having a variety of lands in play.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating meta, Earthlore’s ability to provide a steady mana base makes it relevant in environments where a reliable mana supply is crucial to outpace opponents in achieving strategy objectives.


How to beat

Confronting the Earthlore card in Magic: The Gathering requires an understanding of its mechanics. As a card that can bolster an opponent’s defenses by granting them an incremental life advantage, it is essential to have a strategy to mitigate its effects. To offset the life gain, prioritize sustaining pressure and focusing on aggressive strategies. Cards that present a constant threat or ones that can bypass enemy lines, like those with unblockable or trample abilities, can outpace the life gain by dealing substantial damage.

Include direct damage spells in your deck to counteract the life gain, targeting both the player and their creatures. Consider enchantment removal options such as Disenchant or Naturalize to remove Earthlore from play, thus negating the consistent life boost it provides. Moreover, setting up a combination of card efficiency and resource denial will complicate your opponent’s ability to capitalize on Earthlore’s potential. A balanced deck with a blend of aggression, control, and removal is vital in overcoming the benefits that Earthlore provides your opponent.

By carefully selecting your spells and creatures, you can ensure that Earthlore’s impact is minimized, securing an advantage that can lead you to victory even in the presence of this life-giving enchantment.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Earthlore MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Earthlore and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Earthlore has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal