Elephant Grass MTG Card


Elephant Grass improves defense, hindering multiple attackers, and promoting wise board management. Indirectly accelerates resources, giving players time to build their mana base without pressure. Non-instant but promotes strategic instant spell use, optimizing mana and board control.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Abilities Cumulative upkeep

Text of card

Cumulative upkeep o1 Black creatures cannot attack you. Nonblack creatures cannot attack you unless their controller pays an additional for each attacking creature.

"How have I angered nature that she would imprison me in a labyrinth of grass?" —Kasib ibn Naji, Letters


Cards like Elephant Grass

Elephant Grass is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering with an ability to deter attacking creatures — a role it fulfills brilliantly. It draws parallels with other influential cards such as Ghostly Prison, which requires attacking creatures to pay two mana for each creature they control that’s attacking you. Whereas Elephant Grass adds the twist of charging a mana cost specifically from black creatures. This makes it particularly effective in a meta where black creature-heavy decks prevail.

Another card worth mentioning is Propaganda, echoing the taxing theme of Ghostly Prison, but applying in the blue color pie. Elephant Grass differentiates itself by also preventing black creatures from attacking you at all unless their controller pays an additional cost. Moreover, it features the cumulative upkeep cost, a mechanic that can either be a strategic depth or a ticking time clock for the player, depending on the game state.

In summation, Elephant Grass stands as a solid choice within the protective enchantment niche of Magic: The Gathering. It provides a focused advantage against certain decks, while the upkeep aspect offers an interesting dynamic to deck builders and players alike.

Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions
Ghostly Prison - MTG Card versions
Propaganda - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya EnchantressSelesnya Enchantress LegacyEnchantressLegacy League 2024-03-30
EnchantressEnchantress LegacyEnchantressEternal Weekend Europe 2023 Legacy Mainevent
WUGWUG LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-03-10
NayaNaya Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
WUBGWUBG LegacyLegacy Challenge 64 2024-03-03
Rogue DecklistsRogue Decklists Legacy2023 NA Legacy Champs

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elephant Grass can effectively deter multiple creatures from attacking, essentially acting like a recurring fog each turn. This could save a player from losing valuable cards on the battlefield and help maintain a strong defensive position over time.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, Elephant Grass can significantly slow down an opponent’s aggressive strategies. This indirectly allows a player more time to develop their mana base and other resources without the pressure of an immediate onslaught.

Instant Speed: Elephant Grass doesn’t have instant speed itself, but the protection it offers can enable a player to safely wait until their last possible moment before deciding how to deploy other instant speed spells or abilities during an opponent’s turn. It assures that your mana could be spent on controlling the board, rather than prematurely committing to less efficient, speed-dependent plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Like other cards with upkeep costs, Elephant Grass requires you to pay mana during your upkeep. If you can’t or choose not to, you have to discard it. For players aiming to maintain board presence, this might be a critical resource-draining decision.

Specific Mana Cost: Elephant Grass demands green mana specifically, making it a potential stumbling block in multicolored decks that could face color mana fixing issues or an imbalance in the mana base structure.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Elephant Grass has a manageable initial casting cost, its cumulative upkeep can quickly become a burden, especially when you have a lineup of other spells you want to cast. This makes it less efficient for decks that aim to be mana-thrifty or those that need to reserve mana for other pivotal turns.


Reasons to Include Elephant Grass in Your Collection

Versatility: Elephant Grass is a unique enchantment that offers flexible defensive options. It can deter attacks from a broad range of creatures, notably black ones, acting as a protective barrier in your deck irrespective of your overall strategy.

Combo Potential: With a low initial cost and an upkeep that can be manipulated with cards that alleviate or re-purpose mana commitments, Elephant Grass has the potential to be a cog in various enchantment-based combos, enhancing strategies around protection and control.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive creature strategies are prevalent in many metas, Elephant Grass can be a significant countermeasure, potentially disrupting opponents’ tempo and providing you the breathing space needed to establish your winning conditions.


How to beat

Elephant Grass is a unique green enchantment that can present a considerable obstacle with its ability to tax players for attacking. Its low initial casting cost and the cumulative upkeep present a temporary but potentially stifling hurdle. Tackling Elephant Grass efficiently requires an understanding of its mechanics and planning around them.

One of the most straightforward methods is removing it with enchantment destruction spells. Green is popular for having multiple cards like Naturalize or Krosan Grip that can directly target and destroy enchantments. Alternatively, a player can opt for a broader approach with cards that can deal with any nonland permanents such as Beast Within. Players can also prepare for a longer game by waiting out the cumulative upkeep cost, as each turn gradually increases the tax the owner must pay to maintain Elephant Grass on the battlefield.

Strategically, it’s important to consider the type of deck you’re playing. Aggressive strategies might struggle against Elephant Grass more than control or combo decks, which can bypass the tax with non-creature spells or win conditions. Regardless of your strategy, respecting the powerful prevention effect of Elephant Grass and incorporating ways to handle it are key to beating this card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Elephant Grass poses an intriguing challenge and opportunity for MTG enthusiasts. Its ability to shape the battlefield and alter your opponent’s assault is undeniable. While it offers defensive fortitude, keep in mind the balance between its upkeep costs and your own strategic plans. For those delving into the subtleties of enchantment-based decks, Elephant Grass warrants consideration due to its disruptive prowess in the right meta. Navigating its intricacies can lead to a newfound appreciation for control and combo plays. Dive deeper into the strategy and potential of Elephant Grass with us and enhance your collection and gameplay today.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elephant Grass MTG card by a specific set like Visions and The List, 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 Elephant Grass and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elephant Grass Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1997-02-03 and 1997-02-03. Illustrated by Tony Roberts.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-02-03VisionsVIS 1041997NormalBlackTony Roberts
22020-09-26The ListPLST VIS-1041997NormalBlackTony Roberts

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elephant Grass has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Elephant Grass card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2014-02-01 Unless some effect explicitly says otherwise, a creature that can’t attack you can still attack a planeswalker you control.