Elusive Krasis MTG Card


With unblockability, Elusive Krasis ensures consistent damage and supports drawing more cards. It excels in Simic decks, growing in power and speeding up your board development. Its fit in instant-speed strategies allows keeping mana open for responses.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Fish Mutant
Abilities Evolve
Power 0
Toughness 4

Text of card

Elusive Krasis is unblockable. Evolve (Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature has greater power or toughness than this creature, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)


Cards like Elusive Krasis

Elusive Krasis is a distinctive creature card in MTG that offers unblockable prowess on the battlefield. This Simic card draws parallels to other creatures with the unblockable attribute like Invisible Stalker. Invisible Stalker, while it has lesser power, comes with hexproof making it incredibly difficult to remove from the board.

Another comparable card is Mist-Cloaked Herald. Even though both are unblockable, Elusive Krasis distinguishes itself with the evolve mechanic, allowing it to grow stronger as other creatures enter the battlefield under your control. Conversely, Mist-Cloaked Herald remains a steady one-power creature, favored for its low mana cost and consistency.

Then there’s Aether Figment, which boasts the kicker ability giving it a degree of flexibility; it can become larger if additional mana is spent upon casting. While this grants potential size advantage over Elusive Krasis, it lacks the progressive growth mechanic that evolve offers.

In essence, Elusive Krasis stands out in its category for offering gradual power increments, ensuring its relevance in longer games, making it a formidable choice for decks exploiting the synergy of the evolve mechanic.

Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Aether Figment - MTG Card versions
Invisible Stalker - MTG Card versions
Mist-Cloaked Herald - MTG Card versions
Aether Figment - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Elusive Krasis by color, type and mana cost

Selkie Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - MTG Card versions
Augmenter Pugilist // Echoing Equation - MTG Card versions
Vigean Hydropon - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Cold-Eyed Selkie - MTG Card versions
Gilder Bairn - MTG Card versions
Wistful Selkie - MTG Card versions
Winged Coatl - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Drakewing Krasis - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Beetleform Mage - MTG Card versions
Bounding Krasis - MTG Card versions
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - MTG Card versions
Void Grafter - MTG Card versions
Rogue Refiner - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Currents - MTG Card versions
Selkie Hedge-Mage - MTG Card versions
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath - MTG Card versions
Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist - MTG Card versions
Augmenter Pugilist // Echoing Equation - MTG Card versions
Vigean Hydropon - MTG Card versions
Silkwing Scout - MTG Card versions
Cold-Eyed Selkie - MTG Card versions
Gilder Bairn - MTG Card versions
Wistful Selkie - MTG Card versions
Winged Coatl - MTG Card versions
Lorescale Coatl - MTG Card versions
Edric, Spymaster of Trest - MTG Card versions
Drakewing Krasis - MTG Card versions
Vorel of the Hull Clade - MTG Card versions
Beetleform Mage - MTG Card versions
Bounding Krasis - MTG Card versions
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - MTG Card versions
Void Grafter - MTG Card versions
Rogue Refiner - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Currents - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Elusive Krasis is valuable for its ability to consistently support your hand. With its unblockable nature, it ensures a steady flow of damage and the potential to equip or enchant for additional draw effects, helping you stay ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: This creature fits well into Simic decks focusing on +1/+1 counters, which often incorporate mechanics like evolve. Elusive Krasis synergizes with these decks, becoming a stronger threat while accelerating the game in your favor with every new creature you play that has a higher power or toughness.

Instant Speed: Although Elusive Krasis itself isn’t an instant, its inherent ability to avoid being blocked means it fits seamlessly into strategies that rely on instant-speed interactions. You’re able to develop your board and apply pressure without having to commit resources during your own turn, keeping mana available for instant-speed responses or end-of-turn plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Elusive Krasis doesn’t specifically ask you to discard, its unblockable nature might not compensate for other turns where you might have to make tough decisions about which cards to keep.

Specific Mana Cost: Elusive Krasis requires a specific combination of green and blue mana, which can be challenging to generate consistently unless your deck is specially tuned to accommodate such requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana including two specific types, this creature might arrive too late against fast-paced decks that can deploy threats or set up their board quicker.


Reasons to Include Elusive Krasis in Your Collection

Versatility: Elusive Krasis shines in decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters and unblockable creatures. Its role can adapt depending on how you build around it, serving as a consistent threat that’s tough to block.

Combo Potential: Within the Simic combine, its ability to avoid being blocked often qualifies it as an ideal carrier for counters, equipment, or auras. Its synergy with evolve mechanics means that it can grow alongside your other creatures, turning it into a scaling force.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors longer, grindy games, Elusive Krasis can be a valuable addition. Being unblockable ensures it can chip away at an opponent’s life total while preventing the risk of being removed in combat, making it relevant in various matchups.


How to Beat Elusive Krasis

Elusive Krasis is a unique creature card in MTG, notable for its unblockable trait and ability to evolve. This means that whenever a creature with a larger power or toughness enters the battlefield under your control, Elusive Krasis gains a +1/+1 counter. With its evasion capabilities, it can be a persistent threat to opponents, especially in the Simic (green-blue) decks that cater to rapidly growing creatures.

To effectively counter Elusive Krasis, consider using removal spells that don’t rely on blocking or targeting. Since it cannot be blocked, spells that destroy or exile a creature regardless of its abilities are excellent choices. Other strategies include countering the creature when it’s cast, playing with cards that prevent the activation of abilities or applying global effects that lower the power of all creatures, which can be enough to nullify Elusive Krasis’s impact. Overall, remember to stay one step ahead in card advantage and control the pace of the board to ensure that Elusive Krasis doesn’t overwhelm your defenses.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Elusive Krasis MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and RNA Guild Kit, 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 Elusive Krasis and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Elusive Krasis Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Wesley Burt.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-02-01GatecrashGTC 1602003NormalBlackWesley Burt
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 1162015NormalBlackWesley Burt
32021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 6882015NormalBlackWesley Burt

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Elusive Krasis has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-04-15 If a creature enters the battlefield with +1/+1 counters on it, consider those counters when determining if evolve will trigger. For example, a 1/1 creature that enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it will cause the evolve ability of a 2/2 creature to trigger.
2013-04-15 If evolve triggers, the stat comparison will happen again when the ability tries to resolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, the ability will do nothing. If the creature that entered the battlefield leaves the battlefield before evolve tries to resolve, use its last known power and toughness to compare the stats.
2013-04-15 If multiple creatures enter the battlefield at the same time, evolve may trigger multiple times, although the stat comparison will take place each time one of those abilities tries to resolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and two 3/3 creatures enter the battlefield, evolve will trigger twice. The first ability will resolve and put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. When the second ability tries to resolve, neither the power nor the toughness of the new creature is greater than that of the creature with evolve, so that ability does nothing.
2013-04-15 When comparing the stats as the evolve ability resolves, it’s possible that the stat that’s greater changes from power to toughness or vice versa. If this happens, the ability will still resolve and you’ll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve. For example, if you control a 2/2 creature with evolve and a 1/3 creature enters the battlefield under your control, it toughness is greater so evolve will trigger. In response, the 1/3 creature gets +2/-2. When the evolve trigger tries to resolve, its power is greater. You’ll put a +1/+1 counter on the creature with evolve.
2013-04-15 When comparing the stats of the two creatures for evolve, you always compare power to power and toughness to toughness.
2013-04-15 Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, check its power and toughness against the power and toughness of the creature with evolve. If neither stat of the new creature is greater, evolve won’t trigger at all.