Glen Elendra Archmage MTG Card


Glen Elendra Archmage excels in countering noncreature spells, giving players a recurring advantage. Persist ability allows multiple uses, making it a resilient and long-term play resource. Instant speed activation of its ability offers strategic flexibility during gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Faerie Wizard
Abilities Flying,Persist
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

Flying , Sacrifice Glen Elendra Archmage: Counter target noncreature spell. Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to play under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)


Cards like Glen Elendra Archmage

Glen Elendra Archmage stands out in the realm of creature-based counter magic in Magic: The Gathering. It can be compared to cards like Siren Stormtamer which also offers protection from spells or abilities, yet the Siren functions at a cheaper cost and with a single-use ability. The Archmage, however, brings persistency to the table, literally, with its persist ability, making it a recurring threat on the board.

Then, there’s Voidmage Prodigy—another creature with the capability to counter spells. While both require sacrifices to activate their abilities, the Prodigy demands a fellow wizard as additional cost, whereas the Archmage is self-reliant. Yet, the Prodigy’s kinship with other wizards could be advantageous in a tribal deck, something the Archmage doesn’t directly benefit from.

Evaluating these counterparts, the unique charm of Glen Elendra Archmage in MTG lies in its balance between resilience and defensive might, granting it a respectable place among blue creatures adept at saying ‘no’ to the opponent’s plays.

Siren Stormtamer - MTG Card versions
Voidmage Prodigy - MTG Card versions
Siren Stormtamer - MTG Card versions
Voidmage Prodigy - MTG Card versions

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Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions
Fatestitcher - MTG Card versions
Argent Sphinx - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Glen Elendra Archmage provides a unique ability to counter noncreature spells. As a recurring source of negation, this creature can contribute significantly to card advantage over your opponents. With the persist mechanic, even after countering a spell and sacrificing itself, the Glen Elendra Archmage returns to the battlefield ready to counter yet another spell.

Resource Acceleration: While Glen Elendra Archmage doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it helps maintain mana efficiency. Its moderate casting cost combined with the persist ability ensures that you’re investing in a long-term resource that aids in board control without demanding additional mana investments frequently.

Instant Speed: The Archmage’s ability to counter spells can be activated at instant speed, offering flexibility and strategic depth to your gameplay. This means you can wait until the last possible moment to counter a crucial spell your opponent casts, potentially disrupting their plans and keeping you in control of the game’s pace.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The repeat usage of Glen Elendra Archmage’s counter ability requires you to sacrifice it, which might leave you without a board presence. Each activation effectively discards the creature unless ways to recur it from the graveyard are in play.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands both blue and general mana, which makes it exclusively suited for blue-centric or multicolor decks, thus limiting its use in monocolored or color-restricted strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana value — specifically double blue mana — for its initial cast, Glen Elendra Archmage could be less appealing in decks where lower cost counterspells or creatures could fulfill similar roles more efficiently.


Reasons to Include Glen Elendra Archmage in Your Collection

Versatility: Glen Elendra Archmage is an exceptional fit for a variety of blue-based control or midrange decks. Its ability to counter noncreature spells provides a defensive utility that is relevant in numerous game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This faerie wizard’s persist ability allows it to be used multiple times, making it a prime candidate for combos with cards meant to remove or exploit counters, thus amplifying its potential impact on the game.

Meta-Relevance: Owing to its persistent countering capability, Glen Elendra Archmage remains continually relevant in meta-games that are saturated with key noncreature spells. The card offers a robust defense against strategies relying heavily on instants, sorceries, and enchantments.


How to beat

Glen Elendra Archmage is a card that commands respect on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Known for its ability to counter noncreature spells, the Archmage can be a thorn in the side of any player looking to cast that game-changing sorcery or enchantment. Despite its prowess, there are strategies to counteract its influence. Removal spells that don’t target, such as Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict, can bypass the Archmage’s protective abilities. Alternatively, forcing the Archmage owner to expend its negation ability on less critical spells before playing your key cards can systematically reduce the shield it provides.

In addition, cards with split second like Krosan Grip prevent the Archmage from being sacrificed for its ability, as players cannot activate abilities with the spell on the stack. Playing around Glen Elendra Archmage requires foresight and a bit of cunning, but with the right approach and timing, this formidable fairy mage can be overcome. Aspiring to outmaneuver this blue powerhouse is part of what makes the game thrilling and highlights the importance of strategic deck building and gameplay in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into MTG’s strategic depths reveals the nuanced power of cards like Glen Elendra Archmage. Its persist ability provides a recurring form of spell negation, making it a resilient boon for control and midrange blue aficionados. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of such a card is key to optimizing your deck’s performance. Consider the impact of this faerie wizard in diverse scenarios and how it could enhance your counterspell arsenal. If mastering control tactics and refining your deck-building skills excite you, explore further with us. Dive deeper into MTG strategy and refine your collection to ensure your gameplay remains a compelling challenge for any opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Glen Elendra Archmage MTG card by a specific set like Eventide and Modern Masters, 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 Glen Elendra Archmage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Glen Elendra Archmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2008-07-25 and 2023-09-08. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-07-25EventideEVE 222003NormalBlackWarren Mahy
22013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 472003NormalBlackWarren Mahy
32018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 582015NormalBlackKarl Kopinski
42019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 1152015NormalBorderlessRian Gonzales
52023-09-08Wilds of Eldraine CommanderWOC 942015NormalBlackWarren Mahy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Glen Elendra Archmage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2013-06-07 If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.
2013-06-07 If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature's existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.
2013-06-07 If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they'll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.
2013-06-07 If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can't return to the battlefield.
2013-06-07 If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player's persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player's persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.
2013-06-07 The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.
2013-06-07 When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it's a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.