Silverback Elder MTG Card


Boost your hand with consistent card draw, pulling vital creatures into play to maintain versatility. Accelerate your resources, ramping mana with the Elder to summon significant threats on the board. Leverage instant speed primate abilities fetched by Silverback Elder to stay adaptive during battle.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Ape Shaman
Power 5
Toughness 7

Text of card

Whenever you cast a creature spell, choose one — • Destroy target artifact or enchantment. • Look at the top five cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them onto the battlefield tapped. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. • You gain 4 life.


Cards like Silverback Elder

The Silverback Elder brings a unique blend of abilities to the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It can be positioned alongside other formidable creatures such as Kavu Chameleon, which also boasts the ability to elude color-specific spells and abilities through its color-changing capacity. While Kavu Chameleon isn’t as versatile in providing card draw or mana acceleration, it matches Silverback Elder in terms of evasiveness.

Exploring further, Ohran Viper is another creature sparked from a similar deck-building thought process. The viper not only deals damage but also allows its controller to draw a card upon inflicting combat damage to a player, establishing a clear parallel in card advantage dynamics. However, it differs in size and doesn’t share the mana benefit Silverback Elder could provide. Lastly, Primeval Titan stands out with its imposing presence and the ability to fetch lands directly onto the battlefield, thus offering a different approach to ramping up one’s mana resources which is more immediate compared to the conditional ability of Silverback Elder.

Considering these alternatives, Silverback Elder’s versatile blend of card draw, mana ramp, and protection mechanics makes it an interesting choice for players seeking a dynamic presence on the field within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of creature cards.

Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Ohran Viper - MTG Card versions
Primeval Titan - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Ohran Viper - MTG Card versions
Primeval Titan - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Silverback Elder by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Tel-Jilad Lifebreather - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Bramble Elemental - MTG Card versions
Indrik Stomphowler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Grave-Troll - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

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

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Nykthos RampNykthos Ramp PioneerNykthos RampPioneer League 2024-03-15
BRGBRG StandardTraditional Standard Ranked Decklists: April 29, 2024
Mono-Green AggroMono-Green Aggro ExplorerJaffer's Mini Mosh - Explorer

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Silverback Elder enhances your hand by letting you delve deep into your deck for primates, granting you access to more creatures and ensuring you’re never short on options during gameplay.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable Elder aids in your land development by checking the top of your library, potentially ramping your mana and giving you the upper hand in casting costs. Master the power to summon bigger threats earlier than your opponent.

Instant Speed: While not at instant speed itself, Silverback Elder can pull in those key primates that boast instant speed abilities, allowing you to respond swiftly to changes in the battlefield dynamic and keeping your strategies flexible.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Silverback Elder demands a discard from your hand to activate its abilities, which could deplete your hand and diminish your late-game potential.

Specific Mana Cost: The Elder comes with a green heavy mana cost, requiring a solid base in green mana, which can be restrictive for multicolor deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher than average mana investment, the Elder competes directly with other impactful cards that could be played sooner, potentially impacting your board presence efficiency.


Reasons to Include Silverback Elder in Your Collection

Versatility: Silverback Elder offers flexibility to green-focused decks. Its ability to potentially draw cards or act as a deterrent against attackers makes it a multifaceted tool for a variety of strategies.

Combo Potential: With the ability to contribute card advantage and board presence, this card synergizes well with decks that exploit creature enters the battlefield (“ETB”) effects or those looking to ramp up their mana.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based decks remain a staple in many metagames, Silverback Elder’s inherent value in such strategies ensures its potential as a meta-relevant addition to your collection.


How to beat

The Silverback Elder presents itself as a unique creature card that offers significant board presence. With an ample body and the ability to tap for mana reflecting the number of apes you control, it can be a game-changer for many MTG players. However, overcoming this card isn’t an insurmountable challenge. It is crucial to manage the Elder before it can fully capitalize on its mana-generating ability. Removal spells are an effective strategy; instant speed spells can be exceptionally potent as they can disrupt your opponent’s play during their turn. Focus on maintaining control and preventing the buildup of ape creatures that can amplify the Elder’s impact.

Countermeasures such as Essence Scatter can negate Silverback Elder before it even hits the board, while board wipe spells like Wrath of God can reset the playing field if the ape count gets out of hand. Spot removals like Path to Exile also serve as precise tools to handle this troublesome primate. In essence, the key lies in early intervention and consistent board management to ensure the Silverback Elder does not swing the game in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG involves constant refinement, from assessing the pros and cons of cards like Silverback Elder to optimizing your collection for strategic play. While this Elder offers significant draw and mana ramp potential, wise players balance these strengths against its cost and specificity. Assessing similar cards, you’re invited to explore a variety of strategies to bolster your deck’s resilience and efficiency. Adapting to the meta and selecting the right counters will ensure your dominance in the game. Visit us to deepen your understanding and enhance your MTG prowess with the Silverback Elder and beyond.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Silverback Elder MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Dominaria United, 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 Silverback Elder and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Silverback Elder Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-09-09 and 2022-09-09. Illustrated by Alexander Mokhov.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1034522015NormalBlackAlexander Mokhov
22022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 4182015NormalBlackAlexander Mokhov
32022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 177s2015NormalBlackAlexander Mokhov
42022-09-09Dominaria UnitedDMU 1772015NormalBlackAlexander Mokhov
52022-09-09Dominaria United PromosPDMU 177p2015NormalBlackAlexander Mokhov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Silverback Elder has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-09-09 Silverback Elder’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered.