Syr Elenora, the Discerning MTG Card


Grants card draw on entry, enhancing hand presence and scaling with your hand size for robust play. Encourages synergy with instant-speed spells and promotes strategic gameplay for adept players. Despite high casting cost, it’s a versatile powerhouse in blue-centric decks with card draw emphasis.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Power *
Toughness 4

Text of card

Syr Elenora, the Discerning's power is equal to the number of cards in your hand. When Syr Elenora enters the battlefield, draw a card. Spells your opponents cast that target Syr Elenora cost more to cast.


Cards like Syr Elenora, the Discerning

Syr Elenora, the Discerning is an intriguing card in the MTG universe that blends creature play with card draw benefits. It bears similarities to other creatures that hinge on the number of cards in a player’s hand, like Psychosis Crawler, which also benefits from a hefty hand-size, dealing damage to opponents whenever you draw a card. Though Syr Elenora doesn’t deal direct damage, its power is reliant on card quantity, potentially posing as a substantial threat on the board.

Another creature within the same comparative bracket is Masumaro, First to Live. Like Syr Elenora, Masumaro’s power and toughness correlate with the number of cards in your hand. However, unlike Syr Elenora, Masumaro doesn’t offer the card draw perk. Syr Elenora, the Discerning ensures that whenever it enters the battlefield, drawing a card is guaranteed, giving immediate value regardless of the situation.

When analyzing the potency of cards that revolve around hand-size, Syr Elenora, the Discerning notably secures a spot due to its inherent ability to somewhat self-preserve card advantage while simultaneously presenting a level of threat proportional to that advantage.

Psychosis Crawler - MTG Card versions
Masumaro, First to Live - MTG Card versions
Psychosis Crawler - MTG Card versions
Masumaro, First to Live - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Syr Elenora, the Discerning by color, type and mana cost

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
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Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
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Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Chasm Drake - MTG Card versions
Belltower Sphinx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Syr Elenora, the Discerning ensures you retain hand presence by letting you draw a card upon entering the battlefield. Her power is also directly tied to the number of cards in your hand, maintaining card advantage to keep her strong.

Resource Acceleration: While not a direct accelerant, Syr Elenora provides value by her mere presence. By offering you a way to maintain a full grip of cards, you effectively increase your resource options, enabling you to make more impactful plays more frequently.

Instant Speed: This legendary creature doesn’t have instant speed herself, but her card draw ability synergizes well with spells you may cast at instant speed. By refilling your hand immediately, you’re more likely to have instant speed interaction available, which can give you the upper hand in a tight match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Syr Elenora, the Discerning provides a card draw, this ability triggers only when entering the battlefield. Subsequent value generation requires external mechanics or using her as a blocker or attacker, which might not always be optimal for players looking to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: For a cost of one blue and four generic mana to cast, this card is tailored to blue-centric decks. Players running multi-color decks may find the specific mana cost restrictive when attempting to maintain a fluid mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Syr Elenora comes with a mana value of five, which is on the higher side for its immediate impact on the game. With numerous alternatives available, players might opt for creatures or spells that allow for quicker plays or have lower mana demands.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Syr Elenora, the Discerning offers a unique blend of card utility and power scaling, making it a flexible add to any blue-centric deck. Its ability to grow stronger with the number of cards in your hand allows it to adapt to various game states, whether you’re ahead or looking for a comeback.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that revolve around card draw and maintaining a large hand size. It can enhance the effectiveness of card-draw engines or work in tandem with spells that reward you for drawing multiple cards in a turn.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where hand size can tip the scales, Syr Elenora stands out. It’s especially potent against opponents who rely on discard mechanisms, as it motivates you to keep a full grip of cards, thus undermining their strategy and keeping you resilient in the face of disruption.


How to beat

Syr Elenora, the Discerning is a unique MTG card that thrives in environments rich with card draw abilities. Her power scales with the number of cards in your hand, which makes her a formidable presence on the battlefield. To efficiently counter this card, the key is to minimize the opponent’s hand size. Tactics such as deploying hand disruption spells, utilizing cards that force the opponent to discard, or employing pressure strategies to force them into using their cards can effectively negate Syr Elenora’s power advantage.

In addition, remember that Syr Elenora’s ability to prevent her from being the target of spells your opponent controls can work to your advantage. This means she is vulnerable to global removal effects or board wipes, which can clear her without needing to target directly. Control decks with access to sweepers or targeted removal for non-legendaries can manage her presence on the board without much issue. Playing around her strengths and keeping your opponent’s hand under control are your tickets to overcoming the challenge posed by Syr Elenora, the Discerning.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Syr Elenora, the Discerning MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine and Mystery Booster, 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 Syr Elenora, the Discerning and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Syr Elenora, the Discerning Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-10-04 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Mila Pesic.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-10-04Throne of EldraineELD 672015NormalBlackMila Pesic
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 5122015NormalBlackMila Pesic
32020-09-26The ListPLST ELD-672015NormalBlackMila Pesic
42022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3572015NormalBlackMila Pesic
52023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 2392015NormalBlackMila Pesic

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Syr Elenora, the Discerning has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-10-04 The ability that defines Syr Elenora's power works in all zones, not just the battlefield.
2019-10-04 To determine the total cost of an opponent's spell that targets Syr Elenora, start with the mana cost or alternative cost that player is paying, add any cost increases (such as that of Syr Elenora's effect), then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.