Llanowar Elves

Why collectors notice it

Llanowar Elves shows up in almost every green deck conversation. Collectors enjoy it because it has many reprints and a long visual history.

It is where the entire genre started. Read more about Limited Edition Alpha.

A closer look

Reading this card

The type line is the interesting part here. On this site it reads Creature, Green, Elf Druid. "Elf" is the creature's kind, and "Druid" is a second subtype that fits the nature-themed feel of green. Because this is an Alpha print, the original card used the older label "Summon" in front of the creature kind, a wording that was later simplified to Creature.

The featured print is a Common. That fits its role: it is a simple, small card meant to appear in many decks. The ability that matters is that it can tap to produce mana, which makes it a creature with a job beyond fighting. Tapping means turning the card sideways to use it, and a creature that has just arrived cannot do this until your next turn begins.

How it compares

Black Lotus and Llanowar Elves both speed up your mana, yet they differ in type, rarity and staying power. The Lotus is a colorless Rare artifact. The Elves is a green Common creature, so it stays on the table and can be hit by removal.

The Elves also shows how a color's personality shapes its tools. Green grows big creatures, and a mana creature helps it get there. Read more on the Mana and the Five Colors page.

Questions readers ask

Why is it called an Elf Druid and not just an Elf?

Creatures can carry more than one subtype. The type line lists both, and you can use either word when a card refers to a creature kind.

Is the Alpha print the only one?

No. It has many reprints and a long visual history. This site does not give prices, so use the set and frame to tell the prints apart.

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