Few creature types in Magic: The Gathering are as iconic as elves. Traditionally green, elves are best known for mana acceleration, their vast numbers, and their excellent tribal synergies. As one of the most frequently recurring creature types from across Magic’s storied history, a significant amount of Legendary elves have seen print over the years.
Many of these legendary elves take on additional colors besides green, and some of these Legendary elves happen to be quite extraordinary Commanders. So today we’re going to examine the ten most useful legendary elves of Magic’s history and explore their strengths!
10 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
Released in Magic Origins, Nissa, Vastwood Seer is the green representative from a cycle of legendary creatures that can ignite their spark and become a Planeswalker. For three mana, Nissa Vastwood Seer is a 2/2 Elf Scout who allows her controller to search their library for a forest and put it into their hand.
Additionally, once Nissa’s owner controls seven or more lands, she transforms, becoming the Planeswalker, Nissa, Sage Animist! As a Planeswalker, Nissa can draw additional cards for her controller, put additional lands into play, and even go on the offensive, turing up to six lands into 6/6 elementals.
9 Eladamri, Lord Of Leaves
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves is a card who truly puts elf-tribal synergies on display. A 2/2 elf for two mana, Eladamri provides both an offensive and defensive benefit for all other elves. Firstly, Eladamri provides all elves with forestwalk, making them unblockable to opponents who control any forests. Secondly, Eladamri provides all elves with shroud, preventing them from being targeted by any and all spells & abilities.
8 Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
One of the most iconic Simic creatures of all time, Momir Vig, Simic Visionary is an Elf Wizard who is one of the strongest options players can choose for a Simic Commander.
Momir Vig has two abilities that, when paired, are extraordinarily potent. Whenever Momir’s controller casts a green creature spell, they can search their library for a creature card and put it on top of their library. Additionally, when that player casts a blue creature spell, they can reveal the top card of their library, putting it in their hand if it’s a creature. This means that if Momir’s controller casts a creature that is simultaneously green and blue, they can search their library for any creature and put it directly into their hand!
7 Edric, Spymaster Of Trest
Edric, Spymaster of Trest is another legendary elf who is a stellar pick for a creature to lead a Simic Commander deck. Much subtler and unassuming than the aforementioned Momir Vig, Edric causes players to draw cards whenever they deal damage to one of his controller’s opponents. While this ability allows Edric’s controller to draw numerous cards, it also incentivizes that player’s opponents to attack each other as to draw additional cards.
6 Prime Speaker Vannifar
Birthing Pod is a stellar card that possesses so much potential and power that it’s been banned in the Modern Format. A legendary Elf Ooze Wizard (yes, you read that correctly), Prime Speaker Vannifar totes an amazing ability reminiscent of Birthing Pod.
Capable of tapping to sacrifice a creature, Vannifar’s controller can then search their library for a creature with a converted mana cost equal to one plus the cost of the sacrificed creature, putting that card directly into play!
5 Rhys The Redeemed
Yet another noteworthy Commander, Rhys The Redeemed has the significant distinction of only costing a single mana. This ensures that Rhys can be cast the first turn of every game as long as he’s one’s Commander.
Rhys is an elf with great token synergies, capable of creating a 1/1 elf token at the cost of three mana. More importantly, Rhys has the ability to create a copy of every creature token under his owner’s control at the cost of six mana.
4 Ezuri, Renegade Leader
It’s quite difficult to have a conversation about legendary elves in Magic without talking about Ezuri, Renegade Leader. The premier option for a elf-tribal commander, Ezuri is a 2/2 for three mana that can protect other elves, allowing any elf under his owner’s control to be regenerated for one green mana.
Additionally, at the cost of five mana, Ezuri can provide all elves under his owner’s control with +3/+3 and trample. It’s worth noting that this ability does not require Ezuri to tap, meaning one can truly take the offensive by activating this ability numerous times in a single turn!
3 Selvala, Heart Of The Wilds
Elves in Magic are often regarded for their ability to produce mana, and few elves can do so as well as Selvala, Heart of the Wilds.
At the cost of one green mana, Selvala can tap to add an amount of mana of any combination of colors equal to the highest power of a creature under her owner’s control. This allows Selvala to potentially produce astronomical amounts of mana, allowing her controller to cast even bigger and scarier creatures! The real cherry on top is Selvala’s other ability that states whenever a creature enters the battlefield, if it has the highest toughness of any creature in play, its controller can draw a card!
2 Leovold, Emissary Of Trest
Leovold Emissary of Trest is an oppressive legendary Elf that was once regarded as one of the most salt-inducing cards in the Commander format before he was banned in 2017.
Costing one black, one green, and one blue mana, Leovold prevents all other players form drawing more than one card each turn. This ability is absolutely devastating, especially when paired with “wheel” effects that cause players to discard their hands and draw a new batch of cards. To add insult to injury, Leovold lets his controller draw a card whenever a permanent they control becomes the target of any opponents’ spells or abilities.
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Another legendary elf that has been banned in the Commander format, Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is an incredible Elf that can generate absurd amounts of mana. Costing only two green mana to cast, Rofellos can tap to produce an amount of green mana equal to the number of forests under his owner’s control. As green is already the color with access to the most mana acceleration, Rofellos can get out of hand at blistering speeds, especially when paired with spells and abilities that can untap creatures, allowing Rofellos’ ability to be activated numerous times in a single turn.
NEXT: Magic: The Gathering - The 10 Most Underrated Tribal Commanders In The Game
