Animar, Soul of Elements is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Protection from white and from black Whenever you cast a creature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Animar. Creature spells you cast costless to cast for each +1/+1 counter on Animar.
Complete guide
Animar, Soul of Elements is a legendary powerhouse that fuels creature-heavy strategies by growing stronger with every summon. Its unique combination of protection and cost reduction makes it a formidable commander for any deck looking to swarm the board. Understanding the timing of its triggers is key to maximizing its potential during your turn.
Scaling Power and Savings
Animar has two primary abilities that work in tandem: it gains a +1/+1 counter whenever you cast a creature spell, and it reduces the generic mana cost of future creature spells by the number of counters currently on it. Additionally, its protection from white and from black makes it immune to many of the most popular removal spells in Magic, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you cast a creature spell, the sequence is specific. First, you determine and pay the costs for the creature currently being cast based on the counters already on Animar. Once the spell is cast, Animar's triggered ability goes on the stack on top of that creature. This means Animar receives its new counter before the creature that triggered it even enters the battlefield. However, because costs are paid before the trigger resolves, that new counter will not reduce the cost of the spell that caused the trigger.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that Animar only reduces the generic portion of a mana cost. You must always pay the required colored mana symbols. Also, keep in mind that if a creature spell is countered, Animar still keeps the +1/+1 counter it gained from the cast trigger, as the ability exists independently on the stack once it has been triggered.
Strategic Timing
To get the most out of Animar, sequence your creatures from lowest to highest cost. Start with cheap utility creatures to build up counters, then follow up with high-cost monsters that can be cast for just their colored mana requirements once Animar is sufficiently large.
Interaction examples
Sakura-Tribe ElderIf Animar has no counters, you pay {G} to cast Sakura-Tribe Elder. Once the Elder is cast, Animar's ability triggers and resolves, giving it one +1/+1 counter. Now that Animar has a counter, the next creature spell you cast will cost {1} less.
Solemn SimulacrumWith four +1/+1 counters on Animar, Soul of Elements, you look to cast Solemn Simulacrum. The Simulacrum's total cost is {4} generic mana. Since Animar provides a {4} reduction, you pay {0} to cast the spell. After you cast it, Animar's trigger resolves, and it grows to a 5/5 creature before the Simulacrum enters the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Animar, Soul of Elements
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Animar's triggered ability triggers only when a creature spell is cast, after costs are paid. The counter put on Animar for a creature spell won't affect the cost of that creature spell, only future ones.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Animar's triggered ability resolves before the creature spell that causes it to trigger. The ability will resolve even if that spell is countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a creature spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the creature remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ashling, the Limitless + Animar, Soul of Elements + Greenwarden of Murasa
- 1Cast Greenwarden of Murasa for its evoke cost by paying
due to Animar. - 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3When Greenwarden of Murasa enters, its first ability and evoke abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first trigger, optionally returning a card from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Resolve the second trigger, sacrificing Greenwarden of Murasa.
- 6When Greenwarden of Murasa dies, Ashling triggers, creating a token copy of Greenwarden of Murasa with haste.
- 7When the Greenwarden of Murasa token enters, it triggers, returning Greenwarden of Murasa from your graveyard to your hand.
- 8Repeat.
Ancestral Statue + Animar, Soul of Elements
- 1Cast Ancestral Statue by paying .
- 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it
- 3When Ancestral Statue enters the battlefield, it triggers, returning itself from the battlefield to your hand.
- 4Repeat.
Animar, Soul of Elements + Hullbreaker Horror
- 1Cast any creature card by paying due to Animar.
- 2Animar and Hullbreaker Horror triggers.
- 3Resolve the Animar trigger, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 4Resolve the Hullbreaker Horror trigger, returning another creature that can be cast by paying due to Animar from the battlefield to your hand.
- 5Resolve the creature spell cast in step 1.
- 6Repeat.
Ashling, the Limitless + Animar, Soul of Elements + Grave Sifter
- 1Cast Grave Sifter for its evoke cost by paying due to Animar.
- 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3When Grave Sifter enters, its first ability and evoke abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first trigger, optionally returning a card from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Resolve the second trigger, sacrificing Grave Sifter.
- 6When Grave Sifter dies, Ashling triggers, creating a token copy of Grave Sifter with haste.
- 7When the Grave Sifter token enters, it triggers, returning Grave Sifter from your graveyard to your hand.
- 8Repeat.
Animar, Soul of Elements + Cloudstone Curio
- 1Cast the morph creature card in your hand for its morph or megamorph cost by paying due to Animar.
- 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3When the morph creature enters the battlefield, Cloudstone Curio triggers, returning the other morph creature from the battlefield to your hand.
- 4Repeat.
Ashling, the Limitless + Animar, Soul of Elements + Graveshifter
- 1Cast Graveshifter for its evoke cost by paying due to Animar.
- 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
- 3When Graveshifter enters, its first ability and evoke abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first trigger, optionally returning a card from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Resolve the second trigger, sacrificing Graveshifter.
- 6When Graveshifter dies, Ashling triggers, creating a token copy of Graveshifter with haste.
- 7When the Graveshifter token enters, it triggers, returning Graveshifter from your graveyard to your hand.
- 8Repeat.
Animar, Soul of Elements + Palinchron
- 1Activate your lands by tapping them, adding at least
. - 2Cast Palinchron by paying .
- 3Animar triggers, getting a +1/+1 counter.
- 4Palinchron enters the battlefield, triggering itself, untapping up to seven lands.
- 5Pay to Palinchron, returning it to hand.
- 6Repeat.
- 7If your lands can tap for an additional mana, this combo produces infinite mana.
Animar, Soul of Elements + Primordial Mist
- 1Cast any creature for either its morph or megamorph cost by paying .
- 2Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself.
- 3Activate Primordial Mist by exiling the face-down creature face-up, allowing you to cast it from exile this turn.
- 4Repeat.
Legal formats
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