Elder of Laurels 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
: Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control.
Complete guide
Elder of Laurels is a powerful mana sink for creature-heavy decks, turning your board presence into a massive combat buff. By scaling with your army, this Human Advisor can threaten a lethal blow at any stage of the game. Let's explore how to maximize the impact of this green utility creature.
Scaling Power with Numbers
Elder of Laurels features an activated ability that costs three generic and one green mana. When you activate it, you target a creature to receive a +X/+X bonus until the end of the turn. The value of X is determined by the total number of creatures you control, including the Elder itself and the target creature, if it is also yours.
Resolution and Timing
A key aspect of this ability is that the value of X is calculated exactly when the ability resolves, not when it is put onto the stack. Once the ability has finished resolving and the bonus is applied, that bonus becomes locked in. Even if your creatures leave the battlefield or you play new ones later in the turn, the creature's current +X/+X bonus will not change.
Common Pitfalls
Players often mistake this for a static effect that fluctuates throughout the turn. Remember that if your opponent responds to the activation by destroying your other creatures, the value of X will be lower when the ability finally resolves. Conversely, you cannot increase the bonus by bringing more creatures into play after the ability has already resolved.
When to Activate
Because this ability counts creatures upon resolution, the best time to use it is during the declare blockers step of combat. This forces your opponent to commit to blocks before you decide which creature needs the power boost. It is also an excellent tool for saving a key creature from damage-based removal or ensuring a favorable trade in combat.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou control Elder of Laurels and Solemn Simulacrum. You activate the Elder's ability targeting Solemn Simulacrum. When the ability resolves, the game counts two creatures you control. The Solemn Simulacrum gets +2/+2 until end of turn. If you then play another creature afterward, the Golem remains at +2/+2.
Sakura-Tribe ElderYou control Elder of Laurels and Sakura-Tribe Elder. You activate the Elder's ability targeting itself. In response, you sacrifice Sakura-Tribe Elder to search for a land. When the Elder's ability resolves, Sakura-Tribe Elder is no longer on the battlefield, so X equals 1. Elder of Laurels only gets +1/+1.
With all three creatures on the battlefield, you activate Elder of Laurels targeting the Sakura-Tribe Elder. If no one interacts, the ability resolves and counts three creatures. The Sakura-Tribe Elder becomes a 4/4. You can then sacrifice it for a land, and it will still have been a 4/4 until the moment it left the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Elder of Laurels
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The number of creatures you control is counted as the ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Once the ability has resolved, the bonus won’t change if the number of creatures you control changes later in the turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Elder of Laurels
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.