Faeburrow Elder — ruling 1

Faeburrow Elder's middle ability can give it at most +5/+5, that is, +1/+1 each for white, blue, black, red, and green. "Gold," "multicolor," and "colorless" aren't colors. Similarly, Faeburrow Elder's last ability can produce at most five mana.

Faeburrow Elder — ruling 2

Since Faeburrow Elder is a green and white permanent, its middle ability usually gives it at least +2/+2 and its last ability usually produces at least {G}{W}.

Faeburrow Elder : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Faeburrow Elder 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

Vigilance This creature gets +1/+1 for each color among permanents you control. : For each color among permanents you control, add one mana of that color.

Complete guide

Faeburrow Elder is a powerful mana producer and threat rolled into one, scaling its strength based on the diversity of your board. As a Treefolk Druid with vigilance, it allows you to attack and still tap for mana during your post-combat main phase or on your opponent's turn. Understanding how it counts colors is key to maximizing its potential in any multicolor deck.

Scaling Power and Mana

Faeburrow Elder features two abilities that check the colors among permanents you control. The first is a static ability that increases its power and toughness, while the second is a mana ability. It checks for the five standard colors in Magic: white, blue, black, red, and green. Because Faeburrow Elder itself is green and white, it will typically be at least a 2/2 that taps for one green and one white mana as long as it is on the battlefield.

How the Count Works

When calculating the bonus or the mana produced, the game looks at the set of all colors present across all your permanents. If you control a permanent that is both red and blue, it satisfies the requirement for both colors. However, you only get +1/+1 (or one mana) per unique color, not per permanent. The maximum bonus the Elder can receive is +5/+5, and the maximum mana it can produce is one of each of the five colors.

Common Misconceptions

A common mistake is trying to count 'colorless' or 'multicolor' as colors. Colorless is the absence of color, so permanents like lands or most artifacts do not contribute to Faeburrow Elder's abilities. Additionally, if you lose control of a permanent of a certain color before the mana ability resolves or during combat, the Elder's stats and mana output will update immediately to reflect the new state of your board.

Strategic Timing

Because Faeburrow Elder has vigilance, you can safely declare it as an attacker. After the combat damage step, or even during the declare blockers step, you can tap it for mana because it does not tap to attack. This makes it an excellent tool for casting mid-combat spells or developing your board after high-pressure attacks.

Interaction examples

The Colorless Limitation

Solemn Simulacrum

You have Faeburrow Elder and Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield. Solemn Simulacrum is a colorless artifact creature. When you check colors among permanents you control, the only colors present are green and white from the Elder itself. The Elder remains a 2/2 and taps for {G}{W}. The colorless Simulacrum does not add a third mana or another +1/+1.

Managing Resources

Sakura-Tribe Elder

You control Faeburrow Elder and Sakura-Tribe Elder. Since both creatures share the color green (and the Faeburrow Elder is also white), you control permanents that are green and white. Faeburrow Elder is a 2/2. If you sacrifice Sakura-Tribe Elder to search for a land, you no longer control a separate green permanent, but Faeburrow Elder is still green itself. Its stats and mana production do not change because it still satisfies the 'green' requirement on its own.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Faeburrow Elder

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 4, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
Faeburrow Elder's middle ability can give it at most +5/+5, that is, +1/+1 each for white, blue, black, red, and green. "Gold," "multicolor," and "colorless" aren't colors. Similarly, Faeburrow Elder's last ability can produce at most five mana.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 4, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
Since Faeburrow Elder is a green and white permanent, its middle ability usually gives it at least +2/+2 and its last ability usually produces at least .
No other card is named in this ruling.