Yavimaya 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
When this creature dies, you may search your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle., Sacrifice this creature: Draw a card.
Complete guide
Yavimaya Elder is a classic value engine often referred to as a 'green Divination' on legs. This Human Druid provides incredible card advantage by thinning your deck of basic lands and replacing itself with a fresh draw.
What It Does
Yavimaya Elder has two distinct abilities that work together to generate resources. The first is a triggered ability that fires when it dies, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards. The second is an activated ability that lets you pay two mana and sacrifice the Elder to draw a card.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When you activate the sacrifice ability, you pay the two mana and Yavimaya Elder is put into the graveyard as a cost. This immediately triggers the 'dies' ability. You then place the triggered ability on the stack above the activated ability. The search happens first, putting lands into your hand and shuffling your deck, then the activated ability resolves to let you draw a card.
Strategic Timing
Because the search occurs before the draw, you effectively thin your library of basic lands before you draw your card. This slightly increases your chances of drawing a non-land spell. It is also an excellent blocker, as you can declare it as a blocker and then sacrifice it before damage is dealt to still get all the card benefits.
Common Mistakes
Players often forget that the land search is optional ('you may'), but the shuffle is mandatory if you choose to search. Additionally, remember that you cannot sacrifice the Elder to its own ability to draw a card if it has already been destroyed by a spell or combat damage; you must have the priority and mana to activate it beforehand.
Interaction examples
Sakura-Tribe ElderWhile Sakura-Tribe Elder puts a land directly onto the battlefield, Yavimaya Elder puts two into your hand. If you have both, use Sakura-Tribe Elder early for ramp, and save Yavimaya Elder for the mid-game to ensure you never miss your land drops for the rest of the match.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have both creatures and a board wipe occurs, both death triggers will go on the stack. With Solemn Simulacrum, you draw one card. With Yavimaya Elder, you search for two basics. If you choose to sacrifice the Elder manually, you will end up with three new cards in hand (two lands and one draw) compared to the Golem's single draw.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Yavimaya Elder
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If you activate Yavimaya Elder's last ability, its triggered ability will trigger and go on the stack. It will resolve first, meaning you'll do the search and shuffle before drawing a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Retreat to Coralhelm
- 1Activate a creature by tapping it, adding at least
. - 2Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 3When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 4Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 5Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 6When Yavimaya Elder enters, Retreat to Coralhelm and Zimone trigger.
- 7Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding
. - 8Resolve the Retreat to Coralhelm trigger, untapping the mana-producing creature.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Lotus Cobra
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Lotus Cobra and Zimone trigger.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Lotus Cobra trigger, adding .
- 8Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Tireless Provisioner
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Tireless Provisioner and Zimone trigger.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Tireless Provisioner trigger, creating a Treasure token.
- 8Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Nissa, Resurgent Animist
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Nissa and Zimone trigger.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Nissa trigger, adding .
- 8Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Training Grounds
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Zimone triggers.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
- 8Resolve the Yavimaya Elder ability from step 1, causing you to draw a card.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Stone-Seeder Hierophant
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Stone-Seeder Hierophant and Zimone trigger.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Stone-Seeder Hierophant trigger, untapping it.
- 8Holding priority, activate Stone-Seeder Hierophant by tapping it, untapping Yavimaya Elder.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Heartstone
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Zimone triggers.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
- 8Resolve the Yavimaya Elder ability from step 1, causing you to draw a card.
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler + Yedora, Grave Gardener + Yavimaya Elder + Zirda, the Dawnwaker
- 1Activate Yavimaya Elder by paying and sacrificing it.
- 2When Yavimaya Elder dies, it and Yedora trigger.
- 3Resolve the Yavimaya Elder trigger, allowing you to search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them into your hand.
- 4Resolve the Yedora trigger, returning Yavimaya Elder from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down as a Forest land.
- 5When Yavimaya Elder enters, Zimone triggers.
- 6Holding priority, activate Yavimaya Elder by tapping it, adding .
- 7Resolve the Zimone trigger, turning Yavimaya Elder face-up.
- 8Resolve the Yavimaya Elder ability from step 1, causing you to draw a card.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Yavimaya Elder
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.