Elder Cathar
Creature — Human Soldier
When this creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. If that creature is a Human, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- W
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Innistrad
- Price
- $0.08
- EDHREC rank
- #24306
Elder Cathar puts two +1/+1 counters on a creature when it dies — or one counter plus a deathtouch counter — which means its value lives entirely in how reliably you can sacrifice it on demand. Three mana for a 2/2 that does nothing until it leaves the battlefield is a bad rate unless your deck is built to exploit that trigger repeatedly.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Elder Cathar is legal in Commander, Legacy, Modern, Vintage, Pauper, and Oathbreaker, but the only format where it's worth serious consideration is Pauper, where the common restriction limits counter-distribution options and sacrifice synergies run leaner. In Commander, the competition at three mana is steep — aristocrats and +1/+1 counter decks have access to rares and mythics that do far more for the same cost, so Elder Cathar ends up in budget builds only. Legacy, Modern, and Vintage don't want a 2/2 with a death trigger at this mana cost when faster, more impactful options exist at every turn.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.08 bulk tier
At $0.08, Elder Cathar is deep bulk — you're essentially paying for the cardboard. There's no meaningful price floor to worry about here, and demand is low enough that it won't appreciate.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.