Elite Arcanist
Creature — Human Wizard
When this creature enters, you may exile an instant card from your hand.
, 
: Copy the exiled card. You may cast the copy without paying its mana cost. X is the mana value of the exiled card.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Magic 2014
- Price
- $0.27
- EDHREC rank
- #16743
Elite Arcanist turns any instant into an indefinitely reusable effect — every turn, for free, as long as it stays on the battlefield. The catch is that it demands protection, and with Dramatic Reversal imprinted it becomes a kill-on-sight combo piece that draws instant removal from every informed opponent.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Elite Arcanist is a Commander card through and through — the format's longer games give you the setup time, and the singleton rule makes the 'exile one instant' cost far less painful than it would be in 60-card formats. In Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer it's simply too slow at four mana for what is essentially a value engine that folds to a Lightning Bolt. Vintage has the raw power ceiling to break it, but also the fast mana and combo density to make a 4/1 with no immediate impact irrelevant. Oathbreaker is the one other format where Elite Arcanist earns genuine consideration, since imprinting your signature spell can generate absurd repetition if you protect the board.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Elite ArcanistDramatic Reversal
Infinite magecraft triggers; Infinite mana nonland permanents you control can produce; Infinite storm count; Infinite untap of nonland permanents you control; Infinite untap of creatures you control; Infinite mana creatures you control can produce
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Elite ArcanistGilded LotusDramatic Reversal
Infinite colored mana; Infinite magecraft triggers; Infinite mana nonland permanents you control can produce; Infinite storm count; Infinite untap of nonland permanents you control; Infinite untap of creatures you control; Infinite mana creatures you control can produce
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Obeka, Brute ChronologistFinal FortuneElite Arcanist
Infinite turns; Lock
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Elite ArcanistTo Arms!
Infinite card draw; Infinite draw triggers; Near-infinite storm count; Near-infinite magecraft triggers; Near-infinite untap of creatures you control; Near-infinite mana creatures you control can produce
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.27 bulk tier
At $0.27, Elite Arcanist is deep bulk — easy to pick up in any trade binder or bulk bin without a second thought. The price reflects casual demand more than scarcity, and there's no meaningful ceiling to grow into given multiple printings and low competitive presence.
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Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.