Gilt-Leaf Ambush
Kindred Instant — Elf
Create two 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature tokens. Clash with an opponent. If you win, those creatures gain deathtouch until end of turn. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of their library, then puts that card on their choice of the top or bottom. A player wins if their card had a greater mana value. Any amount of damage a creature with deathtouch deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- G
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Lorwyn
- Price
- $0.21
- EDHREC rank
- #19712
Gilt-Leaf Ambush puts two 1/1 Elf Warrior tokens into play at instant speed and, if you reveal an Elf from your hand, gives them both deathtouch — a two-for-one combat trick that doubles as a threat. Three mana at sorcery-equivalent value is unremarkable; the deathtouch rider and instant timing are what justify a slot.
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 |
In Commander, Gilt-Leaf Ambush earns its slot in Elf tribal decks that want token density and can reliably trigger the clash-style reveal — two bodies at instant speed means surprise blockers, sacrifice fodder for Skullclamp, or a response to a wheel. In Pauper, it's a legitimate token engine in Elf or go-wide strategies where deathtouch tokens trade up against anything. Legacy and Vintage have faster, more impactful one-drops and no reason to play Gilt-Leaf Ambush competitively. Oathbreaker mirrors Commander's tribal context — relevant only when the commander is an Elf and you can reliably show one.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.21 bulk tier
At $0.21, Gilt-Leaf Ambush is deep bulk — you're not paying for scarcity, you're paying for cardboard. Price stability is a non-issue; it will stay in the $0.10–$0.25 range indefinitely unless a breakout Elf commander spikes demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.