Icewind Elemental
Creature — Elemental
Flying
When this creature enters, draw a card, then discard a card.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Foundations
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #21394
Icewind Elemental locks down your opponents' untap steps as long as you keep paying its cumulative upkeep — a soft lock that compounds fast at a table of three opponents. The cost is real: skipping that payment ends the effect immediately, so running it without dedicated mana or ways to dodge the upkeep is a trap.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Icewind Elemental actually does something meaningful — three opponents means three separate untap locks, and the cumulative upkeep pressure is far more manageable when you're generating serious mana in the late game. In 1v1 formats like Legacy or Modern, a symmetrical soft lock that asks you to pay more each turn is just too slow and too fragile against interaction; cheaper, more permanent stax pieces exist. Standard and Pioneer have enough efficient threats that a five-mana creature requiring ongoing investment rarely makes the cut. Pauper is the one wildcard where redundant freeze effects might find a home in dedicated snow or control builds, but Icewind Elemental is competing against more reliable options even there.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Price data for Icewind Elemental isn't available at the moment, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for a current quote. Given its narrow application and cumulative upkeep baggage, don't expect a premium — this is the kind of card that sits in bulk bins and spec boxes alike.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.