War Mammoth

Description

The War Mammoth is a foundational creature card from Magic: The Gathering's 1993 Intl. Collectors' Edition. Identified as card number 228 with the set code CEI, this Common card represents the early design philosophy of the game's green mana strategy. It costs {3}{G} to cast and enters the battlefield as a 3/3 Creature — Elephant, offering a straightforward but resilient presence on the board. Its primary mechanical value comes from the Trample ability, which allows excess combat damage to be dealt to the defending player or planeswalker if the opponent's blockers are insufficient to stop the full power of the creature. This mechanic has remained a staple of aggressive green decks for decades. Collectors often seek out the Intl. Collectors' Edition for its historical significance as one of the earliest international releases of the game. The War Mammoth, illustrated by Jeff A. Menges, captures the brute force of the game's early animal-based creatures. The accompanying flavor text hints at the creature's surprising strength and temperament, adding narrative depth to its simple stats. For investors and hobbyists, cards from this era are valued for their role in establishing the game's core identity. Owning a War Mammoth from this release allows collectors to hold a tangible piece of the game's pioneering years. It serves as a key reference point for understanding the evolution of creature design and mana efficiency in Magic: The Gathering. Whether used for nostalgia or as part of a broader collection, this card remains a notable entry in the catalog of early TCG artifacts.