Elk

Elk is a primarily green/white creature type used for cards depicting large deer. Elk (or Wapiti) are similar to the Red Deer found in Europe, of which they were long believed to be subspecies. In the deer family, only the common moose (confusingly referred to as "elk" outside of North America) rival the elk in size. 
==History==
The first creature to bear the type was <c>Gang of Elk</c> from Urza's Legacy. It used to be a Beast, but this was changed in the Grand Creature Type Update. For a long time, it was the only Elk card until <c>Great Sable Stag</c> was printed in Magic 2010. Theros features an enchantment creature with the subtype that acts as <c title="Heliod's emissary">Heliod's Emissary</c>.
Winged elk-like elementals embody white mana in Lorwyn–Shadowmoor, like <c>Purity</c> and the steed of the <c>Archon of Justice</c>. 
==Storyline==
===Arcavios===
The Cervins of Arcavios feed on the mana-rich plants around the star arches, imbuing their bodies with extraordinary grace and vitality.
===Eldraine===
Giant elemental elk known as tempest harts are found in Eldraine's Kingdom of Storms, a realm of giants above the plane's clouds.James Wyatt et al. (2023). "D&D Monstrous Compendium: Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures". Wizards of the Coast. Tempest harts are colossal elk with long manes of fine hair and antlers made of living lightning. Their patterned hides resemble the twisting beanstalks that also coil around their legs, shoulders, and haunches. Storm giant hunters consider tempest harts to be the worthiest prey, desirable for their meat and the raw lightning of their antlers.
===Shadowmoor===
The Cervins of Shadowmoor are long-legged, deer-like mounts used by the higher ranks of Gilt Leaf hunters. Prized for their beauty and gentle temperament, cervins remain calm during combat. They roam wild in the Gilt-Leaf and are easily trained, but elves prefer to ride a pure-bred domestic over a wild-born animal. When breeding cervins, the elves track bloodlines and the most perfect mounts are gifts to the most perfect elves. Some elves who are lower in the social hierarchy ride vinebred cervins because they're deemed more acceptable than riding a flawed cervin.
===Oko===
The planeswalker Oko can transform himself, a creature, or an artifact into an Elk. He notably used this power on High King Algenus Kenrith, prompting the Wildered Quest.
==Notable Elk==
==Trivia==
*Elk are Deer but not all Deer are Elk. That knowledge does make Mark Rosewater willing to change Elk to Deer if R&D would start over.
**Other members of the Deer family, including Moose (which are called Elk outside of North America), Reindeer, and Sambar are typed as Elk, while Caribou, which predated Elk as a creature type, retain a separate type.
**Deer was actually introduced as a creature type introduced in Unstable and has only appeared on silver-bordered cards so far (<c>Druid of the Sacred Beaker</c>).
*The blue aligned <c>Wetland Sambar</c> from Khans of Tarkir is the only non-white, non-green elk seen thus far.
*<c>Hidden Stag</c> from Urza's Saga was errata'd to become an Elk Beast instead of just a Beast.
==Tokens==
;Test cards
==References==