Mana Dork

Small early-game creatures whose ability taps them for one or more mana, ramping you a turn ahead. Llanowar Elves and Elvish Mystic tap for green, Birds of Paradise and Noble Hierarch fix into any or multiple colors, and Sylvan Caryatid adds repeatable acceleration with hexproof. Distinct from Mana Rock, which provides the same repeatable mana on an artifact body rather than a creature, and from Land Ramp, which puts extra lands onto the battlefield instead of fielding a creature. Also separate from Ritual, which gives a one-shot burst rather than a permanent that taps every turn.