Eternal Thirst MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Key Takeaways

  1. Eternal Thirst grants scaling power through lifelink and counters, enhancing creature threat over time.
  2. While demanding specific mana, its synergy with instant speed creatures can lead to pivotal plays.
  3. Its discard requirement and cost might deter usage, but its utility in life gain decks is undisputed.

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature has lifelink and "Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature." (Damage dealt by a creature with lifelink also causes its controller to gain that much life.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Eternal Thirst provides an ongoing benefit that can lead to substantial card advantage in the long run. By equipping this enchantment to a creature, you ensure that every time it destroys another creature, your creature gets larger, potentially drawing out more cards from your opponent as they try to deal with the growing threat.

Resource Acceleration: In decks focusing on life gain strategies, Eternal Thirst can be a form of resource acceleration. Coupled with creatures that have lifelink or similar abilities, it turns the life gained into an offensive resource, allowing your creatures to scale in power quickly and dominate the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Eternal Thirst is an aura that’s cast at sorcery speed, its effect synergizes well with creatures that can act at instant speed. Giving a creature lifelink instantaneously before damage is dealt can be a game-changing move, particularly if the creature can be flashed in or untapped during your opponent’s turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Eternal Thirst can be a setback when you’re running short on cards in hand. Having to discard as part of the cost to activate its ability could leave you in a tight spot, especially when you need every card to count.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s demand for black mana means it slips seamlessly into vampire or zombie build themes but might not fit as well into a more diverse mana pool. Decks that aren’t centered on black mana may struggle to cast it efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other enchantments or spells out there that boost your creatures for less, Eternal Thirst’s mana investment is something to consider. A casting cost of two mana—especially when one is black—can be steep early in the game when mana resources are critical.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Eternal Thirst lends itself to various deck builds, particularly those focused on life gain and creature enhancement. This enchantment can turn any creature into a significant threat by granting lifelink and a growth mechanism.

Combo Potential: When paired with creatures that have damage-dealing abilities or when used in conjunction with board-wiping spells, Eternal Thirst can swiftly bolster your creatures, making it a linchpin in powerful combos.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where creature-based strategies prevail, Eternal Thirst shines as a cost-effective means to maintain board presence and life totals, allowing for great resilience against aggressive decks.


How to beat

Eternal Thirst presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield, leveraging its power through the lifelink and +1/+1 counter mechanics. When a player has creatures with Eternal Thirst on the board, they can become increasingly difficult to handle — each creature destroyed lends its strength to the enchanted creature. However, there are several strategies savvy players can employ to counteract this persistent threat.

One effective approach is to use removal spells that exile rather than destroy, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, bypassing the counter-gaining ability completely. Additionally, players can focus on controlling the board with enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize, directly targeting the problematic Eternal Thirst. Cards that prevent lifegain, like Tainted Remedy or Erebos, God of the Dead, can also nullify the benefits of this enchantment. Using these tactics can ensure that an opponent’s Eternal Thirst does not spiral out of control and dominate the game.

A well-timed approach and the correct counterspells can maintain balance and prevent your opponent from leveraging Eternal Thirst into a dominant position. Understanding these interactions is key to mastering the game and overcoming challenges like Eternal Thirst.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the mechanics and nuances of cards like Eternal Thirst is key to conquering the battlefield in MTG. Whether you’re strengthening your arsenal with versatile enchantments or seeking to mitigate their impact when faced by opponents, knowledge is your greatest weapon. If Eternal Thirst has piqued your interest or if you’re looking for effective countermeasures, we’ve got comprehensive guides and strategic insights that can help. Take your gameplay to new heights by leveraging the full potential of cards reminiscent of Eternal Thirst or by adeptly disarming them. Dive deeper with us, enhance your collection, and refine your deck to craft winning strategies that stand the test of time. Embark on this journey of strategic growth with BurnMana.


Cards like Eternal Thirst

Eternal Thirst is an intriguing enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering that offers both offensive and defensive benefits. It shares some thematic traits with cards like Mark of the Vampire, which also confers a power boost and lifelink to a creature. However, Eternal Thirst distinguishes itself with its ability to grow stronger each time an opponent’s creature dies. Mark of the Vampire lacks this scaling potential, offering a static power and toughness increase instead.

Child of Night is another card that naturally has lifelink, yet it does not have the ability to empower itself further as Eternal Thirst does. Similarly, Spirit Link is a lifelink-enabling aura, but it offers no power boost to the creature it enchants. Eternal Thirst stands out by effectively turning every vanquished foe into an opportunity to augment the enchanted creature’s combat prowess.

Taking into account the synergy with creature removal and the potential for exponential growth, Eternal Thirst presents itself as a strong choice for decks keen on utilizing lifelink and power increases. Its unique scaling ability puts it a notch above similar enchantments, making it a valuable asset in creature-focused strategies within Magic: The Gathering.

Mark of the Vampire - MTG Card versions
Child of Night - MTG Card versions
Spirit Link - MTG Card versions
Mark of the Vampire - Magic 2013 (M13)
Child of Night - Magic 2010 (M10)
Spirit Link - Legends (LEG)

Cards similar to Eternal Thirst by color, type and mana cost

Bad Moon - MTG Card versions
Fear - MTG Card versions
Warp Artifact - MTG Card versions
Deathgrip - MTG Card versions
Animate Dead - MTG Card versions
Blight - MTG Card versions
Seizures - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Sigil - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Hex - MTG Card versions
Dance of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Dark Privilege - MTG Card versions
Enfeeblement - MTG Card versions
Oath of Ghouls - MTG Card versions
Despondency - MTG Card versions
Yawgmoth's Edict - MTG Card versions
Dying Wail - MTG Card versions
Insubordination - MTG Card versions
Mourning - MTG Card versions
Chains of Mephistopheles - MTG Card versions
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - MTG Card versions
Bad Moon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Fear - Tenth Edition (10E)
Warp Artifact - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Deathgrip - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Animate Dead - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blight - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Seizures - Ice Age (ICE)
Leshrac's Sigil - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Lim-Dûl's Hex - Ice Age (ICE)
Dance of the Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Dark Privilege - Multiverse Gift Box (MGB)
Enfeeblement - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Oath of Ghouls - Exodus (EXO)
Despondency - Urza's Saga (USG)
Yawgmoth's Edict - Urza's Saga (USG)
Dying Wail - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Insubordination - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Mourning - Invasion (INV)
Chains of Mephistopheles - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tribute to Horobi // Echo of Death's Wail - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eternal Thirst MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Iconic Masters, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Eternal Thirst and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Eternal Thirst Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-07-18Magic 2015M15 952015normalblackClint Cearley
22017-11-17Iconic MastersIMA 892015normalblackClint Cearley
32019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6482015normalblackClint Cearley
42020-07-17JumpstartJMP 2292015normalblackClint Cearley
52020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 492015normalblackClint Cearley
62020-09-26The ListPLST IMA-892015normalblackClint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Eternal Thirst has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Eternal Thirst card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2017-11-17 If the enchanted creature is dealt lethal damage at the same time as a creature an opponent controls, they’re destroyed at the same time. It won’t receive a +1/+1 counter from its ability in time to save it.
2017-11-17 Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.

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