Emrakul's Influence MTG Card


Drawing a card with each Eldrazi cast provides sustained advantage in resource-heavy matchups. Extra cards lower the effective cost of Eldrazi, enabling faster and more impactful plays. Functioning at instant speed, it pairs well with flash creatures for surprise defenses or attacks.
Emrakul's Influence - Eldritch Moon
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment
Released2016-07-22
Set symbol
Set nameEldritch Moon
Set codeEMN
Number157
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRyan Alexander Lee

Text of card

Whenever you cast an Eldrazi creature spell with converted mana cost 7 or greater, draw two cards.

Hordes of Eldrazi and cultists swarmed over Thraben's defenses, and the members of the Gatewatch found themselves overrun.


Cards like Emrakul's Influence

Emrakul’s Influence has garnered attention from players who appreciate impactful enchantments in MTG. It bears resemblance to traditional creature support cards such as Elemental Bond, which grants you card draw upon playing a creature with power 3 or greater. Emrakul’s Influence, however, is specifically triggered when casting Eldrazi creatures, a subcategory known for their game-altering presence. Moreover, it allows a draw for each creature’s cast, not just the first in a turn.

Another parallel can be drawn with Descendants’ Path. This enchantment may not offer direct card draw but it does allow you to potentially cheat in creatures of the chosen type from the top of your library. This can evoke a similar conjuring of mighty Eldrazi titans akin to what Emrakul’s Influence facilitates through extra draws. However, Emrakul’s Influence ensures consistent hand replenishment, securing an advantage for a more elongated game strategy.

The strategy and utility of Emrakul’s Influence resonate well within MTG’s vast array of enchantments. Its specific synergy with Eldrazi creatures adds a layer of deck-building potential and card advantage, reinforcing its unique position among MTG cards that bolster the power of creature-focused strategies.

Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions
Descendants' Path - MTG Card versions
Elemental Bond - MTG Card versions
Descendants' Path - MTG Card versions

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Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Greater Good - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Emrakul’s Influence allows you to draw a card whenever you cast an Eldrazi creature spell, ensuring a steady flow of options as you deploy colossal threats onto the battlefield. This effect keeps your hand replenished, giving you an edge over opponents in longer, grinding matches.

Resource Acceleration: This card is particularly adept at ramping up your available resources. By giving you an extra card for each Eldrazi spell, it effectively reduces the cost of those spells by providing additional resources, which can lead to casting multiple spells in a turn or playing your game-ending Eldrazi sooner than expected.

Instant Speed: Although Emrakul’s Influence itself is not an instant, its effect operates anytime you cast an Eldrazi spell, even on your opponent’s turn. This means it synchronizes well with Eldrazi creatures that can be flashed in or with effects that allow you to play creatures as though they had flash, adding surprise and flexibility to your game plan.

Remember, when employing Emrakul’s Influence in your deck, focus on the synergy with other Eldrazi spells. By doing so, you’ll optimize card advantage, increase your resource acceleration, and leverage instant speed interactions to dominate the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The inclusion of Emrakul’s Influence in your deck necessitates a discard mechanism to tap into the full potential of the card, which can be counterproductive when your hand size is diminishing.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Emrakul’s Influence is steeped in a particular color identity, demanding a dedicated deck build to consistently meet its casting requirements, and not just any deck can accommodate such a heavy color commitment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the benefits of controlling Emrakul’s Influence can be game-changing, its comparatively high mana cost is a significant consideration. There are cheaper alternatives that may not be as powerful but can be more easily incorporated into various stages of the game.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Emrakul’s Influence adds value to various strategies by allowing players to control the board while advancing their own monstrous threats. It’s a boon in decks designed to capitalize on powerful Eldrazi and other colossal creatures.

Combo Potential: This dynamic card excels in engine-based builds, facilitating combinations with various types of creature casting triggers and abilities that play off big plays, making it a lynchpin in setups aiming to exploit massive swings in board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to sway games by its mere presence on the field, Emrakul’s Influence remains a relevant choice in environments dominated by creature-heavy decks or where generating large threats is key to victory.


How to beat

Emrakul’s Influence in the MTG universe represents one of the most formidable challenges due to its immense power and unique abilities that can take over a game. When up against this Eldrazi titan, the key to success lies in preventing its casting altogether or mitigating its impact. Counterspell strategies work effectively to stop Emrakul from hitting the battlefield. Cards like Negate or Essence Scatter should be ready in your hand the moment your opponent reaches enough mana for a summon. Alternatively, leveraging graveyard manipulation can disrupt strategies centered around cheating Emrakul into play using reanimation tactics.

For decks without access to blue counterspells, exile effects are your next line of defense. Cards like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone can remove Emrakul after it’s been cast. Since Emrakul grants protection from instants, it’s crucial to utilize these spells strategically, possibly in response to an animation or reanimation effect before Emrakul becomes untouchable. Finally, pressure your opponent early and reduce their health before Emrakul can become an insurmountable obstacle. Rapid aggression can outpace the setup required to utilize Emrakul’s power, allowing you to claim victory before the Eldrazi’s influence can be fully felt.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Emrakul's Influence MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon, 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 Emrakul's Influence and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Emrakul's Influence has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-07-13 Emrakul’s Influence doesn’t care about how much mana you paid for an Eldrazi creature spell, only what its converted mana cost is. Cost reductions, such as that of emerge, won’t change whether or not it triggers.