Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 137
2023-04-21 - Number 137s
2023-04-21 - Number 298
2023-04-21 - Number 32
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Elder Dinosaur |
| Abilities | Indestructible,Trample |
| Power | 11 |
| Toughness | 11 |
Text of card
Trample, indestructible Whenever Etali, Primal Sickness deals combat damage to a player, they get that many poison counters. (A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game.)
The contagion spreads and the Multiverse quakes.
Cards like Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness
Etali, Primal Storm is a vibrant standout in the roster of big red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Etali shares the spotlight with cards like Ilharg, the Raze-Boar, both serving as formidable engines for cheating costly spells or creatures into play. Nonetheless, Etali stands unique with its ability to cast spells for free from each player’s deck upon attacking, which is erratic but potentially game-ending.
Delving into other parallels, Ghalta, Primal Hunger bolsters Etali’s squad of red behemoths with its massive stats and the potential for a reduced casting cost. However, Ghalta lacks the spell-casting capability that makes Etali such a deck-defining card. Meanwhile, Drakuseth, Maw of Flames dishes out direct damage once it attacks, mirroring Etali’s trigger-on-attack but focusing on direct elimination rather than casting spells.
Undeniably, in surveying the landscape of comparable cards, Etali, Primal Storm poses a unique combination of immediate impact and unpredictability that enhances its appeal for players constructing decks around massive, game-swinging creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Etali, Primal Sickness has the potent ability to exile the top card of each player’s library whenever it attacks, letting you play those cards without paying their mana costs. This not only can furnish you with a wealth of new options but also disrupts your opponents’ strategies by utilizing their own resources against them.
Resource Acceleration: The magic of Etali lies in its capacity to cast spells for free. This inherently accelerates your resource usage as you’re effectively bypassing the mana cost of potentially powerful spells. This can lead to explosive turns where you deploy threats or answers without tapping into your own mana reserves, keeping you ahead in the race for board dominance.
Instant Speed: While Etali itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the spells you exile with its attack trigger can be played immediately if they’re instants. This surprise element adds a layer of complexity to your game, enabling you to react to opponents’ moves during combat in a turn, often catching them unprepared.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Though not pertinent to Etali, Primal Storm, cards requiring discard can hinder your hand, leading to a resource deficit.
Specific Mana Cost: Etali, Primal Storm commands an exclusive red mana cost which can streamline its deck placement but restricts its integration into various multi-colored strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Etali’s significant mana investment can pose a challenge for players aiming to optimize their mana curve, especially when juxtaposed with other creatures in its casting cost bracket.
Reasons to Include Etali, Primal Sickness in Your Collection
Versatility: Etali, Primal Sickness brings a high level of versatility to the table. Its ability to cast cards for free from the top of all players’ libraries means it can fit into a variety of strategies, from aggressive red decks to more cheeky builds that take advantage of opponents’ decks.
Combo Potential: This card can become a combo enabler by working with cards that manipulate deck order, such as those with scry or top-deck control abilities. This synergy magnifies Etali’s power, turning each attack into an opportunity to cast multiple spells without paying their mana costs.
Meta-Relevance: Given Etali’s synergistic fit in decks that disrupt or exploit opponent strategies, it remains relevant in a fluctuating meta. Its ability to take advantage of what others are playing gives it a unique place in the ecosystem, consistently challenging players to think creatively and adapt.
How to beat Etali, Primal Storm
Dealing with Etali, Primal Storm, the formidable dinosaur with the potential to dramatically alter the course of a game in Magic: The Gathering, requires a mix of strategy and a understanding of the game’s mechanics. One effective method is to control the battlefield by removing or countering Etali before its attack-triggered ability can activate. Instant-speed removal spells such as Path to Exile or Rapid Hybridization can effectively exile or transform Etali, ensuring your opponent doesn’t capitalize on their free spells.
Alternatively, preventing Etali from attacking is essential. Cards like Pacifism or creature tapping abilities can hinder its combat phase impact. For those who prefer a subtle approach, using hand-disruption techniques like Thoughtseize or Duress to remove Etali from your opponent’s hand before it even hits the board can save you from its game-swinging effect. Thus, the key to defeating this colossal threat lies in timing, precision, and maintaining control over the gameplay dynamics.
Mastering the art of interfering with your opponent’s strategies while robustly establishing your board presence is what allows experienced players to maintain the upper hand against powerful cards like Etali, Primal Storm.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine Promos, 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 Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 137 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Promos | PMOM | 137s | 2015 | Transform | Black | Ryan Pancoast | |
| 3 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 32 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | |||
| 4 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 298 | 2015 | Transform | Black | Yeong-Hao Han |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | Any cards not cast, including land cards, remain in exile. They can’t be cast on later turns. |
| 2023-04-14 | If an exiled card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2023-04-14 | If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the card. |
| 2023-04-14 | If you cast any of the exiled cards, you do so as part of the resolution of the triggered ability. You can’t wait to cast them later in the turn. Timing restrictions based on a card’s type are ignored. |
| 2023-04-14 | If you cast more than one of the exiled cards, you choose the order in which to cast them. A spell you cast this way can be the target of a later spell you cast this way. However, permanent spells cast this way won’t resolve until you’re done casting spells, so the permanents they become can’t be the target of spells cast this way. For example, if you exile Twincast and Lightning Strike, you can cast Lightning Strike and then cast Twincast targeting it; but if you exile a creature card and an Aura card, you can’t cast that Aura targeting that creature. |
| 2023-04-14 | In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any spells or permanents you control from Etali’s ability are exiled. |
| 2023-04-14 | Losing the game because a player (preferably an opponent) has ten or more poison counters is a rule of the game. Etali, Primal Sickness doesn’t have to still be on the battlefield when someone (preferably an opponent) gets their tenth poison counter. |