Eternal Taskmaster MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 90
2020-07-17 - Number 228
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Eternal Taskmaster enters the battlefield tapped. Whenever Eternal Taskmaster attacks, you may pay . If you do, return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
"They are called Eternals. They will never stop." —Jace Beleren
Cards like Eternal Taskmaster
Eternal Taskmaster is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, known for its ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard to one’s hand. A parallel can be drawn to Grave Digger, another creature with a similar resurrection effect. However, Eternal Taskmaster offers repeated utility, provided it attacks each turn, while Grave Digger’s ability triggers only once upon entering the battlefield.
Next, compare it to Gutterbones, which also allows creatures to return from the graveyard to hand. Gutterbones, however, can bounce back to your hand directly if an opponent lost life that turn, presenting a different strategic angle. Unlike Eternal Taskmaster, it doesn’t need to be declared as an attacker to lever its ability, providing flexibility in gameplay.
Considering the ongoing benefits of recursion, Eternal Taskmaster can be a cornerstone in decks that capitalize on utilizing their graveyard again and again. Each similar card has its distinct advantages, but for consistent retrieval paired with the potential for combat, Eternal Taskmaster holds a special allure for players that value perseverance in their MTG strategies.
Cards similar to Eternal Taskmaster by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Eternal Taskmaster has the capability to effortlessly bring creatures back from your graveyard to your hand, keeping your resources flowing and outnumbering your opponent over the course of the game.
Resource Acceleration: This card acts as an engine for recurring creature plays, effectively reducing the cost of creatures in your graveyard by allowing them to bypass mana costs associated with other types of recursion.
Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the triggered ability of Eternal Taskmaster can be activated at the beginning of your combat on each turn. This means it can be used tactically, ensuring you’re consistently prepared with creatures to play, fostering a form of momentum that’s hard for opponents to counter without an immediate response.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Eternal Taskmaster requires a discard to activate its ability. This can lead to a dwindling hand, posing a challenge when you need to maintain card advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost includes black mana, making it exclusive to black or multicolored decks and potentially unsuitable for mono-colored strategies that don’t include black.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of two, the cost to activate Eternal Taskmaster’s ability is comparatively high, especially when you consider other creatures that offer similar or better reanimation effects with less mana investment or additional benefits.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Eternal Taskmaster offers flexibility by serving as an early blocker or attacker while also granting the ability to recur creatures from your graveyard, making it a valuable asset in a variety of decks such as Zombie tribal, aggro, or value-centric strategies.
Combo Potential: Eternal Taskmaster can be a key piece in assembling powerful combinations, particularly in decks that capitalize on sacrificing creatures for benefit or recurring key creatures for repeated effects.
Meta-Relevance: With graveyard-based strategies often present in the meta, having a reliable creature that can retrieve key pieces from the graveyard ensures that your deck remains resilient against control matchups and keeps pressure on your opponents.
How to beat
Eternal Taskmaster is a unique creature card that holds potential to alter the battlefield dynamics in Magic: The Gathering. Recognized for its ability to retrieve creatures from the graveyard upon attacking, it can present a recurring challenge. Tackling this adversary demands a strategic stance that disrupts its triggering condition. Countering or removing Eternal Taskmaster before it declares an attack is key, as this prevents the resurrection of fallen creatures from the graveyard.
Engaging in efficient removal spells or invoking instant-speed tricks can hinder the Taskmaster’s attempts at recovery. Detain, exile, or bounce effects are particularly useful in this scenario, as they offer a tempo swing in your favor while keeping your opponent’s graveyard from feeding their battlefield presence. Be vigilant for opportunities to nullify its effects – doing so can diminish the card’s impact and maintain control over the game’s progression.
By examining the card’s inherent weaknesses and employing suitable countermeasures, players can effectively neutralize Eternal Taskmaster and its graveyard-centric strategy, ensuring the creature’s potential is left untapped and securing an advantageous position within the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Eternal Taskmaster MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Jumpstart, 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 Taskmaster and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Eternal Taskmaster Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by Tomasz Jedruszek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 228 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tomasz Jedruszek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Eternal Taskmaster has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Eternal Taskmaster card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | You can’t pay more than once each time Eternal Taskmaster’s ability resolves. |