Emergent Ultimatum MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Emergent Ultimatum allows staggering plays by casting costly spells for no mana investment.
  2. The spell’s strategic impact comes from selecting three threatening mono-colored cards.
  3. Suited for Sultai decks, it demands careful mana base construction and planning.

Text of card

Search your library for up to three monocolored cards with different names and exile them. An opponent chooses one of those cards. Shuffle that card into your library. You may cast the other cards without paying their mana costs. Exile Emergent Ultimatum.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Not your run-of-the-mill card, Emergent Ultimatum enables players to search their library for three mono-colored cards with different names and present them to an opponent. That player will then choose one that gets shuffled into your library, and the rest can be cast without paying their mana costs—translating to an overwhelming advantage that can pivot the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This potent sorcery sets the stage for a massive surge in your resources. By potentially casting high-cost spells for free, Emergent Ultimatum accelerates your board presence and strategic setup, giving you a leg up against any opposition and setting the tempo for the remainder of the match.

Instant Speed: While not at instant speed itself, the spells cast as a result of Emergent Ultimatum can include instant speed responses, providing an unexpected twist during your turn. This adaptability and potential for immediate impact from the chosen spells make Emergent Ultimatum a card to be reckoned with.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Emergent Ultimatum doesn’t ask for discarding cards, but it does require you to build a strategy around what you choose to search for in your library. Picking less optimal cards could lead to reduced effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: This spell’s casting cost demands a precise combination of mana types. With three black, two green, and two blue mana required, it may not easily fit into decks without a consistent mana base or those not tailored to a Sultai color scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total of seven mana needed to cast, it is on the higher end of the mana curve. In faster paced games or against decks with aggressive mana disruption, this can be a significant drawback as it may be challenging to resolve successfully.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Emergent Ultimatum is not just a high-impact spell; it’s a game-changer that interfaces seamlessly with various deck archetypes. This spell shines in configurations that leverage the deep card pools of formats like Commander or Pioneer.

Combo Potential: The true strength of this card lies in its ability to search for a trifecta of game-altering spells. These combinations can dismantle opponents’ strategies or set up winning conditions on the spot.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where control or ramp decks flourish, Emergent Ultimatum can be the keystone for success. It allows for powerful plays that can pivot the dynamics of a match, especially in a tournament setting.


How to beat Emergent Ultimatum

Emergent Ultimatum is a powerhouse of a card that can turn the tide of a game in Magic: The Gathering. This powerful sorcery allows players to search their library for three mono-colored cards with different names and present them to an opponent, who then chooses one to be shuffled back into the library. The other two cards are cast for free, presenting a potentially game-ending combo or a shift of board state in the caster’s favor.

Countering this mighty spell requires strategic planning. One reliable method is to hold up countermagic, with options like Dovin’s Veto or Disallow, ensuring that the Ultimatum never resolves. Maintaining priority to cast instants in anticipation of your opponent’s turn is vital. Playing cards with graveyard manipulation can also sabotage the Ultimatum’s potential, such as with Ashiok, Dream Render. It can not only exile cards from the graveyard but also prevent the opponent from searching their library, thereby neutralizing the Ultimatum’s effect. Ultimately, preparing for the power play Emergent Ultimatum represents is essential for any player seeking to maintain control over the game’s outcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

Strategizing in MTG goes just beyond knowing your cards—it’s about mastering their synergy and potential. Emergent Ultimatum is a spell that compels players to think big, aiming for those pivotal moments that can flip the game on its head. Whether you’re a control aficionado or thrive at outmaneuvering opponents with cunning combos, this card beckons you with its siren call of game-changing plays. Are you eager to exploit its full suite of strategies and develop an arsenal of unstoppable plays? We welcome you to deepen your understanding and integrative tactics with us, as you forge your path to dominance in the MTG arena. Dive in now and transform each duel into a showcase of your strategic brilliance.


Cards like Emergent Ultimatum

Emergent Ultimatum holds a remarkable position in the lineup of modal sorceries in Magic: The Gathering. When examining its cousins in the Ultimatum cycle, say Genesis Ultimatum, we see a clear distinction. Although both can pull numerous cards and put them into play, Emergent Ultimatum’s ability to offer a set of three powerful spells for an opponent to choose from changes the dynamic of its outcome. It’s a strategic tool that outweighs Genesis Ultimatum’s raw value approach.

Eerie Ultimatum is another related spell, regenerating any number of permanents, but Emergent Ultimatum’s potential for immediate impact by casting sizable spells gives it an edge in terms of tactical advantage. While the dependency on specific color combinations could be deemed restrictive, the payoff is the possibility of creating an overwhelming presence on the board in one fell swoop.

Stacking up against its peers, Emergent Ultimatum situates itself as a formidable choice for any deck aiming to leverage the utility and surprise inherent in modal gameplay. It invites complex decision-making and can decisively pivot the game’s direction in your favor.

Genesis Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Eerie Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Genesis Ultimatum - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Promos (PIKO)
Eerie Ultimatum - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Promos (PIKO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Emergent Ultimatum MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths 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 Emergent Ultimatum and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Emergent Ultimatum Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by Zack Stella.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 808972015normalblackZack Stella
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 185s2015normalblackZack Stella
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 3332015normalblackZack Stella
42020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths PromosPIKO 185p2015normalblackZack Stella
52020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 1852015normalblackZack Stella

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Emergent Ultimatum has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 A monocolored card is exactly one of white, blue, black, red, or green and no other colors. A colorless card isn’t monocolored.
2020-04-17 Emergent Ultimatum is still on the stack while you cast the cards you found, so those spells could target it. However, once it’s exiled, it will no longer be a legal target.
2020-04-17 If a spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
2020-04-17 If you cast a spell “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Cathartic Reunion, those must be paid to cast the card.
2020-04-17 If you find only one card, you’ll shuffle it into your library and exile Emergent Ultimatum without casting anything.
2020-04-17 If you wish to cast any exiled cards, you do so as part of the resolution of Emergent Ultimatum. You can’t wait to cast them later. Timing permissions based on a card’s type are ignored.

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