Merciless Eternal MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Merciless Eternal offers a unique twist to card advantage by its ability to discard a card to boost its power. While this might not draw you cards directly, it can turn otherwise unused cards in your hand into significant damage, pressuring your opponent and potentially altering the state of the game in your favour.

Resource Acceleration: This formidable creature can help accelerate your board presence by being a persistent threat that demands an answer. Although it doesn’t create mana or tokens, its effect leverages your existing resources more effectively, stretching the value of every card in your hand and potentially accelerating you towards victory.

Instant Speed: While Merciless Eternal itself isn’t an instant, its activated ability can be used at instant speed. This allows for tactical plays during your opponent’s turn or in response to their actions, catching them off guard and offering an element of surprise and flexibility that can be a game changer.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Merciless Eternal asks you to part with a card from your hand to activate its ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is already depleted or each card is crucial for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With a cost that requires both generic and black mana, Merciless Eternal demands commitment to black mana sources. This can be restricting if you’re trying to balance a multicolored mana base or splash other colors in your deck.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a cost of three mana, including two black, might be a bit steep when weighed against other creatures or spells you could play at the same point in the game. Its power level might not always justify the investment, depending on the competitive environment.

Reasons to Include Merciless Eternal in Your Collection

Versatility: Merciless Eternal is a flexible card you can slip into various deck archetypes. With its ability to discard a card for a power boost, it gives aggro decks an edge while also serving as a reliable blocker in more control-oriented setups.

Combo Potential: The discard ability not only buffs Merciless Eternal but can also synergize with graveyard strategies, making it an excellent piece in combo decks that capitalize on cycling cards in and out of the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature removal is common, Merciless Eternal’s ability to grow stronger right before damage is dealt makes it a persistent threat. This adds significant value in matches where timing and combat tricks can turn the tide of battle.

How to beat Merciless Eternal

Merciless Eternal is a formidable foe on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. This aggressive zombie wields an ability to discard a card in exchange for a temporary power boost, making it a threat that can swiftly escalate in strength. To counteract this, timing and resource management are key. Holding onto instant-speed removal spells can disrupt the flow of your opponent’s combat strategy, as you can wait for the ability to activate and then remove Merciless Eternal in response, maximizing your card efficiency.

Another strategy is to employ creatures with a defense high enough to withstand an attack or ones with deathtouch, which can eliminate Merciless Eternal regardless of its power. Counterspells are also valuable, keeping this persistent zombie off the board entirely. Board wipes prove useful as well, especially when falling behind on board presence. Additionally, graveyard interaction spells that exile or limit graveyard abilities can dampen the recurring potential of Merciless Eternal and similar creatures. Understanding these tactics will help in mastering games against this relentless undead adversary.