Etchings of the Chosen MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Key Takeaways

  1. Acts as a protective measure, using creature sacrifices to shield more valuable allies.
  2. Combines with tribal decks for enhanced strategy and defensive gameplay options.
  3. Its specific mana cost and activation limitations inform deck building decisions.

Text of card

As Etchings of the Chosen enters the battlefield, choose a creature type. Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1. , Sacrifice a creature of the chosen type: Target creature you control gains indestructible until end of turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Etchings of the Chosen offers a formidable edge through its ability to protect your key creatures. By sacrificing a lesser creature, you can shield a more valuable one from being destroyed, keeping your hand resilient and maintaining board presence.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly accelerating resources, this enchantment allows you to utilize your creatures in multiple ways. It empowers your strategy by effectively turning disposable creatures into protective measures, indirectly preserving your mana and other resources for more significant plays.

Instant Speed: While the activation of Etchings of the Chosen isn’t at instant speed, the very threat of activation at any time can deter opponents from targeting your creatures. This continuous on-board presence can provide a psychological edge, as opponents must consider the cost of their actions against your potentially safeguarded creatures.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As part of its activation cost, Etchings of the Chosen requires you to sacrifice a creature, which can be a significant drawback when you’re trying to maintain board presence or if your creature resources are already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment demands a distinct mana combination to cast, specifically one mana of any color, one black, and one white. This restricts its application to decks that can consistently produce both of these colors, potentially excluding it from various mono or dual-color strategies that don’t align with its mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana might not appear excessively high, but within competitive formats where efficiency is key, Etchings of the Chosen competes with other cards that could offer more immediate impact or flexibility for the same or less mana investment.


Reasons to Include Etchings of the Chosen in Your Collection

Versatility: Etchings of the Chosen is a multifaceted enchantment that can be seamlessly integrated into decks that capitalize on tribal synergies. Its ability to protect your creatures from being destroyed by choosing a creature type provides a layer of defense that can preserve your board presence.

Combo Potential: Beyond its defensive capabilities, Etchings of the Chosen can be used offensively to empower your attackers. This can lead to powerful combinations, especially in decks that revolve around certain tribes, as it can provide both an anthem effect and a sacrifice outlet.

Meta-Relevance: As the game continues to evolve, the effectiveness of tribal decks in the meta can wax and wane. Etchings of the Chosen maintains relevance by protecting key creatures in matchups where removal is prevalent, making it a strategic choice for players invested in tribal-themed battles.


How to Beat Etchings of the Chosen

Etchings of the Chosen is a versatile anthem effect for multitribal strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It grants not only a +1/+1 bonus to creatures of the chosen type but also adds a layer of protection by allowing you to sacrifice a creature of the chosen type to make another target creature you control indestructible until the end of the turn. To undermine the value of Etchings of the Chosen, prioritize removal of the enchantment itself or nullify its impact by focusing on noncreature strategies such as burn or control decks that limit the number of creatures your opponent can maintain on the battlefield.

Board wipes are exceptionally effective as they can surpass the indestructibility Etchings of the Chosen offers by not targeting creatures specifically. Cards like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, rendering the protective aspect of Etchings moot. Furthermore, counterplay measures such as enchantment removal spells—think Disenchant or Naturalize—can eliminate Etchings of the Chosen directly from the battlefield, neutralizing its influence before it becomes a significant threat.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG deck with Etchings of the Chosen can be a game-changer, offering both offensive and defensive enhancements tailor-made for tribal strategies. Protecting your prized creatures from removal and reinforcing your board presence are just a few of the tactics this card unlocks. For those looking to optimize their gameplay, integrating such strategic cards can prove invaluable. We encourage you to delve further into our insights on Etchings of the Chosen, where you’ll find a deeper understanding of its role within various deck builds and metagames. Discover more nuances and elevate your deck-building skills with us.


Cards like Etchings of the Chosen

Etchings of the Chosen is a unique offering in the world of Magic: The Gathering, occupying a niche within the realm of anthems and protection enchantments. It is akin to cards like Radiant Destiny, which also grants a prowess to creatures of a chosen type. Etchings does more by enabling an added layer of defense — the capability to sacrifice a creature to make a chosen creature indestructible until the end of the turn, reinforcing both board presence and resilience.

In comparison, Unbreakable Formation is another card that provides a safeguard to your creatures, granting them indestructibility for a turn. While it doesn’t allow for the same continuous protection that Etchings of the Chosen offers, it makes up for this by also giving your creatures a +1/+1 counter if cast during your main phase, possibly turning the tides in your favor during crucial moments of the game.

Similar roles can be found in cards like Steely Resolve, which gives creatures of a chosen type shroud, thereby preventing them from being the targets of spells or abilities your opponents control. Although shroud is a powerful form of protection, it doesn’t have the selectivity or the sacrifice mechanic that makes Etchings of the Chosen so versatile. Considering the balance between enhancing and defending creature strategies, Etchings of the Chosen holds a valuable space in MTG decks focused on tribal synergies and protecting key creatures.

Radiant Destiny - MTG Card versions
Unbreakable Formation - MTG Card versions
Steely Resolve - MTG Card versions
Radiant Destiny - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Unbreakable Formation - Ravnica Allegiance (RNA)
Steely Resolve - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Etchings of the Chosen by color, type and mana cost

Circle of Despair - MTG Card versions
Righteous War - MTG Card versions
Soul Link - MTG Card versions
Pillory of the Sleepless - MTG Card versions
Gift of Orzhova - MTG Card versions
Athreos, God of Passage - MTG Card versions
Behind the Scenes - MTG Card versions
Profane Procession // Tomb of the Dusk Rose - MTG Card versions
Oath of Kaya - MTG Card versions
Knights' Charge - MTG Card versions
Ascent of the Worthy - MTG Card versions
Circle of Despair - Mirage (MIR)
Righteous War - Visions (VIS)
Soul Link - Apocalypse (APC)
Pillory of the Sleepless - The List (PLST)
Gift of Orzhova - The List (PLST)
Athreos, God of Passage - The List (PLST)
Behind the Scenes - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Profane Procession // Tomb of the Dusk Rose - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Oath of Kaya - War of the Spark Promos (PWAR)
Knights' Charge - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Ascent of the Worthy - Kaldheim (KHM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Etchings of the Chosen MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Modern Horizons, 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 Etchings of the Chosen and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Etchings of the Chosen Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2019-06-14 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by Chuck Lukacs.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 913591997normalblackChuck Lukacs
22019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 1982015normalblackChuck Lukacs
32021-06-18Modern Horizons 1 TimeshiftsH1R 251997normalblackChuck Lukacs
42021-08-26Jumpstart: Historic HorizonsJ21 6892015normalblackChuck Lukacs
52023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 2692015normalblackChuck Lukacs

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Etchings of the Chosen has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
GladiatorLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 The last ability of Etchings of the Chosen can target any creature you control, not just one of the chosen type.
2019-06-14 You must choose an existing creature type, such as Sliver or Warrior. Card types such as artifact, and supertypes such as legendary or snow, can't be chosen.

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