Primal Empathy MTG Card


Gain card advantage or strengthen creatures each turn, enhancing long-term board presence and strategy. Not limited to creature-dependent decks, as it supports various strategic plays including instant-speed actions. Restrictive mana cost and color identity may limit its integration into all deck types effectively.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card if you control a creature with the greatest power among creatures on the battlefield. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control.

"From this day forward, we confront this world together, lifting each other up."


Cards like Primal Empathy

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Primal Empathy stands out as a unique enchantment that offers a blend of creature growth and card advantage. It bears resemblance to cards like Outpost Siege, which also presents a choice between amassing resources or obtaining direct card advantage. Yet, Primal Empathy promises consistent value, augmenting either your creatures or your hand, based on the battlefield conditions, each upkeep.

Comparatively, Fathom Mage is another creature-based card that enables card drawing when it gains a +1/+1 counter, aligning well with Primal Empathy’s growth focus. While Fathom Mage relies on counters for card advantage, Primal Empathy remains flexible, not hinging its usefulness on a single creature. Another parallel can be drawn with Garruk’s Uprising, which provides card draw when larger creatures enter the battlefield and boosts all creatures with trample. However, Primal Empathy distinguishes itself by directly nurturing one of your creatures and ensuring a draw if you have the most imposing creature each turn.

When comparing these alternatives, Primal Empathy garners a unique spot through its dual-capacity to magnify a creature’s presence or replenish your hand, making it a versatile choice for decks seeking sustainable board impact and card flow in Magic: The Gathering.

Outpost Siege - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Uprising - MTG Card versions
Outpost Siege - MTG Card versions
Fathom Mage - MTG Card versions
Garruk's Uprising - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Primal Empathy, you begin each upkeep with the potential to draw a card if you control the creature with the greatest power or tied for greatest power on the battlefield. This continuous draw effect can lead to substantial card advantage over time.

Resource Acceleration: Primal Empathy doesn’t just enhance your hand, but also grows your board presence. If you don’t draw a card during your upkeep, you place a +1/+1 counter on one of your creatures you control. This effect steadily beefs up your creatures, potentially making your attacks stronger and more formidable than your opponent’s.

Instant Speed: While Primal Empathy isn’t an instant itself, it complements instant-speed play by allowing you to keep your hand stocked. This means you’re more likely to have an instant ready when needed, effectively synergizing with your deck’s instant-speed strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Primal Empathy does not impose any discard requirements on the player, allowing you to retain your hand’s resources while still benefiting from the enchantment’s effect. However, this can make it less interactive with strategies that benefit from discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires a mix of green and blue mana, which can be restrictive for decks not running those colors. It asks you to commit to a Simic (green and blue) color identity, meaning it might not fit into every deck’s mana base comfortably.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of one green, one blue, and one generic mana, Primal Empathy may be seen as quite an investment in the early game. Decks aiming for a faster pace might find this mana cost a bit steep, considering the effect it offers only occurs at the beginning of your upkeep.


Reasons to Include Primal Empathy in Your Collection

Versatility: Primal Empathy is a multi-faceted card that offers both card advantage and creature growth. This enchantment shines in decks that host an array of creatures, readily adjusting to strategies that emphasize developing a commanding board presence.

Combo Potential: Cards that synergize with +1/+1 counters can find a powerful ally in Primal Empathy. It not only strengthens your creatures but can also work in tandem with mechanics like proliferate to amplify its impact, making it a cornerstone for counter-centric combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games are won by incremental advantages, Primal Empathy secures a foothold by consistently drawing you into more options while steadily growing your threats. Its relevance in the current meta can define the outcome of games, especially in Simic decks looking for consistent performance. Its adoption in various gameplay styles ensures it remains a prudent inclusion in any collection.


How to beat

Primal Empathy exemplifies a unique enchantment that reinforces the bond between a player’s creatures and the natural flow of mana in Magic: The Gathering. This card distinguishes itself by fostering growth on the battlefield each turn, providing either a card draw or a +1/+1 counter depending on the creature’s size relative to others. But even the most harmonious of synergies have their frailties.

Effective strategies to counter Primal Empathy involve disrupting creature superiority. This may take the form of targeted removal spells to ensure your creatures reign supreme, or board wipes that cleanse the battlefield, nullifying the enchantment’s effect. Direct creature control mechanics, which keep opponents’ creatures tapped or lesser in power, can also mitigate the card’s benefits, preventing the trigger of its potent abilities.

Ultimately, bypassing Primal Empathy’s advantages requires a blend of maintaining battlefield supremacy and timely disruption. By leveraging a dynamic and responsive deck build, a player can undermine Primal Empathy’s influence and turn the tides of a Magic: The Gathering duel in their favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the nuances of Primal Empathy unlocks a wellspring of potential for your MTG decks. Whether you harness the full power of creature superiority or a consistent card draw, this enchantment could be the catalyst for your future victories. It weaves together a tapistry of strategic enhancements, tailored for decks that capitalize on counter interactions or those looking to maintain a steady flow of options. If you are crafting a Simic deck or one that thrives on incremental growth and resourcefulness, consider Primal Empathy a valuable asset. Curious about potent combinations and meta-influencing tactics with this card? Join us to expand your MTG expertise and explore the strategic depths of Primal Empathy’s potential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Primal Empathy MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Commander 2021, 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 Primal Empathy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Primal Empathy Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Micah Epstein.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2002015NormalBlackMicah Epstein
22021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2272015NormalBlackMicah Epstein
32022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3482015NormalBlackMicah Epstein

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Primal Empathy 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 Primal Empathy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2020-04-17 If the greatest power among creatures on the battlefield is shared by a creature you control and a creature you don't control, you draw a card.
2020-04-17 If you control no creatures, you do nothing as Primal Empathy's ability resolves. If there are no creatures on the battlefield at all, you don't draw a card.
2020-04-17 If you don't control a creature with the greatest power, you choose which creature gets a +1/+1 counter while the ability is resolving. Players can't take actions in between the time you make this choice and the time that creature has a +1/+1 counter.
2020-04-17 You determine whether you draw a card or put a +1/+1 counter only as Primal Empathy's triggered ability begins resolving. Players may respond to the ability to try to change which happens.