Eternal Isolation MTG Card


Eternal Isolation - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Number15
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJohan Grenier

Key Takeaways

  1. Manages threats by placing large creatures into the opponent’s library, disrupting their battlefield presence.
  2. Instant speed allows surprise plays against opponent creature strategies, enhancing flexibility.
  3. Vital in collections for facing decks focused on high-power creatures, ensuring meta-relevance.

Text of card

Put target creature with power 4 or greater on the bottom of its owner's library.

"Well, at least it's a lovely view."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Eternal Isolation does not directly allow you to draw cards, it does enable you to deal with large threats efficiently, maintaining your board presence while potentially putting the opponent at a disadvantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Eternal Isolation does not provide resource acceleration in a traditional sense, by removing an opponent’s creature with power 4 or greater, you are effectively slowing them down, indirectly accelerating your own game plan in comparison.

Instant Speed: Eternal Isolation’s ability to be played at instant speed gives you the flexibility to answer threats during your opponent’s turn. This surprise element can be crucial, especially if your opponent is relying on a big creature to execute their strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Eternal Isolation doesn’t require discarding as a cost, having a narrow removal scope can feel like discarding an opportunity to deal with a wider range of threats. This can be a limitation if your opponent is playing with lower-powered creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: Eternal Isolation’s specific mana cost can be mildly restrictive. It requires two mana, one of which must be white. This requirement might deter some players from including it in multi-colored decks that prioritize mana flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although two mana might seem low, in a game where every turn counts, using your mana effectively is key. There are other spells at a similar cost that could offer broader removal capabilities or additional benefits, making Eternal Isolation a less favored choice in some strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Eternal Isolation is a handy tool to have due to its ability to remove midsize to large creatures from combat. It’s a great fit in decks that need to manage opponents’ threats swiftly and can be incorporated into both aggressive and control strategies alike.

Combo Potential: This removal spell works wonders with graveyard strategies. As it places the creature into the library rather than the graveyard, it disrupts reanimation tactics and pairs well with cards that manipulate deck order or benefit from knowing the top cards of the library.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where larger creatures dominate the battlefield, Eternal Isolation shines by dealing with potential game-ending threats for a minimal mana investment. Having this card in your collection ensures you’re ready to face off against decks that rely on heavy hitters to win the game.


How to Beat Eternal Isolation

Eternal Isolation presents a strategic challenge to players in the MTG arena, making it a card to anticipate in games with any gravity-themed deck. Comparable to other removal spells like Unsummon, Eternal Isolation shifts the dynamics of battle by sending a creature with power 4 or greater directly to the bottom of its owner’s library rather than merely bouncing it back to their hand. This removal spell can be pivotal in disrupting an opponent’s combat strategy, particularly against decks that rely on high-power creatures to press their advantage.

Likewise, Condemn is another answer to problematic attackers. It similarly moves creatures away from the battlefield, but rather than sending them to the library, it tucks them into the bottom of the owner’s deck and can provide them with a small life gain—a trade-off that might be insignificant if the creature presents a major threat. Eternal Isolation’s uniqueness resides in its focus on power level and its capacity to deal with threats permanently, proving its worth in a metagame with giants and behemoths.

When analyzing different removal options, Eternal Isolation shines in scenarios where creatures with thunderous footsteps dominate the boards. Knowing when to deploy this piece of removal can be the defining moment that tilts the match in your favor.


Cards like Eternal Isolation

Eternal Isolation is a noteworthy spell among its peers in Magic: The Gathering’s ever-expanding arsenal. As a removal option, it finds its companions in spells like Unsummon, which also operates at a low cost. While Unsummon bounces a creature back to its owner’s hand, Eternal Isolation strictly targets creatures with power 4 or greater and tucks them into the library’s second spot from the top. This distinction can be pivotal as Eternal Isolation deals with larger threats potentially more permanently.

Moving within the realm of creature management, we also encounter Condemn, which is similarly cost-effective and addresses attacking creatures by shifting them to the bottom of the library and conferring life points to the attacked player. Unlike Eternal Isolation, Condemn’s effect is not bound by power but rather by the creature’s combat status, offering more flexibility against aggressive plays.

Each of these spells has its particular set of advantages within the format, but when it comes to handling gigantic creatures that dominate the battlefield, Eternal Isolation provides a clean and resourceful answer. In a game of nuances and incremental edges, understanding the subtleties among similar cards is key to mastering Magic: The Gathering’s complex dynamics.

Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Condemn - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Condemn - Dissension (DIS)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Eternal Isolation MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, 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 Isolation and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Eternal Isolation has restrictions

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

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