Emiel the Blessed MTG Card
2020-07-17 - Number 3
2022-07-08 - Number 417
2022-07-08 - Number 10
2022-07-08 - Number 338
2022-12-02 - Number 180
2002-06-24 - Number 102229
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Unicorn |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Emiel offers flicker ability, key for retriggering creatures’ enter-the-battlefield effects and managing resources.
- Resource acceleration is another advantage, with +1/+1 counters boosting creatures and synergizing with counter-related mechanics.
- Strategic play is enhanced with Emiel, allowing for end-of-turn flicker maneuvers, keeping opponents uncertain.
Text of card
: Exile another target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay {G/W}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it. If it's a Unicorn, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead. ({G/W} can be paid with either or .)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Emiel the Blessed offers a unique ability to flicker another creature you control, allowing you to re-trigger enter-the-battlefield effects. This can be pivotal in generating additional card draw, especially with creatures that have card draw triggers, ensuring a consistent flow of resources and maintaining an edge over your opponent.
Resource Acceleration: Emiel’s second ability, which involves a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control, is not only a tool for creature enhancement but also synergizes with any mechanics that benefit from counters. This can effectively accelerate your resources by enhancing your board presence and making your creatures more formidable in battle.
Instant Speed: While Emiel itself does not operate at instant speed, the ability to flicker creatures at the end of an opponent’s turn means you can safely pass with mana open, only using Emiel’s ability if no threats demand an immediate answer. This strategic flexibility allows you to better navigate the ebb and flow of the game while keeping opponents guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Emiel the Blessed doesn’t directly require a discard as part of its cost, decks built around Emiel may force you to discard other valuable creatures as part of their synergistic strategies. This can sometimes result in a depleted hand, especially if you haven’t established a substantial board presence or if you’re facing hand disruption.
Specific Mana Cost: Emiel the Blessed comes with a specific mana cost of three and a white, which necessitates a dedicated mana base. This cost can restrict Emiel’s inclusion to decks that heavily feature white mana or have the means to consistently generate any color of mana to optimize its abilities.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of four mana, Emiel the Blessed can be a costly investment in the earlier turns of the game. While its abilities are potentially powerful, they require you to reach four mana before beginning to influence the battlefield, which could be sluggish compared to lower-cost creatures that impact the game sooner.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Emiel the Blessed offers a flexible role within various deck archetypes due to his blink (exile and return) ability, which can be activated multiple times each turn. This ability aligns well with enter-the-battlefield effects or creatures that benefit from being targeted.
Combo Potential: This card becomes a linchpin in combination setups with creatures like Kitchen Finks or any other creature with a persist ability, potentially creating infinite loops that can sway the game in your favor. Such synergies make Emiel a formidable choice for players who enjoy crafting intricate and powerful interactions.
Meta-Relevance: Emiel holds utility in formats where commanders capable of generating value repeatedly are highly prized. As the meta evolves to include more creature-centric strategies and value engines, his ability to manipulate the battlefield becomes increasingly critical.
How to beat
Emiel the Blessed is a unique force on the battlefield that can quickly alter the dynamics of the game within the vibrant world of Magic: The Gathering. This legendary unicorn commands a powerful ability to blink creatures – that is, to exile them and then return them to play instantly. This can be particularly troublesome as it allows the player to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects, protect key creatures from removals, and dodge certain targeted spells.
To disrupt the synergies that Emiel offers, one efficient strategy is to employ instant-speed removal or counterspells when Emiel is cast or when its ability is activated. By doing so, players can prevent the unicorn from establishing its blink loop. Additionally, graveyard hate cards can impede the reutilization of creatures that Emiel targets. Including cards that restrict or negate activated abilities can also be pivotal in stifling Emiel’s influence during a match.
Ultimately, overcoming the grace of Emiel the Blessed requires both precision and timing. With a toolkit of removals, counters, and ability restrictions at your disposal, maintaining control of the board becomes a manageable endeavor against this celestial equine.
Understanding the Uniqueness of Emiel the Blessed
Cards like Emiel the Blessed
Emiel the Blessed stands out in gameplay dynamics within the vast array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Positioned similarly to Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice, both creatures function as eminent life gain engines; however, Emiel’s flicker ability to exile another target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control shines uniquely. In contrast, Trostani merely creates token creatures and gains life, lacking Emiel’s subtle nuances of tempo and board state manipulation.
Conjurer’s Closet is another piece worth considering. While it does provide a consistent flicker effect each turn, it lacks the scalability and immediate impact conferred by Emiel, who can activate its ability multiple times per turn, assuming the mana is available. Emiel is also a creature, which allows for more dynamic interactions and synergy with other creature-based strategies.
Analyzed side by side with these peers, Emiel the Blessed holds a niche for players who favor repeatable flicker effects packaged in a versatile creature. The ability to protect key creatures or retrigger enter-the-battlefield effects at will makes Emiel a distinct, strategic addition in MTG decks focused on creature-based combos and value generation.
Cards similar to Emiel the Blessed by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Emiel the Blessed MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Jumpstart, 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 Emiel the Blessed and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Emiel the Blessed Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 102229 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Martina Pilcerova | ||
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 3 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo | |
| 3 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 417 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo | |
| 4 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 10 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo | |
| 5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 338 | 2015 | Normal | Borderless | Martina Pilcerova | |
| 6 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 180 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Antonio José Manzanedo |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Emiel the Blessed has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Emiel the Blessed card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-06-23 | Emiel’s second ability triggers whenever any creature other than itself enters the battlefield under your control, including those returned by its first ability. |
| 2020-06-23 | If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won’t return to the battlefield. |
| 2020-06-23 | If the entering creature is a Unicorn, you still have to pay {G/W} to put two +1/+1 counters on it. |
| 2020-06-23 | When the card returns to the battlefield, it will be a new object with no connection to the card that was exiled. Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners’ graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist. |
| 2020-06-23 | While resolving Emiel’s triggered ability, you can’t pay {G/W} more than once to put more counters on the creature. |
| 2020-06-23 | You choose whether to pay for Emiel’s triggered ability while it’s resolving. If you do, no player may take other actions between the time you pay and the time the creature has one or two +1/+1 counters on it. |
