Eviscerator MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Horror |
| Abilities | Protection |
| Released | 1999-02-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Urza's Legacy |
| Set code | ULG |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 52 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Michael Sutfin |
Key Takeaways
- Eviscerator excels at generating card advantage and can drastically shift game momentum in your favor.
- Its specific mana cost and discard requirement present strategic deckbuilding and gameplay challenges.
- Despite the high cost, its combo potential and meta relevance make it a formidable addition to collections.
Text of card
Protection from white When Eviscerator comes into play, lose 5 life.
It roamed the time bubble like a captured animal. Kerrick knew he must soon find a way to unleash it on Tolaria or destroy it.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Eviscerator offers a potent form of card advantage as its ability can decimate an opponent’s creatures, often leading to a two-for-one situation or better. This can shift the momentum drastically in your favor, paving the way to victory.
Resource Acceleration: Although not a traditional form of resource acceleration, the Eviscerator effectively deprives your opponent of their resources while maintaining your board presence. This indirect resource manipulation can equate to accelerating your own position in the game.
Instant Speed: The defining aspect of the Eviscerator is that it operates at instant speed. This enables surprise interaction during an opponent’s turn or right before your own turn begins, which can catch opponents off guard and disrupt their strategies when they least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Eviscerator is its prerequisite that players discard a card to activate its ability. This can be particularly challenging when your hand is already depleted or the cards in hand are too valuable to lose.
Specific Mana Cost: Another limitation of the Eviscerator lies in its specific mana cost. The card requires a mix of colorless and colored mana to cast, which can sometimes be difficult to achieve, especially in multicolor decks that might not always have the right mana available when needed.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Additionally, when looking at the card’s mana cost in relation to its effect, the Eviscerator’s cost is on the higher end. This makes it less efficient compared to other cards in the game with a lower mana requirement but similar or better abilities, potentially making it a less attractive option for players looking to optimize their gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Eviscerator can be a game-changer in decks that can mitigate its life-loss downside or turn it into an advantage. Its role in sacrifice strategies or in conjunction with life-gain mechanics makes it a flexible choice for various builds.
Combo Potential: With the ability to work within a multitude of different combos and synergies, such as with effects that reward players for damaging themselves or destroying their own creatures, Eviscerator’s presence can often be the linchpin in a powerful combo sequence.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on creature-based strategies, this card’s sheer size and intimidating presence on the battlefield can shift the tide of battle in your favor, making it a tactic worth considering for your arsenal.
How to beat
Eviscerator is a card that demands attention on the battlefield with its ability to dictate the pace of the game. Contrasted to other daunting creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Eviscerator offers a unique challenge due to its substantial life point sacrifice when it enters the battlefield. To effectively navigate this obstacle, players could employ strategies featuring life gain techniques, utilizing spells and creatures that offset the life lost or even negate the sacrifice altogether.
Alongside life-focused tactics, removal spells are crucial when facing Eviscerator. The card’s distinctive ability means that once it’s on the field, prompt action is needed. Cards with direct removal effects can be a straight route to alleviating the pressure it exerts. Additionally, countering it before it lands using counterspells presents a preemptive strategy, intercepting the threat before its impact is felt.
Comparatively, timing is everything. Utilizing instant-speed interaction allows players to remain flexible and responsive. This stands in stark contrast to waiting for sorcery speed solutions, which may not offer the same immediacy in handling Eviscerator’s presence. In Magic: the Gathering where strategy and speed can make or break a game, understanding how to dismantle an opponent’s plans with Eviscerator is essential for any player’s success.
Cards like Eviscerator
The Eviscerator card is a unique entry into the MTG creature catalog, with similarities to other fearsome creatures in terms of raw power and impactful board presence. Much like the iconic Phyrexian Negator, it carries substantial risk for equally great reward. The Negator also comes with a detrimental effect that can sabotage your game position when taking damage. However, the Negator is more punishing, requiring the sacrifice of permanents, while Eviscerator demands a portion of your life.
Another contemporary is the Desecration Demon, a potent creature with the opportunity to grow stronger over time. Both the Eviscerator and the Demon impose a heavy, ongoing cost that affects gameplay decisions. Yet, the Demon offers opponents control over its power with the potential to sideline it, unlike the Eviscerator which provides no such reprieve.
In the grand overview of MTG creatures that demand a high cost for their use, the Eviscerator sits among those that ask players to balance the scales carefully. Its daunting presence can shift the tide of a game, provided the player can afford its life-extraction fee, making it a valuable addition for those willing to wield its double-edged sword.
Cards similar to Eviscerator by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Eviscerator MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Legacy, 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 Eviscerator 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Eviscerator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Eviscerator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | This is loss of life, and not damage. It can’t be prevented. |
