Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Enchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant,Transform

Key Takeaways

  1. Journey to Eternity affords card advantage by reviving creatures from the graveyard.
  2. The card ensures resource acceleration and a steady creature supply.
  3. Allows instant-speed-like play, forcing opponents to remain vigilant.

Text of card

Enchant creature you control When enchanted creature dies, return it to the battlefield under your control, then return Journey to Eternity to the battlefield transformed under your control.

Every journey has its inevitable end . . .


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Journey to Eternity card holds enormous potential when it comes to card advantage in a game. When the enchantment clinches on your creature, it revives from the graveyard once it dies, providing an added card advantage without losing a creature permanently.

Resource Acceleration: On the creature’s death, Journey to Eternity transforms into Atzal, Cave of Eternity, accelerating resources in your favor. The transformed land fetches creatures from the graveyard onto the battlefield. This offers a consistent resource acceleration and a constant supply of creatures to bolster your ranks in a game.

Instant Speed: Even though not technically an instant card, it does provide options akin to instant speed. With Atzal on the field, Journey to Eternity allows you to have open mana and use it to bring creatures back from the graveyard at the end of your opponent’s turn. Thus, keeping your enemies always on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its appealing transformative ability, Journey to Eternity possesses an inherent disadvantage. It involves the condition to send a creature to your graveyard for its enchantment to take effect. This mandate may prove to be a setback when your reserve of creatures is depleting, thereby discouraging you from discarding a card—considering it could be instrumental in turning the tide of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The requirement for a precise mana cost of one green, one black, and one generic potentially narrows its utility—restricting the card primarily to Golgari or multicolored decks. This demand can limit its encompassment to decks that can produce or benefit from these specific colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the captivating concept of creature resurrection via Journey to Eternity seems enthralling, the real setback lies in the requirement of a comparatively steep mana cost of three. This term may pose a challenge when there exist other cards with similar benefits but at a more attainable cost, offering more reliable or efficient strategies in gameplay.


Reasons to Include Journey to Eternity in Your Collection

Versatility: Journey to Eternity can find a useful place in many deck types. Once it transforms into Atzal, Cave of Eternity, it provides a stable and regenerative mana source. Ideal for decks that interact with the graveyard or benefit from creature resurrection.

Combo Potential: The card carries elevated combo potential. When paired with creatures carrying enter the battlefield effects or death triggers, Journey to Eternity can manipulate game dynamics while keeping the field populated with threats.

Meta-Relevance: Journey to Eternity holds its weight in the current meta-game. This card provides an answer to control strategies, forcing opponents to choose between allowing recurring threats or wasting resources to deal with the enchantment itself.


How to beat

Journey to Eternity is a unique and potent card in Magic: The Gathering’s dynamic realm. Generally, this enchantment sets itself apart by transforming into Atzal, Cave of Eternity, which allows for perpetually resurrecting creatures from the graveyard. Therefore, countering Journey to Eternity requires strategic gameplay and calculated card play.

A swift strategy is to zap the enchanted creature before the transformation takes place, with “shock” spells like Lightning Bolt or Shock. Players could also resort to unsummoning the creature with spells like Unsummon or Ambush Viper. This strategy effectively neutralizes Journey to Eternity, as its transformation hinges upon the enchanted creature being sent to a graveyard from the battlefield.

Another tack to take is incorporating graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace, which prevent Journey from looping creatures from the graveyard. Alternatively, enchantment removal options like Adanto Vanguard and Naturalize can counter its transformation into Atzal. In essence, preventing the transformation or restricting its creature recursion proves beneficial in outmaneuvering Journey to Eternity.


BurnMana Recommendations

Journey to Eternity is a transformative powerhouse in MTG that can significantly alter the outcome of a match. Optimizing its use is key to leveraging its full potential. Building around it with creatures that have strong enter the battlefield effects or utilize graveyard synergies can prove to be a formidable strategy. Consider including cards that protect your creatures or ensure that the enchantment hits the board, and remember to keep an eye on current meta trends to adjust your tactics accordingly. For more strategic insights and clever deck-building tips that revolve around this versatile card, we welcome you to deepen your knowledge with us. Let’s revolutionize your playstyle together.


Cards like Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity

Journey to Eternity in Magic: The Gathering aesthetically shines under the spotlight as a captivating transformation card. Comparable in concept to cards like Search for Azcanta, Journey to Eternity provides greater renovation via creature resurrection. However, the former card has an edge with its ability to delve into your library and filter the top card.

Another card worth mentioning in tandem with Journey to Eternity is Eldest Reborn. An individual sagas card, it forcefully makes an opponent sacrifice a creature, resurrects a creature, and reclaims a card from a graveyard which is more comprehensive but lacks the longevity of Journey to Eternity. Nevertheless, Eldest Reborn comes at a higher cost and operates at a slower speed.

We can’t ignore Arguel’s Blood Fast, featuring a transformation mechanic to produce creatures. The blood fast flip enables the continuity of a lifeline but at a considerable cost. Unlike Journey to Eternity, it’s more of a last-ditch approach rather than a planned gaming strategy.

Summing up, Journey to Eternity stands out in the Magic: the Gathering universe thanks to its potent creature rejuvenation and enduring strategic depth. It outperforms similar cards in balancing costs, speed, and functionality.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity MTG card by a specific set like Rivals of Ixalan and From Cute to Brute, 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 Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-01-19 and 2023-05-08. Illustrated by Deruchenko Alexander.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-01-19Rivals of IxalanRIX 1602015TransformBlackDeruchenko Alexander
22023-05-08From Cute to BrutePCTB 412015TransformBlackDeruchenko Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Journey to Eternity // Atzal, Cave of Eternity card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2018-01-19 For more information on double-faced cards, see the Ixalan mechanics article (http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/ixalan-mechanics).
2018-01-19 If Journey to Eternity and the enchanted creature are both put into graveyards at the same time, Journey to Eternity’s ability will return both to the battlefield.
2018-01-19 If Journey to Eternity enchants a creature you control but don’t own, the creature will return to the battlefield under your control from its owner’s graveyard when it dies. In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any creatures you control from Journey to Eternity’s effect are exiled.
2018-01-19 If another player gains control of the enchanted creature, Journey to Eternity will be put into your graveyard.

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