Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost11
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Eldrazi
Abilities Annihilator,Indestructible
Power 10
Toughness 10

Key Takeaways

  1. Annihilator ability grants a sweeping advantage, challenging opponents to maintain board presence.
  2. Indestructible and cast-trigger exile effects offer immediate and resilient battlefield influence.
  3. Demands careful deck building to mitigate its high mana cost and maximize potential.

Text of card

When you cast Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, destroy target permanent. Annihilator 4 (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices four permanents.) Ulamog is indestructible. When Ulamog is put into a graveyard from anywhere, its owner shuffles his or her graveyard into his or her library.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ulamog the Infinite Gyre offers significant card advantage through its annihilator ability, forcing opponents to sacrifice permanents with every attack, effectively decimating their board presence and hand. Unlike other cards, its impact is not merely about drawing or discarding but about providing an advantage that can be insurmountable.

Resource Acceleration: Though Ulamog itself does not directly accelerate resources, it can act as an enabler in decks designed around ramp strategies. By prioritizing resource acceleration, such decks aim to cast Ulamog considerably earlier than its high mana cost would typically allow, turning it into a game-ending threat ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: While Ulamog the Infinite Gyre is not an instant, it features an indomitable cast trigger that exiles two target permanents upon casting, irrespective of whether it ultimately resolves. This allows immediate impact on the game state, functioning similarly to having an effect at instant speed, as the disruptive action occurs even during the counterplay of opponents.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Ulamog the Infinite Gyre doesn’t have a traditional discard requirement, its annihilator effect essentially forces opponents to discard permanents. This might seem advantageous, yet it can be less effective against decks brimming with expendable tokens or persistent graveyard strategies, potentially mitigating its impact.

Specific Mana Cost: While not tied to any color, Ulamog does require a substantial amount of colorless mana, specifically requiring ten mana. This specificity makes it a challenge to summon early in the game without dedicated ramp strategies or specialized decks that can consistently generate large amounts of colorless mana quickly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The ten mana required to cast Ulamog the Infinite Gyre is steep, even in formats where high-cost cards are more playable. Its high mana cost may delay its deployment, potentially giving your opponent enough time to establish board control or set up their win condition, making this titan a card of incredible power but situational utility.


Reasons to Include Ulamog the Infinite Gyre in Your Collection

Versatility: Ulamog the Infinite Gyre offers a unique mix of annihilation and indestructibility, making it a formidable addition to ramp decks looking to dominate the late game or any strategy that can cheat it into play early.

Combo Potential: It’s not just a standalone threat; this card synergizes with various library manipulation and reanimation tactics, providing a win condition that can dismantle opposing defenses or recover crucial resources from your own graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that heavily features control or permanent-based strategies, Ulamog’s ability to immediately remove key pieces upon casting makes it a game-changer, capable of shifting the tide in your favor regardless of any countermeasures.


How to beat

Ulamog the Infinite Gyre is a formidable force in the MTG universe. This iconic Eldrazi card is known for its destructive capability and resilience, having an effect that can exile two target permanents. Players have to craft a strategy with precision to overcome this behemoth. The key to beating Ulamog lies in timely disruption and control tactics.

Counterspells are effective tools against Ulamog, negating the cast before he can manifest his annihilator ability. The card’s immense cost also works to your advantage as preparing a counterspell by the time your opponent accumulates 10 mana is plausible. Board control spells like Path to Exile can remove Ulamog without triggering his shuffle-back-into-the-library effect because it doesn’t destroy, it exiles. Similarly, effects that force a sacrifice bypass his indestructible nature. Strategies involving graveyard manipulation can also be potent. Cards that exile cards from a graveyard, for example, can prevent Ulamog’s recursion. In essence, while Ulamog can feel overwhelming, a clever blend of exile, counterspells, and sacrifice effects can neutralize this infinite threat.

In the face of such an adversary, understanding your deck’s strengths and having a plan are paramount. MTG players who anticipate and counter with the appropriate spells can turn the tide against Ulamog the Infinite Gyre.


BurnMana Recommendations

Adept MTG players know that understanding both the powerhouses and Achilles’ heels of behemoth cards like Ulamog the Infinite Gyre can drastically swing the outcome of any match. If you’re looking to reign supreme on the battlefield, delving deeper into strategies that optimize such titans or ingeniously dismantle them is crucial. We invite you to expand your knowledge and fortify your arsenal by exploring our resources. Dive into discussions about advanced deck building, synergy exploration, and cunning counterplays designed to help you gain the upper hand. Ready to dominate the game? Join us and arm yourself with the insights needed to harness the might of Ulamog and thrive in any MTG challenge.


Cards like Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

The presence of Ulamog the Infinite Gyre in Magic: The Gathering decks that emphasize monumental creatures is undeniable. It is not alone in its class of annihilating powerhouses; it’s often compared to its kin, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth. Both are formidable Eldrazi titans with the might to decisively sway the tide of a match. Ulamog has the feared Indestructible attribute and executes a permanent exile upon casting, disrupting opponents’ game plans. Kozilek, while not Indestructible, offers a substantial advantage by allowing the player to draw four cards, reinforcing their position.

Another relative, Emrakul, the Promised End, boasts a unique control take-over effect, capable of turning an opponent’s turn against them. While this Eldrazi titan doesn’t share Ulamog’s permanence removing ability or the Indestructible trait, it provides a strategic depth that can manipulate the entire course of a game. Each titan has its distinct battlefield impact and strategic value, making them treasured by players seeking immense power and game-dominating effects.

Thus, while Ulamog the Infinite Gyre stands as a near-impregnable force on the battlefield, MTG enthusiasts often explore these similar titanic entities for varied gameplay experiences, leading to dynamically unfolding matches that can be as unpredictable as they are thrilling.

Kozilek, Butcher of Truth - MTG Card versions
Emrakul, the Promised End - MTG Card versions
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Emrakul, the Promised End - Eldritch Moon Promos (PEMN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1023452015normalblackThomas M. Baxa
22010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 122003normalblackAleksi Briclot
32011-08-26From the Vault: LegendsV11 142003normalblackAleksi Briclot
42015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 62015normalblackAleksi Briclot
52018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 72015normalblackAleksi Briclot
62022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 32015normalblackAleksi Briclot
72022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3372015normalborderlessThomas M. Baxa
82022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5772015normalborderlessThomas M. Baxa
92022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 4152015normalblackAleksi Briclot

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2010-06-15 Annihilator abilities trigger and resolve during the declare attackers step. The defending player chooses and sacrifices the required number of permanents before they declare blockers. Any creatures sacrificed this way won’t be able to block.
2010-06-15 If a creature with annihilator is attacking a planeswalker, and the defending player chooses to sacrifice that planeswalker, the attacking creature continues to attack. It may be blocked. If it isn’t blocked, it simply won’t deal combat damage to anything.
2013-07-01 Lethal damage and effects that say “destroy” won’t cause a creature with indestructible to be put into the graveyard. However, a creature with indestructible can be put into the graveyard for a number of reasons. The most likely reasons are if it’s sacrificed, if it’s legendary and another legendary creature with the same name is controlled by the same player, or if its toughness is 0 or less.
2018-12-07 Ulamog’s ability triggers as you cast it, and that ability resolves before the spell itself. It resolves even if that spell is countered.

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