Commanding Chaos: Unleashing the Power of Etali, Primal Conqueror
If you’re looking for a commander that brings chaos, power, and pure spectacle to the table, look no further than Etali, Primal Conqueror. This 7/7 trampling Elder Dinosaur doesn’t just enter the battlefield—it enters with a bang, casting spells from everyone’s decks for free. And when the chaos isn’t enough? Etali transforms into Etali, Primal Sickness, a monstrous infect win condition capable of ending games in one swing.
But to truly harness Etali's explosive potential, you'll need the right strategy. Let’s break down what makes this commander shine and how to craft a deck that maximizes its abilities.
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Etali at a Glance
Mana Cost: {5}{R}{R}
Type: Legendary Creature — Elder Dinosaur
Power/Toughness: 7/7
Key Abilities:
Trample: Overrun your enemies with devastating attacks.
ETB Effect: Each player exiles cards from their library until they exile a nonland card. Cast any number of those spells for free.
Transformation: Pay {9}{G/P} to transform Etali into a trampling 11/11 with that add poison counters to a player when they take damage from Etali.
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The Power of Etali’s Abilities
Etali’s value lies in its incredible enter-the-battlefield (ETB) trigger. Casting free spells from not only your deck but your opponents’ as well often results in game-changing moments. From devastating board wipes to high-value threats, Etali ensures no game is predictable.
Once you’ve leveraged its ETB ability, Etali’s transformation ability offers a powerful Plan B. With just one swing, Etali, Primal Sickness can deliver an instant win through infect damage, especially when paired with cards like Kessig Wolf Run to give it a lethal boost.
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The Game Plan: Building Around Etali
Etali is a high-mana commander, so ramping and protecting it are top priorities. Beyond that, the deck thrives on ETB abuse, token creation, and recursion, ensuring that Etali's value engine never runs dry.
Key Strategies
1. Ramp into Etali
Etali’s {5}{R}{R} mana cost can feel steep, but with an abundance of ramp options, you can cheat it out as early as Turn 4. Cards like Kodama’s Reach, Skyshroud Claim, and mana dorks such as Llanowar Elves are staples to accelerate your mana base.
2. Abuse the ETB Trigger
Copying Etali is one of the most exciting ways to escalate its power. Cards like Heat Shimmer and Twinflame let you create temporary Etali tokens for additional ETB triggers. For more consistent value, Rionya, Fire Dancer can repeatedly copy Etali during combat, multiplying the chaos.
3. Leverage Opponents’ Resources
Etali’s ability to cast spells from everyone’s libraries means your opponents’ strongest cards often become your greatest weapons. From devastating spells to game-ending creatures, Etali turns their decks against them.
4. Protect and Enable
Keeping Etali on the battlefield is critical. Cards like Swiftfoot Boots and Rhythm of the Wild not only protect your commander but also ensure it attacks immediately for maximum impact. Meanwhile, recursion tools like Noxious Revival and Eternal Witness keep Etali coming back even if it’s removed.
5. Transform and Close the Game
When the time is right, transforming Etali into Primal Sickness can seal the deal. Pair it with Kessig Wolf Run or Rouges padsage to deliver lethal infect damage, bypassing even the most robust life totals.
