The Eldrazi are back, and they’re bringing one seriously terrifying threat with them! Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming Reality Fracture expansion is set to feature Emrakul, the Exigent Doom, giving players another chance to unleash one of the game’s most infamous cosmic horrors. Emrakul has appeared in several forms over the years, but this latest version looks ready to end games in spectacular fashion. She’s a huge colourless creature with a powerful set of abilities, making her a serious option for decks that can survive long enough to reach the top end of their mana curve.
A cheaper Emrakul?
Emrakul, the Exigent Doom costs 10 mana, which is still a massive investment. However, that makes her the cheapest version of Emrakul released so far! Her casting cost is made easier to manage thanks to an ability that lets you exile her from your hand. In return, one of your lands can produce two colourless mana whenever it’s tapped. This gives players a way to prepare for her arrival while also making use of extra copies in their deck. Rather than sitting uselessly in your hand, additional Emrakul cards can be exiled to upgrade different lands and help you reach that hefty 10-mana cost.
It’s a pretty neat way to make a gigantic creature feel slightly more realistic to cast!
A colossal threat
Once Emrakul finally hits the battlefield, things get unpleasant for your opponent very quickly. Her arrival untaps all of your lands, giving you the chance to follow her up with another powerful play. That could be particularly useful in a late-game strategy where one enormous creature isn’t quite enough to finish things off. Emrakul herself brings a 12/12 body, alongside flying and trample. That means she can soar over ground-based blockers while still dealing excess combat damage to the defending player. She also has ward, making her more difficult for opponents to remove. While she isn’t completely untouchable, dealing with a creature this large is likely to require a significant amount of preparation.
How does she compare to previous versions?
Emrakul, the Exigent Doom has a few differences compared to her previous incarnations. Unlike Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, she can be countered. She also doesn’t take control of an opponent’s turn like Emrakul, the Promised End, or steal control of their creatures like Emrakul, the World Anew. Instead, this version focuses on being a powerful, straightforward finisher. She costs less than previous versions and offers a useful mana-ramping ability before eventually becoming a huge threat on the battlefield. That could make her especially appealing in colourless Eldrazi decks, ramp strategies, or any build looking for a dramatic way to close out a game.
Reality Fracture is getting serious
The return of Emrakul is bound to get Eldrazi fans excited, particularly after the creature’s long-running history across Magic’s multiverse. Reality Fracture looks set to deliver another dose of strange, otherworldly power, and Emrakul, the Exigent Doom, is certainly making a strong first impression. The big question is whether players will be able to get her onto the battlefield consistently, or whether her enormous mana cost will keep her as a flashy late-game option.
Either way, when Emrakul arrives, you probably won’t want to be standing in her way!
