Etali, Primal Storm
Legendary Creature — Elder Dinosaur
Whenever Etali attacks, exile the top card of each player's library, then you may cast any number of spells from among those cards without paying their mana costs.
*The storm rages and the earth breaks.*
Power/Toughness: 6/6
Why Play Etali, Primal Storm
Aggressive red decks and midrange strategies value Etali for its immediate board impact and explosive potential when it connects. The attack trigger provides tremendous value even if Etali dies quickly, often casting multiple spells for free and potentially flipping high-cost threats from opponents' libraries. Best deployed when you can guarantee an attack through haste enablers or when the board is relatively clear, allowing you to maximize the number of cards exiled and cast.Format Notes
Commander represents Etali's strongest format, where multiplayer games provide more libraries to exile from and higher-cost spells to steal. The card sees occasional play in Pioneer and Modern ramp strategies but struggles against faster combo decks and efficient removal. Historic players sometimes include it in Dinosaur tribal builds or as a top-end threat in midrange red decks, though competitive viability remains limited outside casual metas.Combos & Synergies
Haste enablers like Rhythm of the Wild and Swiftfoot Boots ensure immediate value by letting Etali attack the turn it enters play. Ilharg, the Raze-Boar creates powerful synergy by cheating Etali into play attacking, then returning it to hand for repeated use. Extra combat steps from cards like Combat Celebrant or Aggravated Assault can trigger Etali's ability multiple times per turn, exponentially increasing the value generated from free spells.Featured in These Decks
- Veloci-Ramp-Tor Commander
- Riveteers Rampage Commander
- Prismari Performance Commander
- Planar Portal Commander
- Legends’ Legacy Commander
- Exit from Exile Commander
