One Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Commander Deck Makes a Hated Strategy Fair

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Magically speaking, “Magic: The Gathering” is readying itself for the unveiling of not just one but two upcoming sets – the Spider-Man themed one in September, followed by “Avatar: The Last Airbender” in November. This follows less than a month since the debut of Edge of Eternities on August 1st. Interestingly, “MTG’s” Edge of Eternities set has garnered more popularity than some initially anticipated, despite its space-themed setting which deterred a few players. However, it turned out to be a strong release, offering an engaging storyline. With various alien species, planets functioning as land cards, new spacecraft subtype for artifact creatures, and a card from one Commander precon that addresses longstanding fan complaints about a particular strategy, making it more bearable – the Edge of Eternities set is indeed bustling with action!

In Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format, there are unspoken guidelines to follow when playing with new people. These can range from discussing power levels or potential strategies at the beginning to ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to showcase their decks without one hogging too much table time. These “rules” are designed for an enjoyable gaming experience. However, mass land destruction usually disrupts this harmony. A recent card in a preconstructed deck from EoE called Planetary Annihilation offers a refreshing change, as it positively contributes to the balance and fun of the game.

Magic: The Gathering’s World Shaper Commander Deck Makes Mass Land Destruction Fair

As a cinephile of the Magic: The Gathering universe, I must say that Planetary Annihilation, much like a powerful climactic scene in a blockbuster movie, leaves an indelible mark. This sorcery card, with its cost of 3 generic and 2 Red mana, serves as a dramatic turn of events on the battlefield.

In essence, it compels each player to choose six lands under their control and sacrifice the rest, while simultaneously dealing 6 damage to all creatures. Effectively, it presents a soft board wipe that can be game-changing in the right deck.

The stage where Planetary Annihilation truly shines is within MTG’s World Shaper Commander deck for Edge of Eternities, a deck that revolves around sacrificing permanents and playing extra lands. It’s like having a dramatic finale scene in a movie series – unexpected yet fitting, and leaving the audience (players) with a sense of anticipation and excitement for what comes next.

In addition, you can discover Planetary Annihilation in Collector Boosters for Edge of Eternities. Notably, there’s a variant without a border available as well.

In a nutshell, Planetary Annihilation functions as a catch-up mechanism for the Red deck, a role typically occupied by White cards like Space Marine Scout or Knight of the White Orchid. These White cards enable players to search their decks for land cards and play them if opponents have more lands under control. Planetary Annihilation shares some similarities in that it’s effective against decks that heavily rely on ramping, while still giving both players the choice over which lands to retain. Additionally, having six land cards in a Magic: The Gathering deck isn’t terrible and generally allows players to cast most spells regardless.

Planetary Annihilation in MTG is Mass Land Destruction Done Right

Destroying vast areas of land in a game is generally disliked, as cards like Magic: The Gathering’s Armageddon, which eradicate all lands for every player without exception, reset the game to its initial state, prolong the entire process, and prevent most spells from being cast. In longer games like Commander, annihilating all lands is often viewed as a highly disrespectful move. Instead, Planetary Annihilation serves as a more fair card that partially clears the board and functions as a situational spell, rather than an all-encompassing one that disregards individual strategies.

Although most gamers generally dislike or strongly disapprove of massive land destruction, Planetary Annihilation uniquely caters to this niche without causing significant discomfort for all players involved. Simultaneously, the World Shaper pre-constructed deck can be enhanced with cards such as MTG’s Icetill Explorer, allowing players to play an additional land each turn and also to bring lands back from the graveyard. The ability to recur lands and play multiple lands at once can help minimize the impact of Planetary Annihilation, slowing down other players in a manner that is not overly aggressive or frustrating.

While most gamers typically frown upon massive land destruction, Planetary Annihilation offers a distinctive appeal without causing widespread discomfort. At the same time, the World Shaper pre-built deck can be improved with cards such as MTG’s Icetill Explorer, enabling players to add an extra land per turn and also to play lands from their graveyard. Recurring lands and having the ability to play multiple lands at once can help soften the blow of Planetary Annihilation without putting other players too far behind in a manner that is not excessively aggressive or annoying.

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2025-08-30 01:34