Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 1

If you cast any of the exiled cards, you do so as part of the resolution of the triggered ability. You can’t wait to cast them later in the turn. Timing restrictions based on a card’s type are ignored.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 2

If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the card.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 3

If an exiled card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 4

If you cast more than one of the exiled cards, you choose the order in which to cast them. A spell you cast this way can be the target of a later spell you cast this way. However, permanent spells cast this way won’t resolve until you’re done casting spells, so the permanents they become can’t be the target of spells cast this way. For example, if you exile Twincast and Lightning Strike, you can cast Lightning Strike and then cast Twincast targeting it; but if you exile a creature card and an Aura card, you can’t cast that Aura targeting that creature.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 5

Any cards not cast, including land cards, remain in exile. They can’t be cast on later turns.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 6

In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any spells or permanents you control from Etali’s ability are exiled.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness — ruling 7

Losing the game because a player (preferably an opponent) has ten or more poison counters is a rule of the game. Etali, Primal Sickness doesn’t have to still be on the battlefield when someone (preferably an opponent) gets their tenth poison counter.

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Trample When Etali enters, each player exiles cards from the top of their library until they exile a nonland card. You may cast any number of spells from among the nonland cards exiled this way without paying their mana costs. : Transform Etali. Activate only as a sorcery. Trample, indestructible Whenever Etali deals combat damage to a player, they get that many poison counters. (A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game.)

Complete guide

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness is a powerhouse Elder Dinosaur that brings chaos to the battlefield by raiding every player's library for free spells. Once it transforms into its Phyrexian form, it turns every point of combat damage into a deadly poison counter, threatening to end the game in a single swing. This dual-faced legend is a master of both card advantage and lethal finishers.

The Primal Conqueror's Arrival

When Etali, Primal Conqueror enters the battlefield, every player (including you) exiles cards from the top of their library until a nonland card is hit. You then have the option to cast any number of those nonland cards immediately without paying their mana costs. You must cast them right now during the resolution of the ability; you cannot save them for later in the turn. Because the ability tells you to cast them now, you ignore normal timing restrictions, meaning you can cast sorceries or creatures even if it is currently an opponent's turn.

Transforming into Sickness

By paying nine mana (one of which can be paid with 2 life thanks to Phyrexian Green mana), you can transform Etali into Etali, Primal Sickness. This transformation must be done at sorcery speed. The backside is a massive 11/11 with trample and indestructibility. Most importantly, it features a triggered ability: whenever it deals combat damage to a player, that player receives that many poison counters. Since Etali has 11 power, a single unblocked strike usually results in an immediate loss for your opponent, as 10 poison counters are enough to lose the game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common error involves additional costs and X spells. If you cast a spell for free via Etali, you cannot pay alternative costs, but you must pay mandatory additional costs. If a card has {X} in its mana cost, X must be 0. Additionally, remember that all spells cast this way are put on the stack one by one in the order of your choice. While a spell can target another spell cast this way (like a counterspell targeting a creature), permanent spells will not have resolved yet, so you cannot target a creature you just cast with an Aura you also found with Etali.

When to Play Etali

Etali is best played when you need to swing the momentum of the game. Since it pulls a card from every player, it is significantly more powerful in multiplayer formats like Commander. Use the front side to build a board presence or find answers, then transform it when you have a clear path to an opponent or need an indestructible blocker that can survive most board wipes.

Interaction examples

Chaining Big Spells

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness

Craterhoof Behemoth

When Etali, Primal Conqueror enters, you exile cards from your library and your opponent's. If you find Craterhoof Behemoth, you can cast it for free. The Craterhoof will resolve after Etali's ability finishes, entering the battlefield and giving Etali and your other creatures a massive power boost and haste, potentially allowing you to attack and transform Etali in the same turn.

Legacy of the Elder Dinosaurs

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness

Etali, Primal Storm

If you have Etali, Primal Storm on the battlefield and then play Etali, Primal Conqueror, you trigger the new Etali's 'enters' ability. Because they have different names, the Legend Rule does not apply. You get to exile cards and cast them immediately. If you later attack with Primal Storm, you trigger its attack ability to exile even more cards, creating a sequence of free spells that can overwhelm the table.

The Lethal Sting

Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness

Poison Counter

You activate the transformation ability of Etali, Primal Conqueror. Once it becomes Etali, Primal Sickness, you attack an opponent. Even if they block with a 1/1 creature, Etali's trample allows 10 damage to carry over. The ability triggers, giving the opponent 10 Poison Counters. As a state-based action, the game checks and sees the player has 10 or more counters, resulting in their immediate loss.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast any of the exiled cards, you do so as part of the resolution of the triggered ability. You can’t wait to cast them later in the turn. Timing restrictions based on a card’s type are ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t pay any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, those must be paid to cast the card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If an exiled card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast more than one of the exiled cards, you choose the order in which to cast them. A spell you cast this way can be the target of a later spell you cast this way. However, permanent spells cast this way won’t resolve until you’re done casting spells, so the permanents they become can’t be the target of spells cast this way. For example, if you exile Twincast and Lightning Strike, you can cast Lightning Strike and then cast Twincast targeting it; but if you exile a creature card and an Aura card, you can’t cast that Aura targeting that creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Any cards not cast, including land cards, remain in exile. They can’t be cast on later turns.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any spells or permanents you control from Etali’s ability are exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Losing the game because a player (preferably an opponent) has ten or more poison counters is a rule of the game. Etali, Primal Sickness doesn’t have to still be on the battlefield when someone (preferably an opponent) gets their tenth poison counter.
Card named in this ruling
Poison Counter