Etherium AbominationHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Etherium Abomination is a 5-mana artifact creature that features the Unearth mechanic. For a cost of three mana, you can bring it back from your graveyard directly to the battlefield. While it gains Haste to attack immediately, the effect is temporary, as the creature must be exiled at the beginning of the next end step.

How Unearth Resolves Step by Step

First, you must have Etherium Abomination in your graveyard and it must be your main phase with an empty stack. Pay the Unearth cost of one colorless, one blue, and one black mana. The ability goes on the stack and, once it resolves, the creature enters the battlefield and gains Haste. A delayed triggered ability is created to exile it at the beginning of the next end step. Additionally, a replacement effect is applied: if the creature would leave the battlefield for any other reason, it is exiled instead of going anywhere else.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that you can 'save' an Unearthed creature from exile by using a sacrifice outlet or a bounce spell. However, the Unearth ability specifically states that if the creature would leave the battlefield, it is exiled instead. This means you cannot trigger 'dies' abilities, like those found on Solemn Simulacrum, because the creature never actually hits the graveyard.

When to Play It

Etherium Abomination is best used when you need an extra body to finish off a planeswalker or a player. Since it is an Artifact Creature, it also synergizes with effects that care about artifacts entering the battlefield. It is particularly effective in decks that can discard it for value and then cast it later for its cheaper Unearth cost.

Interaction examples

The Ghost of the Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have both cards in your graveyard, you can Unearth Etherium Abomination for a quick attack. However, unlike Solemn Simulacrum, if Etherium Abomination is destroyed in combat, it will be exiled due to the Unearth replacement effect. You will not receive any 'dies' triggers because the creature never reaches the graveyard.

Doubling the Horror

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and have chosen 'Horror' as its type, it will not affect the Unearth ability itself. Unearth is an activated ability, not a triggered ability. Therefore, Roaming Throne's ability to double triggers does not result in two Etherium Abominations entering the battlefield from one Unearth activation.

Single Turn Strike

During your main phase, you pay the Unearth cost. Etherium Abomination enters with Haste. You attack for damage. At the beginning of your end step, the delayed trigger resolves, and Etherium Abomination is moved from the battlefield to the exile zone.