Identity EchoHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unpacking Identity Echo

Identity Echo features an activated ability costing three generic and one red mana. It allows you to exile a creature or planeswalker you control to 'Polymorph' into a new one from your deck. Because the ability requires you to exile the target as part of the effect, you aren't just losing a card; you are transforming it into the next available creature or planeswalker in your library.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you activate the ability by paying the mana and targeting a creature or planeswalker you control. Upon resolution, the target is exiled. Then, you begin revealing cards from the top of your library one by one. The first creature or planeswalker card you reveal is put directly onto the battlefield. Finally, every other card revealed this way is tucked onto the bottom of your library in a random order.

Common Pitfalls

The most important restriction to remember is that this ability can only be activated as a sorcery. You cannot use this to save a creature from a removal spell during your opponent's turn. Additionally, if the targeted permanent is removed from the battlefield in response to the ability, the entire ability fails to resolve; you won't exile anything, and you won't get to reveal cards from your library.

Strategic Timing

This card shines when you have 'token' creatures or low-cost units that have already served their purpose. By exiling a small creature, you can dig through your library for a game-ending threat. It is also an excellent way to reset a planeswalker that has low loyalty, exiling it to potentially find a fresh version or a different powerful permanent.

Interaction examples

Shocking Entrances

Impact Tremors

With Impact Tremors on the battlefield, activating Identity Echo creates a cycle of damage. When you exile a creature and reveal a new one to put onto the battlefield, Impact Tremors triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent. This allows you to hunt for better creatures while chipping away at your opponents' life totals.

Graveyard Synergy

Underworld Breach

If you have used Identity Echo to put several cards on the bottom of your library and have a full graveyard, Underworld Breach can help you recur the cards you might have lost earlier in the game. While Identity Echo clears the library, Breach ensures that even if you exile a key creature you wanted to keep, you have ways to cast other support spells from the graveyard to maintain your board presence.

The Lone Survivor

If you control only one creature, such as a 1/1 Goblin token, you can activate Identity Echo targeting that token. The token is exiled, and you reveal cards until you hit your first creature or planeswalker. If your deck only contains high-cost dragons, that 1/1 token has effectively just turned into a massive flying threat for only four mana.