Rise of the Eldrazi 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

This spell can't be countered. Destroy target permanent. Target player draws four cards. Take an extra turn after this one. Exile Rise of the Eldrazi.

Complete guide

Rise of the Eldrazi is a monumental sorcery that captures the overwhelming power of the blind eternities in a single card. For twelve mana, you dictate the flow of the game by eliminating a threat, refilling your hand, and seizing an extra turn. This spell is a definitive finisher that rewards players who can generate massive amounts of colorless mana.

A Trio of Devastating Effects

When you cast Rise of the Eldrazi, you must choose a target permanent to destroy and a target player to draw cards. Even if your opponent has a counterspell ready, the first line of text ensures this spell cannot be countered by spells or abilities. Upon resolution, it performs three distinct actions in order: it destroys the targeted permanent, the targeted player draws four cards, and you gain an extra turn after the current one. Finally, the spell exiles itself to prevent graveyard recursion loop shenanigans.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, the spell checks if its targets are still legal. If at least one target is legal, the spell resolves. It destroys the permanent first, then the card draw happens. Note that the 'Take an extra turn' effect is not targeted; it always applies to the controller of the spell. Even if the permanent is made indestructible or the player cannot draw cards, the other parts of the spell will still happen as long as one target was valid during resolution.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves targeting a permanent that gains Hexproof or Protection in response. If all targets (the permanent and the player) become illegal before the spell resolves, the entire spell is removed from the stack and none of its effects happen—you won't even get the extra turn. Additionally, remember that the spell exiles itself as part of its resolution; it never hits the graveyard, so you cannot use traditional recursion to cast it again immediately.

Strategic Timing

Because this costs twelve mana and includes three colorless requirements, it is best played in decks utilizing Urza's lands or Eldrazi Scion tokens. Since it provides an extra turn, you should ideally cast it when you have a board state capable of winning during that follow-up turn. Using it to destroy an opponent's only blocker while drawing into more gas is often the final nail in the coffin.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Apocalypse

Wandering Archaic // Explore the Vastlands

If your opponent casts Rise of the Eldrazi and does not pay the {2} tax for your Wandering Archaic, you may copy the spell. Your copy resolves first, allowing you to destroy a permanent, draw four cards, and take an extra turn. Because extra turns are added one by one, you will take your extra turn, then your opponent will take theirs (assuming their original spell resolves), effectively neutralizing their temporal advantage.

Clearing the Path

All Is Dust

In a high-mana scenario, you might cast All Is Dust to force your opponent to sacrifice their colored blockers. With the board clear, you then cast Rise of the Eldrazi targeting one of their remaining lands or artifacts. You draw four cards to replace the ones you spent and take an extra turn to attack with your Eldrazi titans while the opponent has no colored permanents left to defend themselves.

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