Primal Order MTG Card


Each turn, Primal Order can steadily deal damage, skewing the game in your favor over time. Promoting basic land play, it indirectly hampers opponents’ resource acceleration, aiding your strategy. Though not castable at instant speed, its constant threat influences opponents’ plays every upkeep.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

During each player's upkeep, Primal Order deals 1 damage to that player for each non-basic land he or she controls.

"It's strange, but I can feel it when the land is corrupted. I understand why the Autumn Willow is so protective." —Daria


Cards like Primal Order

Primal Order is an enchantment that serves as a strong deterrent against nonbasic lands in Magic: The Gathering. It is similar to cards like Ankh of Mishra, which also punishes players for playing lands, though Ankh of Mishra focuses on all lands rather than specifically targeting nonbasic ones. Primal Order adds a unique layer by dealing damage during upkeep, making it a persistent threat for opponents with a diversified mana base.

Going down a similar path, cards such as Manabarbs also create a taxing environment but through a different approach. Manabarbs damages players for every land tapped for mana, making it less discriminatory than Primal Order but potentially more punishing with an aggressive strategy. Zo-Zu the Punisher falls in line with these themes, penalizing players’ land drops but with a lower impact per individual land compared to the possible cumulation of nonbasic land penalties from Primal Order.

Dimensionally assessing Primal Order against its peers highlights its niche as a strategic tool to pressure decks that heavily rely on a variety of nonbasics. Its potency in the right metagame situates it as a noteworthy option for players aiming to exploit land-based strategies.

Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Zo-Zu the Punisher - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Manabarbs - MTG Card versions
Zo-Zu the Punisher - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Primal Order by color, type and mana cost

Living Lands - MTG Card versions
Titania's Song - MTG Card versions
Arboria - MTG Card versions
Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Greater Good - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions
Living Lands - MTG Card versions
Titania's Song - MTG Card versions
Arboria - MTG Card versions
Cyclone - MTG Card versions
Splintering Wind - MTG Card versions
Barbed Foliage - MTG Card versions
Preferred Selection - MTG Card versions
Aluren - MTG Card versions
Sporogenesis - MTG Card versions
Defense of the Heart - MTG Card versions
Vernal Equinox - MTG Card versions
Overlaid Terrain - MTG Card versions
Rowen - MTG Card versions
Epic Struggle - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of Blossoms - MTG Card versions
Greater Good - MTG Card versions
Arasta of the Endless Web - MTG Card versions
Upwelling - MTG Card versions
Primitive Etchings - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Primal Order grants a persistent effect that can potentially deal damage to your opponents every turn. If left unchecked, this can quickly tip the scales in your favor, providing an advantage that accumulates value over time and punishes opponents for controlling nonbasic lands.

Resource Acceleration: Although Primal Order doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it pressures opponents to play basic lands or face the consequences, potentially slowing down their own resource acceleration and indirectly benefiting your gameplay.

Instant Speed: Even though Primal Order is not an instant and can’t be played at instant speed, its static ability acts as a deterrent and affects the battlefield akin to an instant effect during each of your opponent’s upkeep. It creates a constant threat that must be addressed, impacting opponents’ decisions each turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Primal Order is its potential cost beyond mana. While it doesn’t require discarding directly, maintaining its presence on the battlefield might force you to part with valuable cards to protect it from removals or to meet other gameplay demands.

Specific Mana Cost: Primal Order has a green-specific mana cost that could pose a challenge in multicolor deck constructions. Decks lacking sufficient green mana sources might sometimes struggle to cast it in a timely manner.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of four, prioritizing Primal Order in your deck-building could come at the expense of more versatile cards. Given the competitive landscape of MTG, many players find that lower-cost cards might provide more immediate value or flexibility within a game.


Reasons to Include Primal Order in Your Collection

Versatility: Primal Order is a flexible enchantment that can slide into a variety of green decks, particularly those that take advantage of penalizing nonbasic lands. Its ability to consistently deal damage during upkeep makes it a persistent threat on the board.

Combo Potential: This card has synergy with land-focused strategies that encourage opponents to utilize nonbasic lands, thereby increasing the damage dealt. When combined with effects that restrict life gain or damage prevention, Primal Order can become a game-ending threat.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where multi-colored decks with an extensive number of nonbasic lands are prevalent, Primal Order can serve as a powerful tool. It applies pressure on such decks, making it a noteworthy consideration for sideboards or even main decks to exploit the current metagame trends.


How to beat

Primal Order is a notable enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that presents a unique challenge, as it inflicts damage during each player’s upkeep for each nonbasic land they control. To navigate around this card, consider restructuring your deck with more basic lands to minimize the damage taken. Additionally, incorporating enchantment removal cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant in your deck can be a wise move, allowing you to swiftly eliminate Primal Order from the field.

Enchantment control is another pivotal strategy, relying on cards like Counterspell or Thoughtseize that can prevent Primal Order from hitting the battlefield in the first place. It’s also beneficial to have creatures with lifelink to counterbalance the life point loss or to use cards that switch life loss to life gain, adapting to the threat it poses. Ultimately, recognizing Primal Order’s potential impact, preparing your deck accordingly, and maintaining a versatile array of options against enchantments are key to securing victory against this powerful card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Primal Order MTG card by a specific set like Homelands and Fifth Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Primal Order and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Primal Order Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-10-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-10-01HomelandsHML 921993NormalBlackRob Alexander
21997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3181997NormalWhiteDavid A. Cherry
32007-09-10Masters EditionME1 1251997NormalBlackRob Alexander

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Primal Order has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal