Primeval Protector MTG Card


Primeval Protector’s cost scales inversely with opponents’ creatures, promoting strategic board presence. Its immense size offers potent combos and versatility in creature-focused decks. Despite benefits, balance is key due to potential high mana cost and specific synergies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost11
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Avatar
Power 10
Toughness 10

Text of card

Primeval Protector costs less to cast for each creature your opponents control. When Primeval Protector enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control.

The earth shook in support of their cause, offering a champion of its own.


Cards like Primeval Protector

Primeval Protector stands out in the roster of creature spells with its colossal presence on the battlefield. Its most direct comparison might be to cards like Ghalta, Primal Hunger. Both cards see their mana costs potentially reduced, making them affordable behemoths. Ghalta looks at the total power of creatures you control to lower its cost, while Primeval Protector becomes cheaper for each opponent you have, tapping into the multiplayer aspects of MTG.

Moving on, Avenger of Zendikar shares the playstyle of spawning multiple tokens to overwhelm opponents, but it leans into landfall and plant tokens instead of benefiting from a multiplayer setup. Both cards create wide-reaching board states, but Primeval Protector can end games with its sheer size alone. Then there is the gigantic Desolation Twin. Every time Desolation Twin enters the battlefield, it creates a 10/10 token, resembling the considerable power that the Protector brings, without a discount on its hefty mana requirement.

Primeval Protector not only offers an immediate large body, but it can also provide a significant boost to your other creatures the moment it arrives, widening the gap between its capability and that of similar large creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Ghalta, Primal Hunger - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Desolation Twin - MTG Card versions
Ghalta, Primal Hunger - MTG Card versions
Avenger of Zendikar - MTG Card versions
Desolation Twin - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Primeval Protector by color, type and mana cost

Worldspine Wurm - MTG Card versions
Worldspine Wurm - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Primeval Protector offers immense value by allowing you to cast it for less mana, potentially as low as a single green mana, if your opponents control more creatures than you. This scales with the game, providing a substantial presence on the battlefield while conserving cards in hand for other strategies.

Resource Acceleration: This creature doesn’t directly provide mana acceleration in the traditional sense. However, its reduced cost mechanic can be seen as a form of resource acceleration, allowing you to deploy a large threat, potentially a 10/10, without investing the full eleven mana cost, thereby freeing up resources for additional plays in the same turn.

Instant Speed: While Primeval Protector itself isn’t an instant, its impact on the board is immediate and substantial upon casting. In a deck designed around creature-based synergies, this card can synergize with effects that can put creatures onto the battlefield at instant speed, thereby maximizing the surprise factor and the potential for a game-swinging play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Primeval Protector provides a significant presence on the battlefield, it requires a hefty discard if used with certain mechanics, which can deplete hand advantage crucial for late-game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This giant nature creature demands a precise mix of mana sources to cast. Green-heavy decks may not struggle, but multi-colored decks could find accommodating its green mana cost challenging, reducing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Primeval Protector’s mana cost might seem reasonable for an 11/11 creature, but in competitive play where tempo matters, the investment into a single threat can be risky, especially against decks that can manage or bypass large creatures easily.


Reasons to Include Primeval Protector in Your Collection

Versatility: Primeval Protector is an adaptable addition to any green deck. It serves as a formidable presence on the battlefield, with the potential to emerge quickly through its cost reduction mechanic whenever a player is behind on the board.

Combo Potential: This card excels in combinations, working seamlessly with effects that capitalize on casting large creatures or benefit from its substantial 10/10 body. It can fuel powerful synergies in Commander and other formats where creature size matters.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to swing games in creature-centric matchups, this card could be a game-changer in certain metas. A single cast can shift the momentum in your favor, making it a tactical play against swarming strategies or as a means to quickly assert board dominance.


How to beat

Confronting a Primeval Protector in Magic: The Gathering can be an imposing challenge given its formidable presence on the battlefield. As an 11-cost creature that thrives in a deck that saturates the field with creatures, this giant becomes significantly cheaper with each creature you have in play when it’s cast. Understanding its dynamics is crucial to countering it effectively.

One efficient strategy is to limit the number of creatures your opponent controls, making the Protector more expensive and delaying its appearance. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Doomskar can be pivotal in maintaining a manageable state of play. Additionally, relying on spells like Path to Exile or Grasp of Darkness can remove the Protector regardless of its size. Counterspells are your best friend when dealing with Primeval Protector, as preventing it from hitting the field is often easier than dealing with it once in play.

Be mindful of your opponent’s strategies and remain prepared with a mix of removal and counters to ensure that the dominating nature of Primeval Protector doesn’t overwhelm your game plan. With the right tools and timing, overcoming this giant is well within reach.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the ecosystem of MTG cards can be as complex as it is rewarding, especially with unique cards like Primeval Protector. Analyzing the capabilities and how best to incorporate or combat it can pivot your strategy significantly. Comprehending the nuances of such cards not only enhances your deck-building skills but also sharpens your gameplay. Primeval Protector, with its potential for cost reduction and sheer size, can serve as a cornerstone in green-centric decks or as a potent ally in multiplayer formats. If this piques your interest and you’re looking to uncover robust strategies, delve deeper into game mechanics, or just want to make your collection grow in value and diversity, our platform is ripe with insights. Journey with us into the world of MTG and discover how to turn your deck into a formidable assembly of magic and might.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Primeval Protector MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Treasure Chest, 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 Primeval Protector and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Primeval Protector Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by Jaime Jones.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-11Commander 2016C16 232015NormalBlackJaime Jones
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 332015NormalBlackJaime Jones
32022-02-18Neon Dynasty CommanderNEC 1242015NormalBlackJaime Jones

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Primeval Protector has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Primeval Protector card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-11-08 Once a player has announced that they are casting Primeval Protector, no player may take actions to try to change the number of creatures your opponents control in order to increase its cost.
2016-11-08 Primeval Protector's ability can't reduce its cost below .