New Ulamog

Commander (EDH) forum

Posted on Aug. 30, 2015, 9:44 p.m. by K34

His ability triggers on casting. I can't link to an image because it hasn't been added to the site yet, but his ability reads something like "when you cast Ulamog, exile 2 target permanents."

So how do you fight that? How do you prevent it from resolving, or even counter it? At first I thought Torpor Orb, but isn't triggered by entering the battlefield, it's triggered by casting. literally the only thing I can think of is Stifle.

I need answers for him, my friend is already planning on getting him.

JWiley129 says... #2

It's pretty much Stifle or other cards like it: Voidslime, Trickbind, etc.

You're asking the same question people ask about Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre and Kozilek, Butcher of Truth (since Emrakul is banned). Essentially stop them before they cast them? But if I spend mana on a spell, I expect a big payoff.

August 30, 2015 9:50 p.m.

EXCALIBRAHHHH says... #3

Saw that last night...looks a little bit BS haha. Mate of my loves Eldrazi so I also need to think of ways around the new ones, if its casual just Nevermore. Annihilator was such an overpowered ability with so many ways to cheat high cost creatures into play. Hopefully BFZ fixes those issues so standard isnt just Eldrazi

August 30, 2015 9:51 p.m.

FancyTuesday says... #4

Ability counters like Stifle, you mentioned. There's also Voidslime and Trickbind.

Hexproof, shroud, and protection from creatures stop him as well. Asceticism, Privileged Position, Simic Charm, Mizzium Skin, Ranger's Guile, Spare from Evil, anything like that. You can also just keep your opponent off of 10+ mana with Stax and such.

August 30, 2015 10 p.m.

SimicPower says... #5

Assuming Ulamog is the commander, you can use mass artifact destruction to prevent them from casting Ulamog in the first place. Nevermore and variants work too, as colorless has very little enchantment removal.

If it is in the 99, worst case is you take the hit of losing two permanents, then Swords (or other exile removal (or counterspell)) targeting Ulamog. Hexproof/Shroud granters work well two. FancyTuesday listed some options.

Oh and Stifle and such.

August 30, 2015 10:25 p.m.

EXCALIBRAHHHH says... #6

Can you really prevent them from getting it out by shutting down their mana, there are things like Uzra's lands (which get beaten by Blood Moon) but with things like Show and Tell it makes it a little harder.

August 30, 2015 10:36 p.m.

SimicPower says... #7

Show and Tell won't cause the ability to trigger. Urza's lands can also be Strip Mined or Vindicated. (Or Armageddon and friends)

August 30, 2015 10:39 p.m.

EXCALIBRAHHHH says... #8

Wasteland also works :D

August 30, 2015 10:43 p.m.

greyninja says... #9

So why does Counterspell not work?

"Counter target spell as it is being cast"

Since it's currently in the cast state; you now get to exile two things

August 30, 2015 11:19 p.m.

FancyTuesday says... #10

@greyninja, if you're actually asking the question:

Counterspell will counter Ulamog the spell, sending it to the graveyard having not resolved. It will not counter Ulamog's triggered ability which is what K34 is asking about. Ulamog's ability triggers when it moves from the hand to the stack as part of being cast, not when it moves from the stack to the battlefield as part of resolving. Once the ability has triggered it exists independent of its source and will resolve even if Ulamog does not.

August 31, 2015 12:03 a.m.

enpc says... #11

EXCALIBRAHHHH: At least if he's Show and Tell'd into play you won't have to worry about the cast trigger. However if your opponent Show and Tells in Omniscience, then GL;HF.

Other than comboing out before Ulamog can be played, the best way to deal with it is such - Mind Control. Let him do the work, then return the favour.

August 31, 2015 12:38 a.m.

EXCALIBRAHHHH says... #12

Yeah, but if someone has resolved an Omniscience then you are fairly screwed either way haha

August 31, 2015 2:01 a.m.

Boza says... #13

In a world where people can cast Soulscour, Decree of Annihilation, Omniscience, Primal Surge, Rise of the Dark Realms and win the game and/or make it incredibly difficult for everyone, you are worried about ulamog exiling two permanents? In a multiplayer game?

Please, don't be. There are bigger and scarier fish in the EDH sea than Ulamog.

August 31, 2015 3:21 a.m.

EXCALIBRAHHHH says... #14

I am not going to lie, I had no idea that half of those cards even existed, wow :O

August 31, 2015 3:24 a.m.

enpc says... #15

Or you know, Tooth and Nail. Why be gross when you can just win...

August 31, 2015 4:03 a.m.

Bewmz says... #16

I'm with enpc on this one. On multiple threads I'm seeing people flipping their shit over how the new Ulamog needs a preliminary ban hammer in EDH before hes even been printed. He's a good creature but not so amazing that he needs to be banned before things like Deadeye Navigator, Prophet of Kruphix, Tooth and Nail, Hermit Druid.... the list just goes on for a mile of things I think would be more deserving of a ban and most of which I don't think are even considerations right now.

August 31, 2015 7:44 a.m.

SimicPower says... #17

I agree as well. Not bannable.

His cast trigger isn't broken. It is only a two permanent swing. It is what you get for 10 mana. His attack trigger isn't nearly as threatening in EDH as it is in 60 card constructed, and it is much easier to kill Ulamog before he attacks than Emrakul.

August 31, 2015 10:49 a.m.

enpc says... #18

The biggest thing is, at the end of the day Kozilek, Butcher of Truth is still the best eldrazi commander (pending more spoilers) and while some decks can hard cast him turn 4, if he's one of the 99 then they either have to draw into him or tutor for him. Though T1 Swamp into Dark Ritual, Entomb, Reanimate seems good. Unlikely but good.

August 31, 2015 10:56 a.m.

Boza says... #19

@ enpc that reanimate sequence is not possible with any of the titans.

August 31, 2015 10:59 a.m.

Bind and Azorius Guildmage are a few other options.

You could also respond with Time Stop or such to end the turn.

August 31, 2015 11:02 a.m.

AwesomeName says... #21

@Karns_Pyromancer, Bind and Azorius Guildmage won't do anything to Ulamog because he has no activated abilities, only triggered abilities. "An activated ability is an ability that can be activated by a player by paying a cost." Ulamog only has triggered abilities, "an ability that automatically does something when a certain event occurs or a set of conditions is met."

August 31, 2015 11:15 a.m.

K34 says... #22

Boza I only have one friend that plays mtg, so we only play 1v1

August 31, 2015 11:20 a.m.

FancyTuesday says... #23

If you exclusively play 1v1 you may want to look into the Duel Commander banlist and rules adjustments. A lot of the shenanigans that go on in EDH are permitted by the grace of it being a multiplayer format, balancing the power of those cards against now having to deal with multiple players coming after you. 1v1 is very different, and if you get out ahead with a card like Sol Ring or Ancient Tomb you lucked into having in your opening hand then the other player is at a huge disadvantage with nothing to really mitigate that fact. If you find a lot of your games are ending in landslide victories one way or the other definitely check it out.

I don't see anyone calling to ban the new Ulamog yet, and I have no idea why anyone would think to do so. An indestructible 10/10 for is nothing, the only thing worthwhile about him is his cast trigger which means he's useless if you just cheat him out. Blightsteel Colossus is scarier, and Blightsteel is about as banworthy as Storm Crow.

August 31, 2015 2:11 p.m.

chirz2792 says... #24

If he's part of the 99 you could use stuff that can grab cards out of their deck or hand like Praetor's Grasp, Thoughtseize,or Infinite Obliteration.

August 31, 2015 4:37 p.m.

enpc says... #25

Boza: The OLD eldrazi titans do, yes. New Ulamog, he doesn't have that reshuffle clause. So cheating him out via reanimation is a thing.

August 31, 2015 6:08 p.m.

This discussion has been closed