Thought Erasure is the God-Eternal nemesis in MTG

Have the God-Eternal cards met their match?
Thought Erasure vs War of the Spark God Eternal's MTG
Image via Wizards of the Coast Magic: Teh Gathering

The arrival of War of the Spark to Standard in Magic: The Gathering has shaken things up with an abundance of planeswalkers and God-Eternal cards who supposedly can’t be permanently removed from the game.

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One card in the Standard dominant Esper Control decks, however, says otherwise. Thought Erasure is the backbone of Esper Control, removing early threats and keeping your opponent at arm’s length. What many don’t realize, though, is that it also permanently removes a God-Eternal from the game.

Thought Erasure vs God Eternal MTG War of the Spark
Image via Wizards of the Coast Magic: Teh Gathering

All God-Eternal (and Ilharg, the Raze Boar) cards have a static ability that puts them third from the top of their owner’s library upon being removed from the battlefield or exiled. “When God-Eternal Kefnet dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, you may put it into its owner’s library third from the top,” the cards read.

Thought Erasure, however, isn’t removing or exiling a card. “Target opponent reveals their hand,” the card reads. “You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.” The discarded card goes straight to the graveyard, not in exile.

With the rise in popularity of Mono-White Aggro, Esper Midrange, and Sacrificing Aristocrats, God-Eternal Oketra, God-Eternal Bontu, and God-Eternal Kefnet have steadily climbed in card value since the release of War of the Spark.

God-Eternal Kefnet MTG War of the Spark
Image via Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering

Knowing these God-Eternals have a nemesis who can stop them in their tracks might change what’s popular in the Standard metagame, and drop their overall card value as well.

There are other removal cards that function similar to Thought Erasure in MTG Standard and can also be used to stop the power of God-Eternals. These cards include:

  • Duress
  • Divest
  • Pilfering Imp
  • Dark Inquiry
  • Drill Bit
  • Toll of the Invasion
Duress MTG M19
Image via Wizards of the Coast Magic: Teh Gathering

While all of these removal cards are black, they can fit in a wide range of decks, specifically to combat God-Eternals. And if they aren’t in the main deck, they should at least be in the sideboard.


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Author
Danny Forster
Lead Magic: The Gathering/Teamfight Tactics scribe and staff writer for Dot Esports. Danny is a gamer beach bum residing in Spacecoast Florida and has been a journalist for seven years, of which five have been at Dot Esports. Prior media outllets Danny wrote for were Screen Rant and TheGamer. You can typically catch Danny playing TCGs and a variety of strategic games. He also hangs out on Twitter @Dannyspacecoast.