Woodfall Primus

Description

Woodfall Primus, card number 195 in the 2018 Ultimate Masters expansion, stands as one of the most impactful creatures in Magic: The Gathering history. Printed as a foil rare, this card captures the essence of the set's goal to compile the most powerful cards from across the game's entire history into a single, cohesive collection. As a seven-color mana cost card requiring five generic mana and three green mana, it represents a significant strategic investment for any deck that can support such a heavy investment. The creature itself is a Treefolk Shaman with a formidable 6/6 power and toughness stat line. Its abilities make it a dual threat on the battlefield. First, it possesses Trample, allowing excess damage to push through to the opponent's life total if blocked by smaller creatures. Second, its enters-the-battlefield trigger offers a potent board-clearing effect, allowing the controller to destroy a target noncreature permanent. This ability can remove artifacts, enchantments, or even other powerful creatures that have gained artifact or enchantment types, making it a versatile answer to many threats. Adding to its longevity and resilience, Woodfall Primus features the Persist mechanic. When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter. This creates a recurring threat that can be difficult to permanently remove, forcing opponents to find ways to deal with it multiple times or use effects that put it into exile or the graveyard directly. The card's design by Adam Rex brings a distinct visual style typical of the Ultimate Masters set, appealing to collectors who appreciate the artistic diversity of Magic's major releases. Owning this foil version provides a tangible piece of TCG history, representing a pivotal moment in the game's design where power level was pushed to its limits for the sake of fun and complexity.