You're staring down a Path to Exile. Your massive, game-ending threat is about to be tucked away into the colonial void of basic lands, and you're tapped out. Stone cold dead. Then, you remember that weird piece of cardboard gathering dust in your sideboard. You cast it for nothing. Your opponent stares. That is the magic of Not of This World MTG.
Honestly, most players forgot this card existed for a decade. It’s an Eldrazi tribal instant from Rise of the Eldrazi, a set that fundamentally broke how we think about mana costs and creature size back in 2010. For a long time, it was just "that weird counterspell for colorless decks." But with the recent power creep in Commander and the resurgence of massive colorless threats in Modern, it’s worth a second look. It isn't just a niche card anymore; it's a specific solution to a very modern problem.
What Exactly Does Not Of This World MTG Do?
Let's look at the text. It costs seven mana. That's a lot. Like, "why am I not just casting a creature" kind of a lot. But the kicker—the reason anyone cares—is the alternate casting cost. If it’s targeting a permanent you control with power 7 or greater, it costs zero. Zip. Nada.
It counters a spell or ability that targets a permanent you control. Period.
Wait. Read that again. It doesn't just counter spells. It counters abilities. That means when your opponent tries to use a Planeswalker's minus ability to kill your commander, or triggers a Boseiju, Who Endures to blow up your Forsaken Monument, this card handles it. For free. It is essentially a "get out of jail free" card for the biggest, meanest things on the board.
The catch is the power requirement. Seven. It’s a high bar. In a standard deck, you’re rarely hitting that consistently. But we aren’t playing standard. We are playing in a world of Eldrazi Titans, massive artifact creatures, and "voltron" commanders that get huge fast.
The Tribal Element You Forgot
It’s an Eldrazi Tribal Instant. This matters more than you’d think. Because it has the Eldrazi subtype, you can find it with cards like Eye of Ugin or Sanctum of Ugin. Imagine this: you cast a massive spell, trigger Sanctum, and instead of grabbing another creature, you grab a free counterspell to protect the one you just played. It’s a layer of interaction that most colorless decks—which usually struggle with stack interaction—desperately need.
Why the Power Level 7 Requirement Isn't as Scary as it Looks
In 2010, getting a creature to 7 power was a chore. You were usually hard-casting an Ulamog or a Kozilek. Today? Not so much.
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Take a look at the current Commander meta. Every second deck is running some form of equipment or +1/+1 counter synergy. A Stonehewer Giant or a Voltron-style Uril, the Miststalker hits that 7-power threshold before the mid-game even starts.
- Eldrazi Unbound: The recent Commander Masters deck brought Eldrazi back into the spotlight. If you're playing Zhulodok, Void Gorger, your board is naturally going to be full of 7+ power monsters. Not of This World MTG becomes a zero-mana Force of Will for your board state.
- Artifact Heavy Hitters: Blightsteel Colossus? Obviously. Metalwork Colossus? Easy. Even a Phyrexian Soulgorger if you're feeling spicy.
- The "Oops, My Commander is Huge" Factor: Commanders like Skullbriar, the Walking Grave or Thrun, Breaker of Silence can reach that power level incredibly quickly.
The downside, of course, is that if your 7-power creature gets removed in response to you trying to cast this, the spell's alternate cost condition fails. It's a risk. A big one. If they kill your big guy while this is on the stack, you suddenly need seven mana to resolve your counter. Usually, if that happens, the game is over anyway.
Comparing It to Modern Interaction
If you’re playing Blue, you have better options. Fierce Guardianship is the gold standard in Commander. Force of Will and Force of Negation dominate Modern and Legacy. But what if you aren't playing Blue?
That's where Not of This World MTG shines. It is one of the very few ways a non-blue deck—specifically a colorless or Mono-Green/Mono-Red deck—can interact with the stack for zero mana.
Green has Heroic Intervention. Red has... well, Red mostly just hopes things don't get countered. But neither of those colors can stop a targeted "exile" effect or a weird activated ability as cleanly as this. It’s a flavor of protection that feels "wrong" for colorless, which is exactly why it’s so effective. Opponents don't play around it. They see you tapped out, they see your big scary monster, and they move to cast their Swords to Plowshares with a smile on their face. Then you drop the Eldrazi tax.
The "Targeting" Limitation
It is vital to remember that this card only works if something is targeting your permanent.
It does nothing against:
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- Wrath of God / Damnation (Board wipes don't target).
- Farewell (The ultimate buzzkill).
- Edict effects (Sheoldred’s Edict, etc.).
If your meta is full of "destroy all creatures" effects, this card stays in the binder. If your meta is full of targeted removal like Beast Within, Generous Gift, or targeted Planeswalker removal, it’s a godsend.
Is It Worth the Card Slot in 2026?
Let’s be real. Deck space is tight. Between new staples and "must-run" mana rocks, finding a spot for a 7-mana situational counterspell is hard.
But honestly? If your deck’s entire strategy revolves around one or two massive creatures, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not running it. It’s the ultimate "gotcha."
Think about the psychology of a Magic game. Most players track your available mana like hawks. They know when the coast is clear. By playing Not of This World MTG, you are breaking the fundamental rules of the mana economy. You are telling your opponent that even when you are "vulnerable," you are protected.
The card's price history reflects this resurgence. For years, it was a bulk common/uncommon filler. Now, as more "Big Mana" and Eldrazi-themed sets get released, the demand creeps up. It’s a supply-and-demand issue: they haven't reprinted this card into the ground yet, and the niche it fills is incredibly specific.
How to Actually Play It (Pro Tips)
Don't just jam this into every deck. That's how you end up with a dead card in hand for six turns.
First, check your power curve. Do you have at least 8–10 ways to get a 7-power creature on the board by turn 5? If not, cut it.
Second, use it as a tempo swing, not just a safety net. If you can protect your big threat and then untap and swing for the win, that's when this card is at its best.
I’ve seen players use this to protect a Darksteel Colossus against a late-game bounce spell, and the look on the opponent's face was worth more than the win itself. It's about the "blown out" factor.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A big one is forgetting that this can target any permanent you control.
Did someone try to blow up your Akroma's Memorial? If you have a 7-power creature out, you can protect the Memorial for free. The spell doesn't have to target the big creature; the big creature just has to exist on your side of the field for the cost reduction to work.
Also, watch out for "Ward" costs. If you're countering a spell that targets your creature with Ward, you still have to pay the Ward cost if you're the one being targeted... wait, no, that's not right. Ward triggers when an opponent targets it. If you counter their spell with Not of This World, the Ward trigger might still be on the stack, but it won't matter because the original spell is gone. Just keep your layers and triggers straight.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game
If you're looking to upgrade your colorless or Eldrazi-themed deck, here is how you integrate this card effectively:
- Audit your Power Stats: Count how many creatures in your deck naturally have 7+ power. If it's more than five, this card is a "maybe." If it's more than ten, it's a "must-include."
- Evaluate your Meta: If you see a lot of targeted exile (Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, Leyline Binding), buy a copy of this card immediately. It is the best defense you have.
- Pair with Tutors: If you run Eye of Ugin, remember that you can tutor for this. It turns your land base into a counterspell suite.
- Don't Fear the Mana Cost: Yes, it says 7 in the corner. Ignore it. You are never, ever planning to pay seven mana for this. If you are in a position where you have to pay seven mana for a counterspell, you’ve probably already lost. Treat it as a zero-mana spell with a very specific "if" clause.
In the end, Not of This World MTG remains one of the most flavor-accurate cards in the game. It’s alien, it’s unexpected, and it leaves your opponents wondering what just happened. Whether you're a veteran Eldrazi player or just someone tired of getting their big creatures removed, it’s time to give this tribal instant the respect it deserves. Stock up before the next Eldrazi-focused set drops and the price spikes again. You've been warned.