Unearth
Unearth is a keyword ability introduced in Shards of Alara as the Grixis signature mechanic.
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 702.84. Unearth
- 702.84a Unearth is an activated ability that functions while the card with unearth is in a graveyard. “Unearth [cost]” means “[Cost]: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. If it would leave the battlefield, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else. Activate only as a sorcery.”
Unearth returns a permanent to the battlefield and gives it haste, at the expense of the permanent being exiled at the end of turn. It functions similarly to flashback, providing a one-time effect that can be cast from the graveyard. However, flashback only appears on instants and sorceries, and Unearth is strictly limited to permanent cards.
History
Unearth was designed by Brian Tinsman, Devin Low and Erik Lauer. After Shards of Alara it also appeared in the other sets of the Alara block, in Modern Horizons[3], Warhammer 40K[4] and in The Brothers’ War[5]. While one other artifact creature (Etherium Abomination) used Unearth in Alara Reborn as a cross-Shard piece, Warhammer used it extensively with artifacts as the faction keyword of the Necron. In The Brothers’ War, it also appeared on noncreatures (artifacts) and was associated with the reactivation of buried war machines, rather than the reanimation of corpses.[6] Further appearances were in Modern Horizons 3 and MH3 Commander.
The Encore mechanic introduced in Commander Legends is similar to Unearth, with subtle differences. Creatures with Unearth use the card itself, do not necessarily have to attack, and are exiled at end of turn or if they leave the battlefield.
Unearth in practice
Unearth tries to bring back the creature to play again on the later turns but then its exiled.
So choose wisely when the times is right Unearth at the right moment for a good strike or ETB effect
