Etali's Favor

Etali's Favor was released in the 2023 set The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, a Magic: The Gathering expansion centered on a subterranean, prehistoric world inspired by Mesoamerican cultures. As a common enchantment within the set's design framework, the card was created to provide players with a repeatable or value-focused effect known as 'Discover,' a mechanic that allows players to exile cards from their library until they hit a nonland card of a specific mana value, which can then be played without paying its mana cost.

The artwork was commissioned from illustrator Matt Stewart, who has contributed extensively to the visual identity of the game. Stewart’s illustration depicts the favor bestowed by the elder dinosaur Etali, leaning into the vibrant, dangerous aesthetic of the Ixalan plane. The design was received by the community as a functional utility piece in limited play formats, prized for its ability to generate card advantage and maintain the high-impact tempo characteristic of the set’s aggressive dinosaur-themed strategies.