Primordial Ooze
~$0.15 low · ~$3.09 high
Red. Creature — Ooze
Fifth Edition #261 · Illustrated by Randy Gallegos
Fifth Edition #261 · Illustrated by Randy GallegosWhat is Primordial Ooze worth?
1 printing has no TCGplayer price.
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
This creature attacks each combat if able.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Then you may pay 
, where X is the number of +1/+1 counters on it. If you don't, tap this creature and it deals X damage to you.
1/1
The thick, moving mass from the beginning of evolution swallows and digests the animate and inanimate as it unthinkingly strives to continue its existence.
Format legality
All 4 printings of Primordial Ooze
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fifth Edition 5ed #261· 1997uncommon· Cardmarket €0.24 | uncommon | $0.15 | €0.24 | |
No image yet Chronicles Foreign Black Border bchr #54· 1995Japaneseuncommon· Cardmarket €2.03 | uncommon | — | €2.03 | |
 Chronicles chr #54· 1995uncommon· Cardmarket €0.19 | uncommon | $0.19 | €0.19 | |
 Legends leg #160· 1994uncommon· Cardmarket €2.14 | uncommon | $3.09 | €2.14 |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Primordial Ooze
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Card details
- First printed
- 1994
- Printings
- 4
- Mana value
- 1
- EDHREC rank
- #26,357 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Artists
- Randy Gallegos, Sandra Everingham
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Fifth Edition card (#261).
Printed before collector numbers, which started with Exodus in 1998. The bottom shows only the artist credit ("Illus.") and the copyright. Set symbols were all black before Exodus, and core sets before Sixth Edition have none.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Primordial Ooze, read from the Fifth Edition printing. How to read any Magic card.
- Name
- Primordial Ooze. Rules use the English name in every language.
- Mana cost
- Mana value 1: the total mana in the cost, colors ignored.
- Type line
- Creature is the card type. Ooze is the subtype, after the dash.
- Text box
- What the card does.
- Flavor text
- Italic story text below the rules. It has no effect on the game, and it can differ between printings.
- Power / toughness
- 1/1: power is the combat damage it deals; toughness is how much damage destroys it.
- Illustration
- By Randy Gallegos. The art has no effect on the game.
- Set symbol
- Fifth Edition has no set symbol: core sets before Sixth Edition had none.
- Artist
- Randy Gallegos, after "Illus.".
- Copyright
- Wizards of the Coast's copyright notice, with the year.
Rulings (1)
2004-10-04
It becomes tapped even if the damage is prevented.
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