So... If you kill any of my creatures, or, if I sacrifice one of my creatures, its a automatic, free Diabolic Edict? DAMN. This could kill Progenitus... 5/5
DonRoyale
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(4 votes)
7 for a 5/4 flying that does absolutely nothing until something else dies.
I'd venture to guess what will die first; your other creatures or it.
Simply put, it's something that requires an advantage and mana investment with little payoff. Besides, if you're running Vamps and haven't won (or lost) by the time you have the mana to cast this thing (Crypt of Agadeem withstanding), shame on you.
Kalastria Highborn has a better "stuff dies so cool stuff happens" effect anyway.
indeed, combine lord of the pit or xathrid demon and the necessary token generators and you've got a win, especially in multiplayer.
or thopter foundry would be an easier win.
but you should have something better by turn 7 really...
Khias
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.6/5.0)(6 votes)
I think wizards puts rares like this in packs so you lose money when you buy a booster.
sir_dwar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Too expensive to be worthwhile in the vampire deck. Vamps curve out at 5 mana, so this guy isn't that useful. Maybe it'll help build a casual deck based on sacrificial vamps (w/ the aristocrat and the highborn, possibly working with stuff like Fleshbag Marauder), but until that time, I'm passing this card by.
majinara
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
Hm, the card is ok but gravepact is still better.
MrPink343
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
You people seriously underestimate the power of Grave Pact.
But yeah, multiplayer only pretty much.
raziax112
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
savra's best friend
True_Smog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
He's good but too expensive.
HuntedWumpusMustDie
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
too expensive... which sucks because it's actually a pretty cool card.
Sorxores
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
great card, with great ability, and good price/quality ratio. But this format atm is WAY TOO FAST for a 7 drop that only help you make a better board position.
But when you think that red can kill you at turn 4, ally getting insanely strong very fast, green elf is becoming a pain really quick, even blue for god sake is starting to see early aggro possibility (the land enchant that give you a 2/2 flying) so by the time you get 7 mana in black, you should have won the game.
Maybe if you can put it in a deck with mana acceleration, maybe jund, with a early game where you create a lot of small token, and a end game with devours, then by sacrificing 4 token to make your pred dragon stronger you force your opponent to clear the board, but then again, what the use since a pred dragon will usually win you the game.
ComradeZhukov
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If vampires were played in a multiplayer setting, I can see this card doing very well. For 1v1, it's too expensive to play out. If only it was 3(b)(b)..
Tobolococo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
it it was one less mana it would be a 6 out of 10 if it was 2 less mana it would be a 9/10 as it is its a mediocre 4/10.
unbelivable how mana cost can really make a card good or bad.
also, for the amount of mana it cost, its body is way under the curve, should be a 6/5.
idiotic choice for the foil rare in the worldwake intro pack, couldn't they put Kalastria instead.
Wolfboy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think it should get another star.
Why?
It's not legendary.
This gives me the ability to start stacking these monsters.
HairlessThoctar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Dear R&D, I love you.
LG
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Status update: Now Eldrazi Spawn and several new creatures can be popped to drain the opponent's creatures. And Sarkhan the Mad, Hellion Eruption, Momentous Fall etc. become even better. And annihilator is going to work in your favor, likely self-destructing the opponent's big bad eldrazi. And totem armor auras will contribute to give this guy extra lives. And it can be ramped into play much faster even in a red/black deck. Overall, I find it more awesome than Balance.
TragicDaPhilandering
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like this card. I can imagine a deck using some sacrifice sorcery/instants to be sure to keep the creature advantage and use as many 1 cost Vamps as possible and maybe throw in some Diabolics to get this card out. Small creatures means you won't kill them off fast and getting this out could happen nearly every game. Once it's out and in combination with your sacrifice cards, could be a pretty fun deck to play with. Of course it would probably be better in one on one matches and this would have to be just casual play to be legal with the sacrifice spells, but it's a good thought.
Cute-Hydra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I hate to say I have used him in standard, but him + eldrazi spawn is very good as they provide mass creatures that have the sacrifice outlet built in. you get him and awakening zone then they better have removal.
spectermonger
★★★★☆ (5.0/5.0)(16 votes)
Between him and the Gatekeeper I can't see why you'd ever want to live in Malakir. The legal system is terrible...seems like all legislative proceeding result in you being dead.
faisjdas
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Yo dawg we heard you liked grave pact . . .
TheNUUB
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Now it the Eldrazis he´s pretty good. Just imagine you sacrificing your Spawns and making the opponent sacrificing is creatures at the same time. :O:O Overpowered. Ok the cost is to high, but everything that´s good come it a price. Just sacrifice your eldrazi spawns and put him early.
Jay13x
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You have to run this with Cabal Coffers or another mana accelerator to make the cost worthwhile. There are plenty of Zendikar Vampire cards, like Gatekeeper of Malakir or Vampire Lacerator that will keep the opponent weak while you build to this. I'd recommend only playing it in casual though.
Combo it with Skittering Invasion and you've cleared the board in a turn. The deck you would build around this would be incredible on it's own merits, as plenty of sacrifice cards and Blade of the Bloodchief make a Vampire deck ridiculous anyway. Just remember that you have to be able to win without this card too.
IshubarashI
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Personally I think the card is a little too strong... With the eldrazi tokens sacrifice ability, my friend can get this thing out rather quickly, then just start sacrificing tokens and clear the entire battlefield. Another unfair advantage for the zendikar vampires...
But that being said, it does play very well in a deck that utilizes eldrazi tokens. My friend just figured that out before I did.
TheSwarm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
People always say toooo expensive, wooont get it out, Betteeeerr things, but were are in the midst of eldrazi spawn tokens, Little bastards that are very easy to make, are mana ramp, and mooost importantly, are sacrificed! you can get this kid out turn 3 (spawning breath, brood birthing, 3 lands) and then start sacing tokens to keep your opponent at bay and attack with your freekin 5/4 flyer on turn 4. A bomb, admitedly in the right deck.
Mattious_Maximous
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In response I'll Flameslash
donjohnson
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great card in the right deck. I have mine in a graveyard deck with lots o creatures that kill when they come into play so I can keep bringing them back out from the graveyard to do it all over again. Butcher gives me a gravepact effect with the added plus that since he's a creature I can use my Debtors Knell to keep bringing him back from the dead too... So for me he blows Gravepact away. Just use plenty of acceleration, as one should anyway, and he's great/.
CaptainAwesome13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like this card for the sheer fact that when combined with Kalastria Highborn and Nirkana Revenant, Your opponent pays quite nicely for taking out one of your creatures. But agreed, it is best used in multiplayer.
Cancelled
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So he may be really expensive, but Nirkana Revenant helps with that. I've definitely won games while using him plus sacing my Reassembling Skelleton with Cunning Sparkmage
Vampire96
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@Sironos it does not specify "token" so i think token creature's will work on this one, but try this logic Bloodthrone Vampire + Reassembling Skeleton if it doesn't.
This card is severely underestimated. Forcing opponents to sacrifice creatures gets past every avoidance you can think of. It gets past indestructibles, protection from colors, shrouds, and more.
When put into a sacrifice deck with Crypt of Agadeem and Pawn of Ulamog, getting him out is not at all difficult. He's meant to be a late game card, but with efficient card and draw management, he could be out earlier than you think and most of their creatures would be hosed with a good synergistic sac deck anyways. Yes, even so in current standard 1on1.
I find him hard to play due to that mana cost but today he did prove very VERY useful. Won me a game, as a matter of fact. Opponent thought he'd gotten me by putting an Arrest on Butcher of Malakir. WRONG. Didn't change anything about the "whenever a creature you control is put into a graveyard..." ability AND that way it couldn't end up in the graveyard itself. So... two turns later, thanks to two Vampire Nighthawks, it was game over :D
WiggleWurm
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I can't believe how many comments tear this card to pieces. Most people are only considering it in a Vamp deck or a mono black deck only. Think of what it can do in an Eldrazi spawn deck. You can use the spawns to get him out early AND to clear the board for you to get clean swipes at the opponent. You don't always have to leave it to your opponent to put creatures in your graveyard, people. Take the initiative, trade a couple of your 0/1's for your opponent's Baneslayer Angel, Ancient Hellkite, any of the Titans, etc. 5/5
Demoncollecter
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
im suprised how low this card was rated, its a great card and it deserves better, if u have alot weak tokens put them to good use and kill them with spells that u have almost no use for or sacrifice them if u do this ur opponet will have nothing left
Sironos
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(7 votes)
It works great with tokens (eldrazi spawn), which is why I put it in my sacrifice deck.
Sac some spawns to get him out earlier, very easy to do in a B/G sac spawn deck, sac the rest of the spawns to your blood throne (possibly after tapping them fo fuel your bramblesnap), watch as the opponent sacs his entire board position due to the butcher's verdict, and make a clean swing with your pumped up blood throne vamp (and possibly your pumped bramblesnap). ROE suddenly made this guy playable in the right deck, ramp to him with nest invader, kozilek's predator, awakening zone, growth spasm, black green sacrifice is just so much fun.
Regarding his flavour, it should read "His verdict is always guilty, his sentence is always death. The citizens of malakir are very happy that he is not a judge, he is a butcher".
Or:
"Progenitus stood in all it's invulnerable glory, challenging all with its deafening roar. The butcher grabbed an Eldrazi spawn, put a knife to it, looked at progenitus and shouted: "I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL PUNK!""
Nicol_Nocturnus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card always does great in my vamp deck as I always put two Blade of the Bloodchiefs on him while Door of Destinies is on the field then chump block with a few Pulse Trackers or a Guul Draz Vampire then use an Elixir of Immortality or two to get the blockers back. Throw in a Whispersilk Cloak and you get a 59/59 flying unblockable with thats immune to removal and that get +8/8 everytime one of your creatures dies or just +4/4 when your opponent blocks something else. Thats not even including all the bonuses from Door and summoning all those one-drops.
jemas42
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This guy plus Goldmeadow plus Springjack Pastures? I tap-sac 6 goats, gain 6 life and use the 6 mana to drop 2 Vampire Nighthawks. Oh and everyone sac 6 creatures.
DacenOctavio
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
If you guys aren't casting him turn 4 or 5, you're doing it wrong. Brood Birthing makes this guy an MVP. So easy to splash into my Dragon Appeasement deck vs. Grave Pact.
Megapossum
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Absolutely love this in Vampire Control. Cryptic Gateway makes this guy free to drop, then i get more with Mitotic Manipulation, copy it with Clone, etc.
Long_Con
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Amazing, deadly, game-winning card. If you think it's too expensive, then you ain't ramping enough. Trust me, I've seen it work over and over and over. Definite 5/5, almost too powerful.
Necropsy
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Absolutely devastating in EDH, this plus Drana got Akroma killed ;P "Swing with Drana" "Duh, Block with Akroma" "Well, I'll pay 3 and use Drana's ability on my own Royal Assassin." "Hang on, does that mean?" "Yes. And you took 5 from Drana."
mutantman
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm not a fan, mainly cuz of the mana cost. Seven is a lot. Too much for a fiddly incremental value guy like this. I've played him before, and there were too many games where I frowned at him sitting in my hand.
RecurringMemories
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I think for his mana cst, he's a bit weak. Then again who CASTS big creature spells anyway???? RECURSION!!!!
Honestly, in the right deck this guy can work wonders; Combine with Recurring Nightmare and they won't be able to keep anything on the board (especially if you already have Sheoldred, Whispering One in play); add in It That Betrays/Prince of Thralls and Thraximunder for even more abusive fun :).
On his own I rate him 3.0 - He's too costly to be effective in just any deck, and he's not powerful enough to build a deck around.
Throw him in a Recurring deck? 4.0/5; he'll keep the board clean. Especially useful in MP.
So overall - 3.5.
somegeek
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Gonna be fun in my Ghave EDH deck. Cheap spot removal.
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Wizards has been using an interesting template for awhile now: -Take popular *really* powerful enchantment or spell -Attach a body to it -Add 1-3 mana
What's interesting with these is that they can be reanimated or interact in different ways, provide casual with access to these cards since they're often expensive, rare (as in old), and doing this is big and flashy; which is enjoyable for casual tables. You want to say "ARG!" when you see it and unlike gravepact, this provides more fun as it locks the game down a little later and every color has a way to get rid of it.
One of the best things to note about this card is that it's usually card neutral at least; which is also nice for a fatty. You get her ability at least once!
talcumpowder0046
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Don't be spoiled, guys. A 5 power flyer wins solo in 4 turns, and in sac deck, your opponents will never untap with a creature.
bertuccia32
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I run this in my Varolz EDH along with Feed the Pack. My opponent had eight creatures out and Kira, Great Glass-Spinner, so all his guys pretty much had hexproof. Essentially, I was fucked. All I had was Doomgape and Varolz on the field. So I threw down feed the pack, sacking my Doomgape. He thought I was gonna use Varolz to scavenge it back onto something, so he used his mana to put down two walls. My turn comes up, I play the Butcher, then Toxic Deluge for two. SEE YA LATER BUDDY
OlvynChuru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Butcher of Malakir is completely different from Grave Pact. Can Grave Pact be reanimated extremely easily? Can Grave Pact swing for 5? Does Grave Pact's ability trigger when it dies? Butcher of Malakir is much more than simply "a seven-mana Grave Pact."
Comments (53)
I'd venture to guess what will die first; your other creatures or it.
Simply put, it's something that requires an advantage and mana investment with little payoff. Besides, if you're running Vamps and haven't won (or lost) by the time you have the mana to cast this thing (Crypt of Agadeem withstanding), shame on you.
Kalastria Highborn has a better "stuff dies so cool stuff happens" effect anyway.
or thopter foundry would be an easier win.
but you should have something better by turn 7 really...
But yeah, multiplayer only pretty much.
But when you think that red can kill you at turn 4, ally getting insanely strong very fast, green elf is becoming a pain really quick, even blue for god sake is starting to see early aggro possibility (the land enchant that give you a 2/2 flying) so by the time you get 7 mana in black, you should have won the game.
Maybe if you can put it in a deck with mana acceleration, maybe jund, with a early game where you create a lot of small token, and a end game with devours, then by sacrificing 4 token to make your pred dragon stronger you force your opponent to clear the board, but then again, what the use since a pred dragon will usually win you the game.
unbelivable how mana cost can really make a card good or bad.
also, for the amount of mana it cost, its body is way under the curve, should be a 6/5.
idiotic choice for the foil rare in the worldwake intro pack, couldn't they put Kalastria instead.
Why?
It's not legendary.
This gives me the ability to start stacking these monsters.
I love you.
Now Eldrazi Spawn and several new creatures can be popped to drain the opponent's creatures.
And Sarkhan the Mad, Hellion Eruption, Momentous Fall etc. become even better.
And annihilator is going to work in your favor, likely self-destructing the opponent's big bad eldrazi.
And totem armor auras will contribute to give this guy extra lives.
And it can be ramped into play much faster even in a red/black deck.
Overall, I find it more awesome than Balance.
I hate to say I have used him in standard, but him + eldrazi spawn is very good as they provide mass creatures that have the sacrifice outlet built in. you get him and awakening zone then they better have removal.
Just imagine you sacrificing your Spawns and making the opponent sacrificing is creatures at the same time.
:O:O
Overpowered.
Ok the cost is to high, but everything that´s good come it a price.
Just sacrifice your eldrazi spawns and put him early.
Combo it with Skittering Invasion and you've cleared the board in a turn. The deck you would build around this would be incredible on it's own merits, as plenty of sacrifice cards and Blade of the Bloodchief make a Vampire deck ridiculous anyway. Just remember that you have to be able to win without this card too.
But that being said, it does play very well in a deck that utilizes eldrazi tokens. My friend just figured that out before I did.
Just use plenty of acceleration, as one should anyway, and he's great/.
it does not specify "token" so i think token creature's will work on this one, but try this logic
Bloodthrone Vampire + Reassembling Skeleton
if it doesn't.
Plunge Into Darkness
Cauldron Haze
Death Denied
and if you have cards likeGatekeeper of Malakir or bloodhusk ritualist, you can (multi)kick them alover again
When put into a sacrifice deck with Crypt of Agadeem and Pawn of Ulamog, getting him out is not at all difficult. He's meant to be a late game card, but with efficient card and draw management, he could be out earlier than you think and most of their creatures would be hosed with a good synergistic sac deck anyways. Yes, even so in current standard 1on1.
Works wonders with Demon of Death's Gate as well.
Sac some spawns to get him out earlier, very easy to do in a B/G sac spawn deck, sac the rest of the spawns to your blood throne (possibly after tapping them fo fuel your bramblesnap), watch as the opponent sacs his entire board position due to the butcher's verdict, and make a clean swing with your pumped up blood throne vamp (and possibly your pumped bramblesnap). ROE suddenly made this guy playable in the right deck, ramp to him with nest invader, kozilek's predator, awakening zone, growth spasm, black green sacrifice is just so much fun.
Regarding his flavour, it should read "His verdict is always guilty, his sentence is always death. The citizens of malakir are very happy that he is not a judge, he is a butcher".
Or:
"Progenitus stood in all it's invulnerable glory, challenging all with its deafening roar. The butcher grabbed an Eldrazi spawn, put a knife to it, looked at progenitus and shouted: "I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL PUNK!""
"Swing with Drana"
"Duh, Block with Akroma"
"Well, I'll pay 3 and use Drana's ability on my own Royal Assassin."
"Hang on, does that mean?"
"Yes. And you took 5 from Drana."
Honestly, in the right deck this guy can work wonders; Combine with Recurring Nightmare and they won't be able to keep anything on the board (especially if you already have Sheoldred, Whispering One in play); add in It That Betrays/Prince of Thralls and Thraximunder for even more abusive fun :).
On his own I rate him 3.0 - He's too costly to be effective in just any deck, and he's not powerful enough to build a deck around.
Throw him in a Recurring deck? 4.0/5; he'll keep the board clean. Especially useful in MP.
So overall - 3.5.
-Take popular *really* powerful enchantment or spell
-Attach a body to it
-Add 1-3 mana
What's interesting with these is that they can be reanimated or interact in different ways, provide casual with access to these cards since they're often expensive, rare (as in old), and doing this is big and flashy; which is enjoyable for casual tables. You want to say "ARG!" when you see it and unlike gravepact, this provides more fun as it locks the game down a little later and every color has a way to get rid of it.
One of the best things to note about this card is that it's usually card neutral at least; which is also nice for a fatty. You get her ability at least once!