Master of Cruelties MTG Card


Master of Cruelties can instantly drop opponents to one life, creating a significant game shift. First strike and deathtouch make it an exceptional combatant and defensive asset. Its stringent mana cost can complicate deck construction within diverse formats.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities Deathtouch,First strike
Power 1
Toughness 4

Text of card

First strike, deathtouch Master of Cruelties can only attack alone. Whenever Master of Cruelties attacks a player and isn't blocked, that player's life total becomes 1. Master of Cruelties assigns no combat damage this combat.


Cards like Master of Cruelties

Master of Cruelties stands as a unique entity among creatures in Magic the Gathering with its intimidating set of abilities. Its closest counterparts in terms of delivering a knockout blow could be compared to cards like Phage the Untouchable, which also ensures almost certain defeat upon a direct attack. Master of Cruelties differs by not granting an outright win but reducing an opponent’s life to a precarious position at one life point provided it attacks alone and isn’t blocked.

Another card within the realm of lethality is Kaervek the Merciless, which pressures opponents through punishing damage for every spell cast. While Master of Cruelties can alter the game’s stage in just one swing, Kaervek requires building pressure over multiple turns. Rakdos, Lord of Riots is also reminiscent of this oppressive strategy, rewarding players for dealing damage with a cost reduction on creature spells. Unlike Master of Cruelties, Rakdos enables a more aggressive board state by allowing the deployment of heavy hitters.

When analyzing the control and end-game potential, Master of Cruelties is unparalleled in its niche, offering a near-game-ending threat that demands an answer as soon as it hits the battlefield.

Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Kaervek the Merciless - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Phage the Untouchable - MTG Card versions
Kaervek the Merciless - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Master of Cruelties by color, type and mana cost

Tor Wauki - MTG Card versions
Boltwing Marauder - MTG Card versions
Obosh, the Preypiercer - MTG Card versions
Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa - MTG Card versions
Dread Slag - MTG Card versions
Demigod of Revenge - MTG Card versions
Cultbrand Cinder - MTG Card versions
Kulrath Knight - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reaver - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Carabid - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Rix Maadi - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Ragemutt - MTG Card versions
Underworld Cerberus - MTG Card versions
Kragma Warcaller - MTG Card versions
Nightfire Giant - MTG Card versions
Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury - MTG Card versions
The Scorpion God - MTG Card versions
Grusilda, Monster Masher - MTG Card versions
Garna, the Bloodflame - MTG Card versions
Greven, Predator Captain - MTG Card versions
Tor Wauki - MTG Card versions
Boltwing Marauder - MTG Card versions
Obosh, the Preypiercer - MTG Card versions
Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa - MTG Card versions
Dread Slag - MTG Card versions
Demigod of Revenge - MTG Card versions
Cultbrand Cinder - MTG Card versions
Kulrath Knight - MTG Card versions
Lightning Reaver - MTG Card versions
Monstrous Carabid - MTG Card versions
Spawn of Rix Maadi - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Ragemutt - MTG Card versions
Underworld Cerberus - MTG Card versions
Kragma Warcaller - MTG Card versions
Nightfire Giant - MTG Card versions
Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury - MTG Card versions
The Scorpion God - MTG Card versions
Grusilda, Monster Masher - MTG Card versions
Garna, the Bloodflame - MTG Card versions
Greven, Predator Captain - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Master of Cruelties potentially delivers a unique form of card advantage by reducing an opponent’s life total to one with just a single attack. This can shift the balance of the game significantly, forcing your opponent to deal with just one creature instead of multiple threats. Additionally, its first strike ability allows it to excel in combat, often trading favorably and with less risk of being destroyed.

Resource Acceleration: While Master of Cruelties doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the traditional sense, it can be seen as accelerating your win-condition. By bringing the opponent to a precarious life total instantaneously, it shortcuts the usual resource accumulation needed to defeat an opponent, effectively speeding up the game’s clock in your favor.

Instant Speed: The ability to only attack alone does not hinder Master of Cruelties from being a formidable instant-speed blocker. The combination of deathtouch and first strike ensures that virtually any attacking creature will be destroyed, making it a powerful defensive tool that can be used to survive against aggressive strategies or crucial combat phases.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Master of Cruelties necessitates having the right cards in hand to ensure its successful impact on gameplay. Failure to pair it with effective strategies may result in wasted turns or resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Master of Cruelties is stringent, requiring both black and red mana. This specificity can challenge deck building, particularly in formats with a vast array of multicolor cards.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a converted mana cost of five, Master of Cruelties demands a significant investment of resources. In formats where tempo plays a critical role, dedicating a turn to summon this creature could slow a player’s momentum, leaving them vulnerable to more aggressive decks.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Master of Cruelties showcases flexibility by fitting seamlessly into any strategy that leverages attack phase trickery and direct life total manipulation.

Combo Potential: This formidable demon lends itself to devastating combinations, particularly in decks that can manipulate combat phases or provide unblockable conditions, ensuring its full attack ability is utilized.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer, more interactive games prevail, Master of Cruelties can become a game-ending threat, often requiring an immediate answer from opponents.


How to beat

Master of Cruelties is a unique and powerful card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its potential to drop an opponent’s life total to a precarious one in a single attack. To tackle this formidable adversary, there are strategies players should consider. First and foremost, removal spells are your best friend. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can eliminate Master of Cruelties before it ever declares an attack, ensuring your life total stays intact.

Another tactic involves utilising counterspells to prevent Master of Cruelties from entering the battlefield altogether. Spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak can be vital in keeping this threat at bay. Additionally, playing creatures with reach or those that can block multiple creatures can also thwart Master of Cruelties’ single combat stipulation, allowing you to effectively intercept the assault.

In essence, staying vigilant and keeping removal or counterspells at the ready are key to maintaining your defenses against Master of Cruelties. Understanding the rhythms of your opponent’s play and being prepared to disrupt their strategy will position you to weather the assault by this powerhouse of a card.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering Master of Cruelties means understanding the subtleties that turn a powerful card into a game-changer. With detailed insights on its pros and cons, as well as strategies to best leverage its unique abilities, you’re now equipped to decide its role in your deck. If direct life total manipulation, control-play appeal, and combo potential resonate with your MTG strategies, this card deserves a spot in your collection. Ready to transform the way you play and craft a deck that opponents will dread facing? Dive deeper into our comprehensive guides, where MTG meets strategy, and every card is a step towards victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Master of Cruelties MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze and RNA Guild Kit, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Master of Cruelties and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Master of Cruelties Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2013-05-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Chase Stone.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12013-05-03Dragon's MazeDGM 822003NormalBlackChase Stone
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 662015NormalBlackChase Stone
32020-09-26The ListPLST DGM-822003NormalBlackChase Stone
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5222015NormalBlackChase Stone
52022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 2512015NormalBlackChase Stone
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3731997NormalBlackChase Stone
72024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1982015NormalBlackChase Stone
82024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 373z2015NormalBlackChase Stone

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Master of Cruelties has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Master of Cruelties card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-04-15 An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.
2013-04-15 Assigning no combat damage isn’t the same as preventing that damage. Effects that make damage unpreventable will have no effect if no combat damage can be assigned.
2013-04-15 For a player’s life total to become 1, what actually happens is that the player loses (or in some rare cases, gains) the appropriate amount of life. For example, if the player’s life total is 4 when the last ability resolves, it will cause that player to lose 3 life. Other effects that interact with life loss (or gain) will interact with this effect accordingly.
2013-04-15 If Master of Cruelties attacks alone, another creature entering the battlefield attacking will have no effect on it. Master of Cruelties continues to be an attacking creature. The other attacking creature will assign combat damage normally, regardless of whether Master of Cruelties’s last ability triggers.
2013-04-15 Master of Cruelties isn’t forced to attack, but if it does, it must do so alone. If you control another creature with an ability that says it must attack if able, that creature must attack and Master of Cruelties won’t be able to.
2013-04-15 Master of Cruelties’s last ability won’t trigger if it attacks a planeswalker.