Butcher of the Horde MTG Card
2014-09-26 - Number 168s
2014-09-26 - Number 168
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Demon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying Sacrifice another creature: Butcher of the Horde gains your choice of vigilance, lifelink, or haste until end of turn.
Cards like Butcher of the Horde
Butcher of the Horde stands as a powerful figure in the landscape of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. It finds its parallels in cards such as Falkenrath Aristocrat, which shares the same formula of sacrificing another creature for a beneficial effect. However, Butcher of the Horde offers a set of versatile abilities, giving options for lifelink, vigilance, or haste as opposed to Falkenrath’s sole focus on indestructibility and its reliance on Humans for a +1/+1 boost.
Examining further, Demonlord of Ashmouth presents itself as a relative due to its reanimation ability contingent on sacrificing a creature. Even so, its forced sacrifice upon entry makes Butcher of the Horde a more flexible and immediate threat on the battlefield. Lastly, Bloodthrone Vampire, while more mana-efficient, offers less impact, functioning as a mere outlet for sacrifice without the additional keywords and sizeable stature Butcher of the Horde provides.
When eyeing the trade-offs and synergy potentials, Butcher of the Horde unmistakably asserts dominance in its category. The card molds aggressive strategies and defensive maneuvers into a single entity, cementing its role as a deck’s formidable linchpin.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Butcher of the Horde. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mardu Sacrifice | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
| Mardu Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Butcher of the Horde provides a strategic edge by converting creatures into valuable resources. Each creature you sacrifice furthers your board presence, essentially turning expendable tokens or creatures into potent effects.
Resource Acceleration: Although this formidable demon doesn’t directly ramp up your mana, the ability to sacrifice creatures at no cost optimizes your resources. It promotes a faster game pace by utilizing your creatures as assets to empower the Butcher, maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Instant Speed: The capacity to sacrifice a creature at instant speed grants Butcher of the Horde considerable flexibility. It allows you to make decisions reactively based on the state of the game, whether you’re bolstering its power, granting it lifelink, or making it elusive with flying. This capability can drastically alter the course of combat or respond to threats in a pinch.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Butcher of the Horde demands a nontrivial payment to unleash its powers. You’ll find yourself often sacrificing another creature to fuel its abilities; a strategic requirement that could deplete your board presence under the pressure of an intense game.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that precisely calls for red, white, and black mana, this card fits exclusively within Mardu decks or those that can accommodate such a specific color pie, potentially limiting its versatility in a diverse metagame.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a casting cost of four mana, Butcher of the Horde may not hit your playmat as early as you’d like. Unlike other creatures at a similar threshold, it doesn’t provide an immediate impact on the board without further investment by sacrificing another creature, thus making it less mana-efficient when tempo is critical.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Butcher of the Horde’s ability to seamlessly slide into different deck archetypes marks this card as a highly adaptable piece for any collector. The creature can star in Mardu decks, sacrifice-themed decks, or any strategy looking to exploit its impressive stat line and keywords.
Combo Potential: This card shines in combos, particularly with decks that churn out tokens. Sacrificing these tokens to activate its abilities can provide a significant advantage, turning the tide of the game by giving you lifelink, haste, or vigilance when you need it most.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where the meta ebbs and flows, Butcher of the Horde maintains relevance. It can break stalemates and dominate battlefields, especially in environments where creature control is pivotal to victory.
How to Beat Butcher of the Horde
The Butcher of the Horde is a powerhouse in MTG, boasting not only a formidable 5/4 flying body but also a versatile set of abilities that can turn the tide of battle quickly. To effectively counter this multitasking behemoth, you’ll want to be strategic in your approach. Direct removal spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can be crucial, whisking away the Butcher before its abilities can be leveraged.
Enchantment-based solutions such as Pacifism or Arrest can also neutralize this threat by rendering the Butcher’s abilities useless while keeping it on the battlefield. If you play blue, countering it outright with a spell like Cancel can ensure the Butcher never gets to exert its influence. Board wipes like Supreme Verdict can also clean the slate, Butcher included, though this does come at the expense of your own creatures if they’re on the field.
Key in any scenario is foresight – predicting when your opponent might have enough resources to play Butcher of the Horde and either keeping mana open for a response or applying pressure to distract them from casting it. Being proactive with disruption or pressure can often prevent the Butcher from taking over the game in the first place.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Butcher of the Horde MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir Promos and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Butcher of the Horde and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Butcher of the Horde Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir Promos | PKTK | 168s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 168 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Butcher of the Horde has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Butcher of the Horde card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | You choose which ability Butcher of the Horde gains when the activated ability resolves. |