Cannibalize MTG Card
1998-03-02 - Number 53
2015-05-06 - Number 83
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Choose two target creatures controlled by any one player. Remove one of those creatures from the game and put two +1/+1 counters on the other.
"Mine."
Cards like Cannibalize
The concept of selectively trimming your own creatures for an advantage is brought into focus with Cannibalize in Magic: The Gathering. It shares conceptual space with cards like Go for the Throat, which is a notable removal spell. However, Cannibalize provides a unique twist by offering the ability to target your own creatures, potentially giving you a counter benefit on another creature. Meanwhile, Go for the Throat strictly serves as a method to eliminate creatures your opponents control and offers no such reciprocal advantage.
Exploring further, we encounter Malicious Affliction. This spell similarly allows for the removal of nonblack creatures with the added benefit of morbid – potentially taking out two threats if a creature has died this turn. Unlike Cannibalize, it doesn’t allow for manipulation and strengthening of your battlefield position through selective sacrifice. Then there’s Altar’s Reap, which shares the theme of sacrificing your own creatures for gain, though this spell focuses on card draw rather than the redistribution of power and toughness as Cannibalize does.
Ultimately, Cannibalize stands out in the family of creature control spells by offering a strategic layer of choice, allowing MTG players to not only remove threats but also to engineer the growth of their remaining forces on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Cannibalize by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cannibalize provides a unique twist on card advantage. By allowing a player to exile two target creatures from a single graveyard, it turns graveyard resources into direct hand gain for the caster, effectively diminishing an opponent’s potential plays while bolstering your own hand.
Resource Acceleration: This card accelerates your board state by transforming enemy creatures into your own resources. With each exiled creature, you can strategically place +1/+1 counters on a creature you control, thus turning a possible threat into an immediate benefit and possibly converting it into future mana sources via various interactions or synergies within your deck.
Instant Speed: Cannibalize being instant speed gives it a high level of versatility. It allows players to react during an opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn, maximizing strategic play. This timing allows for a dynamic response to graveyard strategies, making it a powerful tool in the hands of a player anticipating their opponent’s moves.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The card, Cannibalize, requires a player to discard another creature card, which might deplete your hand prematurely. This can hinder your strategy, particularly when you are in need of maintaining a substantial hand size for later plays or to meet other card conditions.
Specific Mana Cost: Cannibalize’s cost demands two black mana, which could potentially restrict its integration into multi-colored decks. Players running decks that aren’t heavily based around black mana may find it a challenging card to utilize effectively and consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Cannibalize offers a unique effect, its three-total-mana cost may feel steep compared to other creature removal or control cards. Savvy players might prefer lower-cost spells that provide similar effects with greater efficiency, optimizing their mana curve and gameplay tempo.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Cannibalize offers a unique take on creature control that can slide into various deck strategies, particularly those aiming for resource manipulation or graveyard synergy.
Combo Potential: Its ability to exile two target creatures from a single player’s graveyard and distribute +1/+1 counters can set up powerful interactions in counter-centric decks or those looking to disrupt opponent’s graveyard tactics.
Meta-Relevance: Given that graveyard-based decks often emerge in various metas, having Cannibalize in your collection means you’re prepared to counter those strategies while strengthening your creatures on the battlefield.
How to beat
Cannibalize is an intriguing strategy card that delves into the darker aspects of Magic: The Gathering. This black sorcery allows players to remove two target nonartifact creatures from the game, granting you a +1/+1 counter for each creature exiled this way. While the nuanced uses of Cannibalize might seem formidable, clever tactics can ensure your deck remains unscathed.
One effective way to circumvent the drawbacks of Cannibalize is by leveraging creature indestructibility or employing cards that can easily be sacrificed for a greater good. Having a deck that can consistently regenerate or resurrect creatures nullifies the potential advantage an opponent gains from this sorcery. Similarly, utilizing cards with hexproof or shroud abilities can prevent your creatures from being targeted by Cannibalize, helping maintain your battlefield presence.
To counteract the effect of Cannibalize effectively, it’s important to be aware of timing and the composition of your opponent’s hand and graveyard. By understanding the strategic landscape of your game, cards like Cannibalize can be overcome, ensuring they don’t dictate the flow of match play in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cannibalize MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Tempest Remastered, 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 Cannibalize 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Cannibalize Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-03-02 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Robert Bliss.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-03-02 | Stronghold | STH | 53 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Robert Bliss | |
| 2 | 2015-05-06 | Tempest Remastered | TPR | 83 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Robert Bliss |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cannibalize has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cannibalize card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-05-01 | You choose the two target creatures during announcement. You choose which gets the counters and which is to get exiled on resolution. |