Demon of Wailing Agonies MTG Card


Demon of Wailing Agonies - Commander 2014
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities Flying,Lieutenant
Released2014-11-07
Set symbol
Set nameCommander 2014
Set codeC14
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number21
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDave Kendall

Key Takeaways

  1. Forces opponents to sacrifice creatures, leading to a significant advantage in creature-based matchups.
  2. Demands heavy black mana commitment, which may limit deck-building versatility for multicolored decks.
  3. Comparable to other demon cards, adding value through its Lieutenant mechanic and synergy with the Commander.

Text of card

Flying Lieutenant — As long as you control your commander, Demon of Wailing Agonies gets +2/+2 and has "Whenever Demon of Wailing Agonies deals combat damage to a player, that player sacrifices a creature."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Demon of Wailing Agonies forces enemies to sacrifice creatures whenever you deal combat damage to a player with your commander, potentially stripping opponents of their important assets and tilting the battlefield in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: This card also synergizes well in a deck that focuses on leveraging sacrifices for gains, accelerating your resource pool as you diminish your opponents’ forces.

Instant Speed: While the Demon itself may not have instant speed, the threat it represents can impact opponents’ decisions in real-time. They must consider the risk of the Demon’s effect during each attack, potentially altering their strategies at crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Demon of Wailing Agonies requires a sacrifice whenever it deals combat damage to a player, which could deplete your creature base if unable to maintain a steady stream of tokens or expendable creatures.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that demands three black mana, this creature demands a heavy commitment to black mana sources, potentially constraining deck-building options and making the card less flexible in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana to cast, Demon of Wailing Agonies enters the battlefield at a point where players must balance the risk of tapping out against the potential benefits of having a powerful creature on board. Moreover, with other demons or high-impact cards in the same mana range, the choices become even more competitive.


Reasons to Include Demon of Wailing Agonies in Your Collection

Versatility: Demon of Wailing Agonies can be a valuable asset in any Commander deck looking to apply pressure through its flying ability and leverages the Lieutenant mechanic to encourage attacking alongside your Commander. This makes it flexible enough to fit into aggressive strategies as well as more controlling ones that can protect a high-value commander.

Combo Potential: With its ability to force opponents to sacrifice a creature whenever it deals combat damage to a player, Demon of Wailing Agonies works well in decks that capitalize on opponent sacrifices. This can synergize with cards that trigger on creature deaths or benefit from reduced opponent board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that often sees many creature-based strategies, having a consistent removal option can shift the balance in your favor. Demon of Wailing Agonies fits well into this role. It becomes an even greater threat as commanders are widely used, ensuring its relevance in that format.


How to beat

Demon of Wailing Agonies is a formidable creature that can wreak havoc in MTG matches. With its powerful ability to force opponents to sacrifice creatures whenever it deals combat damage to a player, it’s critical to neutralize it quickly. One effective strategy is to prevent it from hitting the battlefield altogether. Counterspells are your first line of defense, ensuring that the demon doesn’t get a chance to unfurl its wings. Should it make it to the field, consider using instant-speed removals like Doom Blade or Path to Exile to take it out before it declares an attack.

Enchantment-based solutions like Pacifism or Arrest can also render the demon ineffective by keeping it from attacking or using its abilities. Additionally, if the demon is already pressuring you, chump blocking with expendable creatures can buy you time to find an answer. Always keep an eye out for board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation to reset the playing field, making your opponent’s sacrifice all for naught.

Ultimately, the key to outmaneuvering the Demon of Wailing Agonies lies in swift and decisive action. By having the right answers at the right time, you can ensure that your opponent’s demonic threat is but a fleeting nightmare.


Cards like Demon of Wailing Agonies

Demon of Wailing Agonies finds its place under the spotlight amongst the many powerful creatures available to MTG players. It shares the battlefield with other demons such as Lord of the Void, which similarly strikes fear into opponents with a potent effect upon dealing combat damage to a player. While Lord of the Void exiles cards from an opponent’s library and gives you the chance to cast them without paying their mana costs, Demon of Wailing Agonies requires your opponents to sacrifice a creature instead.

Another comparable card is Indulgent Tormentor, which also poses a dilemma to opponents by offering them a choice between life loss, sacrificing a creature, or allowing you to draw a card during your upkeep. What sets Demon of Wailing Agonies apart is its Lieutenants keyword, which only triggers if you control your commander, hence playing a significant role in the commander-dependent strategies.

Dive into the depth of MTG creature dynamics, and you will see that while Demon of Wailing Agonies may not be the only heavy hitter in the realm of demons, its conditional power increase and opponent creature sacrifice mechanic present a unique advantage for players who capitalize on commander synergy.

Lord of the Void - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Void - Gatecrash (GTC)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)

Cards similar to Demon of Wailing Agonies by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Shriekmaw - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - Tempest (TMP)
Entropic Specter - Exodus (EXO)
Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Fallen Angel - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Hollow Dogs - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Grotesque Hybrid - Torment (TOR)
Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sootfeather Flock - Legions (LGN)
Zombie Cutthroat - Scourge (SCG)
Gluttonous Zombie - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Vermiculos - Mirrodin (MRD)
Woebearer - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Halo Hunter - Zendikar (ZEN)
Malakir Bloodwitch - Zendikar (ZEN)
Caustic Crawler - Worldwake (WWK)
Shriekmaw - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Demon of Wailing Agonies MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2014, 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 Demon of Wailing Agonies and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Demon of Wailing Agonies has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-11-07 If Demon of Wailing Agonies deals combat damage to a player at the same time your commander is dealt lethal damage, the triggered ability will trigger and the player will sacrifice a creature.
2014-11-07 If a triggered ability granted by a lieutenant ability triggers, and in response to that trigger you lose control of your commander (causing the lieutenant to lose that ability), that triggered ability will still resolve.
2014-11-07 If you gain control of a creature with a lieutenant ability owned by another player, that ability will check to see if you control your commander and will apply if you do. It won’t check whether its owner controls their commander.
2014-11-07 If you lose control of your commander, lieutenant abilities of creatures you control will immediately stop applying. If this causes a creature’s toughness to become less than or equal to the amount of damage marked on it, the creature will be destroyed.
2014-11-07 Lieutenant abilities apply only if your commander is on the battlefield and under your control.
2014-11-07 Lieutenant abilities refer only to whether you control your commander, not any other player’s commander.

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