Apex Devastator MTG Card
2020-11-20 - Number 674
2020-11-20 - Number 217
2002-06-24 - Number 86000
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 10 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Creature — Chimera Hydra |
| Abilities | Cascade |
| Power | 10 |
| Toughness | 10 |
Key Takeaways
- Apex Devastator offers massive card advantage through a cascade ability that can trigger up to four spells.
- It’s a resource acceleration tool, potentially ramping up mana with its cascade effect despite high casting cost.
- The card’s strategic value is amplified by its potential to cascade into instant speed spells, creating dynamic plays.
Text of card
Cascade, cascade, cascade, cascade
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Apex Devastator comes with an extraordinary Cascade ability – not once, but four times. Each instance allows you to cast spells from the top of your library without paying their mana costs, leading to a potential flurry of free spells. This can quickly tip the scales in your favor, as you’re effectively drawing and playing up to four additional cards. It’s a substantial gain that can overwhelm your opponents and build an insurmountable lead.
Resource Acceleration: Despite its high mana cost, once Apex Devastator hits the battlefield, the quadruple Cascade effect acts as a powerful resource acceleration tool. Not only are you getting a 10/10 creature, but the free casts can potentially ramp up your available resources by bringing in lands or artifacts that generate additional mana – all without dipping further into your hand resources.
Instant Speed: While Apex Devastator itself isn’t an instant, the cards it cascades into could very well be. This adds a layer of strategic depth to its playstyle. You could potentially cast free instant spells during the process, allowing you to react to the state of the board on-the-fly, disrupt opponent plans, or create unexpected combos, which can be just as decisive as the initial summoning of this formidable creature.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Apex Devastator packs a powerful punch, it does not require you to discard any cards, thus this con is not applicable to it.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting requirements for Apex Devastator are quite stringent, demanding a hefty amount of mana in various colors. This might restrict its compatibility with many decks that can’t produce a diversified mana base easily or quickly enough to play it in a timely fashion.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an overwhelming ten mana cost to summon to the battlefield, Apex Devastator is a force to be reckoned with, but also a significant investment. In a fast-paced game where early threats are paramount, it might be too sluggish to make an immediate impact, giving the opponent a window to overtake you before it can demonstrate its true potential.
Reasons to Include Apex Devastator in Your Collection
Versatility: Apex Devastator brings sheer power to a variety of decks, adapting seamlessly to strategies that thrive on casting creatures with high impact. It’s a formidable card in Commander, where its cascade ability can turn the tide of the game in your favor.
Combo Potential: With not one, but four cascade triggers, Apex Devastator can chain into an array of spellcasting sequences, unleashing potential combos that overwhelm opponents. Its ability to dig deep into your deck and play spells for free can synergize with decks built around spell-casting or top-deck strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors big, game-ending turns, Apex Devastator can be a key player. It shines in environments where casting multiple spells in a turn can outpace opponents’ control or stalling tactics, making it a game-changer in the right deck.
How to Beat Apex Devastator
Apex Devastator is a behemoth in Magic: The Gathering, known for cascading not once but four times, potentially unleashing a flurry of spells from the top of your library. This creature presents a daunting presence on the battlefield and can seem nearly insurmountable at first. But like every card in MTG, it has its weaknesses.
To effectively counter this formidable creature, it is essential to disrupt its cascade mechanic. Counterspells are your first line of defense, preventing Apex Devastator from ever entering the battlefield. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can also be effective if you deal with the creature once it lands on the board, assuming you can navigate around any cascaded spells. Board wipes such as Damnation or Wrath of God can be crucial to reset the field after an opponent’s cascade sequence. Efficient spot removal and timely board clearings are the keys to turning the tide against Apex Devastator. Utilizing these strategies will help you maintain control and ultimately achieve victory against this massive Cascade trigger.
BurnMana Recommendations
Embarking on your MTG journey with the knowledge of how to leverage the mighty Apex Devastator can give you an edge in your gameplay. Understanding both its strengths and potential weaknesses allows you to make informed decisions about incorporating this card into your decks. From its unparalleled cascade ability to resource acceleration, Apex Devastator can be a game changer in the right setting. However, be mindful of its high mana cost and the necessity for a diverse mana base. Interested in mastering the cascade mechanic and optimizing Apex Devastator’s potential in your deck strategies? Dive deeper with us for insights and tips to craft a winning strategy around this great card. Learn more and elevate your MTG skills today.
Cards like Apex Devastator
Apex Devastator might be a powerhouse in Magic: The Gathering, but it’s certainly not unique in its cascade ability. It stands shoulder to shoulder with spells like Maelstrom Wanderer, which also grants players two cascade chances. However, the Devastator takes it a notch higher by offering not one but four separate cascade events, escalating the potential for an overwhelming board presence. Maelstrom Wanderer compensates for fewer cascades with creature buffs and grants all your creatures haste—an advantage that can turn the tide of a game instantly.
When stacked against Bloodbraid Elf, another card known for its cascade trait, the difference becomes quite stark. Bloodbraid Elf, with a smaller frame and just a single cascade event, falls short of the sheer value Apex Devastator provides. However, it comes out much earlier in the game due to its lower casting cost. This points to a strategic trade-off between early game tempo and late-game impact.
Finally, consider the case of Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder, a card that can grant cascade to other spells but requires combat-related conditionals to activate. Apex Devastator’s straightforward and colossal cascade effect makes it an intimidating creature when it hits the battlefield, poised to tip the scales significantly in your favor.
Cards similar to Apex Devastator by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Apex Devastator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Apex Devastator and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Apex Devastator Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 86000 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | ||
| 2 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 674 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 3 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 217 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Apex Devastator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Apex Devastator card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-11-10 | Each instance of cascade triggers and resolves separately. The spell you cast due to the first cascade ability will go on the stack on top of the second, third, and fourth cascade abilities. That spell will resolve before you exile cards for the second cascade ability. The spell you cast for the second will resolve before you exile cards for the third, and so on. |
| 2020-11-10 | Each of Apex Devastator's four cascade abilities will look for a nonland card with mana value less than 10 (Apex Devastator's mana value). This doesn't change even if one or more of the spells you cast because of those cascade abilities has cascade itself. Each of those additional cascade abilities, if any, will refer to the mana value of the spell that caused it to trigger. In other words, each cascade ability cares only about the spell that caused it to trigger, the stack can get messy, and we wish you luck. |
| 2021-06-18 | A spell's mana value is determined only by its mana cost. Ignore any alternative costs, additional costs, cost increases, or cost reductions. |
| 2021-06-18 | Cascade triggers when you cast the spell, meaning that it resolves before that spell. If you end up casting the exiled card, it will go on the stack above the spell with cascade. |
| 2021-06-18 | Due to a 2021 rules change to cascade, not only do you stop exiling cards if you exile a nonland card with lesser mana value than the spell with cascade, but the resulting spell you cast must also have lesser mana value. Previously, in cases where a card's mana value differed from the resulting spell, such as with some modal double-faced cards or cards with an Adventure, you could cast a spell with a higher mana value than the exiled card. |
| 2021-06-18 | If a spell with cascade is countered, the cascade ability will still resolve normally. |
| 2021-06-18 | If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2021-06-18 | If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the card. |
| 2021-06-18 | The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves. If cascade allows you to cast a split card, you may cast either half but not both halves. |
| 2021-06-18 | When the cascade ability resolves, you must exile cards. The only optional part of the ability is whether or not you cast the last card exiled. |
| 2021-06-18 | You exile the cards face up. All players will be able to see them. |
