Demon of Catastrophes MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Demon
Abilities Flying,Trample
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Graveyard strategies benefit from its creature sacrifice, enabling card advantage and death-trigger synergies.
  2. A 6/6 flyer for four mana, it offers rapid board dominance but requires precise black mana to cast.
  3. Demands a creature sacrifice, aligning well with decks that thrive on death-trigger mechanics and effects.

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature. Flying, trample


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Demon of Catastrophes provides significant card advantage albeit indirectly. By sacrificing a creature, you enable graveyard-based strategies or trigger death-related abilities, potentially drawing cards or recouping the loss through those synergies.

Resource Acceleration: Offering a formidable 6/6 flying trample body for the mere cost of four mana, including sacrificing a creature, this card accelerates your board presence significantly. Relative to its power level, this quickly gets you ahead in the race for board dominance.

Instant Speed: Although the Demon itself does not operate at instant speed, its requirement for a creature sacrifice can be advantageous with instant-speed interactions. You can respond to removal spells targeting a creature by sacrificing it as the cost for your Demon, effectively nullifying your opponent’s attempts to diminish your resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unleashing the Demon of Catastrophes onto the battlefield isn’t without sacrifice – you must bid farewell to another creature you control. Players find themselves in a bind when their board is scarce or when letting go of that creature could cost them the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Summoning this formidable demon requires a precise concoction of mana – two colorless and two black. This can prove challenging in multicolored decks where black mana isn’t abundant, robbing you of the chance to play this beastly card at the opportune moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Four mana to summon a creature as menacing as the Demon of Catastrophes sounds like a fair deal, but in a game where efficiency is king, the cost is a steep climb. Many players might opt for creatures that bring more to the fray without such stringent requirements or perhaps for less mana, securing their battlefield position more assuredly.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Demon of Catastrophes offers a powerful presence on the battlefield that can adapt to various strategic plays. Being a significant threat on its own, it can slide into a range of black-based decks, from aggressive builds to more controlling schemes that can exploit its substantial size.

Combo Potential: With its sacrifice requirement for casting, Demon of Catastrophes naturally synergizes with decks that capitalize on death triggers or graveyard strategies. It also provides a high-value creature for sacrifice-themed decks looking to activate morbid abilities or other linked mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to quickly become a dominant force against opponents, Demon of Catastrophes can effectively pressure decks that lack immediate answers. In an environment where big creatures can turn the tide, having such an efficiently costed behemoth can be a critical addition to your arsenal.


How to beat

The Demon of Catastrophes card presents a challenging obstacle with its swift and substantial power on the MTG battlefield. This card is notable for its cost-effective ability to overwhelm opponents, emerging as a potent force when a creature is sacrificed as part of its casting cost. While this may seem daunting, there are reliable strategies to counteract its dominance.

Effective removal spells are key to managing this threat. Cards like Path to Exile or Murder offer a straightforward solution to exile or destroy this towering demon, irrespective of its formidable 6/6 stats. Additionally, countering the spell as it’s cast can prevent it from ever hitting the field, making cards like Counterspell or Essence Scatter crucial tools. Players can also turn to enchantments that neutralize the demon without destroying it, such as Pacifism, effectively taking it out of combat and nullifying its intimidating presence.

Understanding the importance of timing and resources is essential in overcoming the Demon of Catastrophes. Having the right answers at the right time assures that even the most catastrophic demons can be contained, preserving the balance on the battlefield and driving towards victory.


Cards like Demon of Catastrophes

Demon of Catastrophes offers a significant presence on the battlefield with its quick ability to become a threatening force in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often put side by side with cards like Lord of the Pit, which shares the archetype of a high-powered flyer that demands a sacrifice. While Lord of the Pit requires a tribute each turn, Demon of Catastrophes requires a one-time sacrifice as it enters the battlefield, allowing for a strategic setup.

Ravenous Demon is another card that conjures a comparison. It carries the sacrifice theme as well, but unlike Demon of Catastrophes, it transforms into the more powerful Archdemon of Greed. This transformation mechanism presents a different set of tactical considerations. Desecration Demon stands as a comparable threat but interacts with opponents by allowing them to sacrifice a creature to tap it, in contrast to the self-sacrifice of Demon of Catastrophes.

In the realm of sacrifice-driven creatures, Demon of Catastrophes stands out with its balance of risk and reward. By forgoing incremental sacrifices or conditional transformations, it offers immediate board impact which, in the right deck, could swing the game’s momentum to your favor.

Lord of the Pit - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Demon - MTG Card versions
Archdemon of Greed - MTG Card versions
Desecration Demon - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Pit - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Ravenous Demon - Dark Ascension Promos (PDKA)
Archdemon of Greed - Dark Ascension Promos (PDKA)
Desecration Demon - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

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

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Rag Man - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Debaser - MTG Card versions
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions
Slinking Skirge - MTG Card versions
Gravedigger - MTG Card versions
Scandalmonger - MTG Card versions
Urborg Shambler - MTG Card versions
Whispering Shade - MTG Card versions
Filth - MTG Card versions
Bold Plagiarist - MTG Card versions
Dirge Bat - MTG Card versions
Toxin Sliver - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Spirit - MTG Card versions
Nim Shambler - MTG Card versions
Bad Ass - MTG Card versions
Scourge of Numai - MTG Card versions
Akuta, Born of Ash - MTG Card versions
Deathgazer - MTG Card versions
Dirty Wererat - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - Chronicles (CHR)
Rag Man - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Phyrexian Debaser - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Slinking Skirge - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Gravedigger - The List (PLST)
Scandalmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Urborg Shambler - Invasion (INV)
Whispering Shade - Odyssey (ODY)
Filth - Judgment (JUD)
Bold Plagiarist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dirge Bat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Toxin Sliver - Legions (LGN)
Vampiric Spirit - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Nim Shambler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Bad Ass - Unhinged (UNH)
Scourge of Numai - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Akuta, Born of Ash - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Deathgazer - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Dirty Wererat - Hachette UK (PHUK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Demon of Catastrophes MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Core Set 2019 Promos, 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 Catastrophes and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Demon of Catastrophes Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 692462003normalblackIgor Kieryluk
22018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 912015normalblackIgor Kieryluk
32018-07-13Core Set 2019 PromosPM19 91s2015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
42018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 912015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
52022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 3972015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Demon of Catastrophes has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2018-07-13 Players can respond only after Demon of Catastrophes has been cast and all its costs have been paid. No one can try to destroy the creature you sacrificed to prevent you from casting this spell.
2018-07-13 You must sacrifice exactly one creature to cast Demon of Catastrophes; you can’t cast it without sacrificing a creature, and you can’t sacrifice additional creatures.

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