Cruel Edict MTG Card
1998-06-24 - Number 67
2005-07-29 - Number 121★
2005-07-29 - Number 121
2007-07-13 - Number 133
2009-04-10 - Number 48
2014-12-05 - Number 48
2002-06-24 - Number 35062
2007-01-01 - Number 5
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Your opponent chooses one of his or her creatures. Destroy that creature.
"Such a fragile organ, the brain." —Tojira, swamp queen
Cards like Cruel Edict
The presence of Cruel Edict in Magic: The Gathering’s vast library of spells highlights the game’s intricate balance between cost, effect, and flexibility. This particular card echoes the ability found in other black spells where opponents are forced to sacrifice creatures. One such counterpart is Diabolic Edict which serves a twin purpose at an identical mana cost. Yet, whereas Cruel Edict is a sorcery, Diabolic Edict gains the upper hand with its instant speed, offering strategic advantages by disrupting enemy plans at critical junctures.
Geth’s Verdict is another relative, requiring the same mana investment but adding a slight twist by causing the opponent to lose one life. This subtle addition can be the key to victory in tight, race-like scenarios. Chainer’s Edict escalates the mechanic further – it not only acts effectively as a creature removal but, with its flashback ability, can return from the graveyard to claim another victim, albeit at a higher mana premium.
All things considered, Cruel Edict stands strong in the roster of sacrifice-enforcing spells due to its straightforward nature and solid gameplay impact. Despite fierce competition within its category, its efficacy in altering the battlefield dynamic makes it a card worth considering in various deck strategies.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Cruel Edict does a stellar job in forcing opponents to sacrifice a creature. This can effectively reduce their board presence, giving you a leg up in controlling the flow of the game. If played when the opponent only has one creature on the battlefield, it ensures an advantageous one-for-one trade.
Resource Acceleration: While this spell doesn’t directly ramp your mana, it indirectly accelerates your resources by preserving your creatures on the board. As your opponent’s creatures diminish, your forces stand unchallenged, allowing for potential offensive or defensive plays that can lead to a quicker victory.
Instant Speed: Although Cruel Edict is a sorcery, what it lacks in casting speed it makes up for in strategic depth. Its timing of use can be pivotal. Employing it soon after an opponent casts an expensive creature or when their creature defenses are lowest can maximize the impact of this removal spell, disrupting their strategy and tipping the scales in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Cruel Edict forces an opponent to sacrifice a creature, it doesn’t specifically target which one, potentially allowing an opponent to choose a less valuable creature as the sacrifice, weakening the impact of the card on their game state.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s black mana requirement limits flexibility, making it a less viable option in multicolored decks that might struggle to produce the necessary black mana consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, other removal options could be more mana-efficient, particularly in settings where faster plays are crucial, and the pace of the game doesn’t favor more expensive spells.
Reasons to Include Cruel Edict in Your Collection
Versatility: Cruel Edict offers an important tactical advantage in various deck builds, especially in black-based control or removal-focused strategies. Its ability to force an opponent to sacrifice a creature bypasses indestructibility and other protective spells.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with graveyard manipulation or recursion mechanics, setting the stage for advantageous plays. It can also complement cards that thrive on opponents’ creatures dying, such as those with morbid triggers.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment rich with creature-based strategies, Cruel Edict shines by efficiently dealing with single threats. It’s particularly effective against decks that rely on a key creature or those that protect their valuable assets with hexproof or shroud.
How to beat
Cruel Edict is a powerful spell in the world of Magic: The Gathering, compelling a player to sacrifice a creature. This can disrupt strategies and remove key pieces from the game. To effectively navigate around Cruel Edict, players should maintain creature redundancy. Having multiple creatures on the battlefield ensures that sacrificing one doesn’t devastate your board presence. Tokens or creatures that can easily be regenerated or recurred from the graveyard are particularly useful in these scenarios.
Another tactic involves creatures with hexproof or shroud abilities, which are not viable targets for Cruel Edict. These creatures can be invaluable in maintaining a stronghold despite your opponent’s attempts to whittle down your defenses. Alternatively, utilizing instant-speed spells or abilities that can summon creatures during your opponent’s turn can also mitigate the impact of Cruel Edict, leaving you prepared for your next move.
It’s also crucial for players to anticipate removal spells like Edict effects in their deck composition and game strategy. Adaptability and protective measures can dull the edge of removal spells, keeping you one step ahead in the tactical dance that is Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Cruel Edict MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Magic Online 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 Cruel Edict 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
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Printings
The Cruel Edict Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 67 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeffrey R. Busch | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 35062 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Ellis | ||
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 121★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 4 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 121 | 2003 | Normal | White | Michael Sutfin | |
| 5 | Magic Player Rewards 2007 | P07 | 5 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Steve Ellis | ||
| 6 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 133 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 7 | 2009-04-10 | Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic | DDC | 48 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin | |
| 8 | 2014-12-05 | Duel Decks Anthology: Divine vs. Demonic | DVD | 48 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Michael Sutfin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Cruel Edict has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |