Havoc Demon MTG Card
2003-02-03 - Number 74
2016-06-10 - Number 90
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Demon |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Havoc Demon delivers a powerful board clear with its death-triggered -5/-5 effect on all creatures.
- Despite its high mana cost, it fits into diverse strategies and shifts game dynamics significantly.
- Counterspells, exile, and graveyard disruption are efficient methods to nullify Havoc Demon’s impact.
Text of card
Flying When Havoc Demon is put into a graveyard from play, all creatures get -5/-5 until end of turn.
A cry of pain as it enters this world. A chorus of screams as it leaves.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Havoc Demon ensures valuable card advantage due to its formidable power and flying ability, often requiring multiple cards from your opponent to deal with it. This can lead to a situation where you, as the player, are ahead in terms of resources and options on the board.
Resource Acceleration: When Havoc Demon leaves the battlefield, creatures get -5/-5 until end of turn, clearing the board of smaller threats. This effect can accelerate your game plan by removing multiple creatures for the cost of one, effectively giving you a cleaner slate to execute your strategy.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the death-triggered ability of Havoc Demon can interact favorably during any phase of the game. It pairs well with instant speed sacrifice outlets or removal spells, allowing you to time the trigger for maximum impact, often during your opponent’s most crucial turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Engaging Havoc Demon’s abilities in your game plan comes with the caveat that you must discard cards, which could put you at a disadvantage by depleting essential hand resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning Havoc Demon demands a fixed mana combination which can be challenging to assemble, especially in a multi-colored deck, potentially causing delayed plays or conflicts with mana availability.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment to bring Havoc Demon into play is significant, which might not align with the card’s impact on the game state, especially when there are creatures with lower casting costs and comparable or superior effects.
Reasons to Include Havoc Demon in Your Collection
Versatility: Havoc Demon offers flexibility across various deck archetypes. Its impactful board presence suits strategies centered around sacrifice effects and creature-based synergies.
Combo Potential: This card thrives in setups that capitalize on death triggers. Its ability to clear the board creates opportunities for attrition strategies or setting up for a game-winning play.
Meta-Relevance: Considering its power to disrupt creature-heavy decks, Havoc Demon can be a utility card for shifting metas, especially when creatures dominate the battlefield. Its presence can pivot the game in your favor when timed correctly.
How to beat Havoc Demon
Havoc Demon presents a unique challenge on the MTG battlefield. This formidable creature brings a demanding board presence, but there are strategies to tackle it effectively. The key to overcoming Havoc Demon lies in preventing it from leveraging its death-triggered ability. One approach is to remove it without destroying it, such as through exile effects or cards that force a player to sacrifice a creature. Cards like Path to Exile or Diabolic Edict can bypass Havoc Demon’s ability while neutralizing the threat it poses.
Alternatively, employing counterspells like Negate or Essence Scatter when Havoc Demon is cast can prevent it from hitting the field in the first place. Tactics involving graveyard disruption can also be effective by making sure that reanimation strategies fall short. Consider Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void to keep Havoc Demon from returning once it hits the graveyard. Lastly, keeping a resilient board or indestructible creatures can mitigate the impact of its death-trigger ability, ensuring your side of the battlefield remains unscathed when Havoc Demon’s effect resolves.
Understanding its weaknesses and having the right tools at your disposal will allow you to maintain control over the game, even when faced with this powerful demon.
Cards like Havoc Demon
Havoc Demon in Magic: The Gathering joins the ranks of impactful flying creatures with an explosive exit. Reflecting on Doomgape, another creature card that shares the trait of causing a significant effect upon leaving the battlefield. Doomgape devours a creature each upkeep, whereas our Havoc Demon unleashes chaos by giving all creatures -5/-5 upon its death. This can dramatically alter the board in your favor, and timing its demise becomes a strategic decision.
Comparably, Abyssal Gatekeeper may be less powerful but invokes a similar feel. It forces a sacrifice of a creature upon death, affecting both you and your opponent. However, Havoc Demon’s ability to potentially clear out multiple creatures at once is unmatched. The latter’s higher mana cost is justified by the broader scope of devastation it can bring.
Moving on, Reiver Demon also resonates with Havoc Demon’s theme, yet the Reiver enters the battlefield, causing nonartifact, nonblack creatures to be destroyed. Reiver Demon is more targeted in its destruction, setting it apart from Havoc Demon’s equal opportunity havoc. In the panorama of destructive force, Havoc Demon offers MTG players a unique combination of aerial threat and mass removal potential.
Cards similar to Havoc Demon by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Havoc Demon MTG card by a specific set like Legions and Eternal Masters, 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 Havoc Demon 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 Havoc Demon Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-02-03 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-02-03 | Legions | LGN | 74 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
| 2 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 90 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jack Wang |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Havoc Demon has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Havoc Demon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | All creatures on the battlefield when Havoc Demon’s triggered ability resolves are affected. Ones that enter the battlefield or become creatures later in the turn are not. |
