Hand of Cruelty MTG Card


Offers indirect card advantage by pressuring opponents, making them deplete their resources more quickly. Its cost-efficiency promotes swift deployment, aiding in early game resource management and board development. Demands instant-speed responses, enhancing board state and influencing game dynamics to your favor.
Hand of Cruelty - Saviors of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Samurai
Abilities Bushido,Protection
Released2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameSaviors of Kamigawa
Set codeSOK
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number71
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byKev Walker

Text of card

Protection from white Bushido 1 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)

"The sword is just a tool. It is the samurai's hand that delivers death."


Cards like Hand of Cruelty

Hand of Cruelty makes a distinctive entrance into the roster of black creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It shares its two-mana cost with other creatures like Blacklance Paragon. Yet, Hand of Cruelty is unique with its consistent protection from white, ensuring it remains a thorn in the side of any deck that leans heavily on white spells or abilities to remove threats.

Comparable to Hand of Cruelty is Knight of Malice, which also has hexproof from white and gets stronger when any player controls a white permanent. While both cards are resilient against white, Hand of Cruelty offers the advantage of not relying on the presence of white permanents to maintain its combat effectiveness.

When gauging the potential within black creatures that excel in mono-color matchups, Hand of Cruelty stands out for its straightforward and reliable protection. This makes it a solid choice for any player looking to fortify their battlefield against white strategies.

Blacklance Paragon - MTG Card versions
Knight of Malice - MTG Card versions
Blacklance Paragon - MTG Card versions
Knight of Malice - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hand of Cruelty by color, type and mana cost

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Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
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Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions
Drudge Skeletons - MTG Card versions
Erg Raiders - MTG Card versions
Cuombajj Witches - MTG Card versions
Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions
Bog Imp - MTG Card versions
Wall of Corpses - MTG Card versions
Blighted Shaman - MTG Card versions
Rabid Rats - MTG Card versions
Dakmor Bat - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Rats - MTG Card versions
Flesh Reaver - MTG Card versions
Bloodcurdler - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Shade - MTG Card versions
Piper of the Swarm - MTG Card versions
Undead Augur - MTG Card versions
Shepherd of Rot - MTG Card versions
Swarm of Rats - MTG Card versions
Skullsnatcher - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Hand of Cruelty might not directly allow you to draw cards, its presence on the battlefield can significantly disrupt your opponent’s strategy. By demanding answers due to its inherent resilience and combat capabilities, you effectively pressure your opponent into using more of their resources to handle it, indirectly translating into card advantage for you.

Resource Acceleration: This card does not inherently accelerate resources in the traditional sense of ramping or producing additional mana. However, its efficiency in cost to power/toughness ratio allows for swift deployment, leaving mana available for other spells and interactions early in the game. Its low casting cost aids in resource management, helping you to develop your board while keeping mana reserved for reactive or supplementary plays.

Instant Speed: While Hand of Cruelty is not an instant, its static abilities can have a profound impact during the entire game cycle. The instant-speed advantage comes in the form of its immediate activation once on the battlefield. Protecting itself from spells of a certain color and boasting a solid stat line for its mana cost, this card demands instant-speed responses from your opponent, often at a higher resource cost to them. Its potency during each turn reinforces your board state and can sway the dynamics of the game, akin to the strategic depth provided by instant speed plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hand of Cruelty doesn’t actually necessitate discarding, having a hand with fewer cards can hinder its synergy with other cards in your deck, thus reducing its potential strategic value.

Specific Mana Cost: Hand of Cruelty demands specific mana (black), which might restrict deck-building options, particularly for those looking to run a multi-color deck that might not prioritize black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, albeit not expensive, there are other creatures with a similar mana cost that provide more immediate board impact or have more versatile abilities.


Reasons to Include Hand of Cruelty in Your Collection

Versatility: Hand of Cruelty offers a reliable two-drop creature that’s well suited for black decks seeking to establish early board presence. Its inherent protection from white spells renders it a solid defensive choice in a color known for offense.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its static abilities, Hand of Cruelty pairs well with cards that benefit from color-specific interactions and protection dynamics, enhancing both offensive and defensive combo plays within your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where white strategies prevail, Hand of Cruelty stands out as an excellent meta choice. Its resilience against white removal and blocking capabilities can give players an upper hand, making it an asset in competitive gameplay.


How to beat

Hand of Cruelty presents a unique challenge for Magic: The Gathering players due to its combination of protection and efficient damage capabilities. With a characteristic that makes it immune to white spells and abilities, this black Samurai is often seen as a threatening presence on the battlefield. The key to overcoming it lies in circumventing its protection. Utilizing spells that don’t target, such as global removals like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation,” can efficiently clear the creature from the board. Moreover, engaging in combat with formidable creatures that aren’t white can also be a practical way to handle this adversary.

Players need to adopt flexible strategies that aren’t reliant on targeting when facing cards similar to Hand of Cruelty. Including a mix of removals and board control cards can prove invaluable against creatures with protection. Additionally, adopting an aggressive approach with larger, non-white creatures could apply pressure and nullify the advantage that Hand of Cruelty may possess. In the arena of Magic: The Gathering, a diverse deck and an adaptable game plan are crucial in claiming victory over protective threats like Hand of Cruelty.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hand of Cruelty MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Hand of Cruelty and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hand of Cruelty has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal