Hecatomb MTG Card

Hecatomb clears multiple threats, leveraging board wipes for significant card advantage. Instant speed activation provides strategic flexibility, disrupting opponent plays effectively. Demands high caution with card discarding, requiring precise timing for maximum impact.

Ice Age (ICE)
1995-06-03 - Number 130

Fifth Edition (5ED)
1997-03-24 - Number 167

Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
1999-04-21 - Number 136

Masters Edition (ME1)
2007-09-10 - Number 71

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment

Text of card

When Hecatomb comes into play, sacrifice four creatures. : Tap target swamp you control to have Hecatomb deal 1 damage to target creature or player.

Cards like Hecatomb

Hecatomb stands out in the realm of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering, offering an ability similar to cards like Black Market. While Black Market accumulates charge counters to provide extra mana, Hecatomb demands the sacrifice of four creatures to activate and turns any swamp into a source of damage. The differences between these cards open diverse strategies, as Hecatomb transforms land into a repeatable source of damage while Black Market focuses on ramping up your mana pool over time.

Grave Pact is another enchantment with a penchant for creature sacrifice, but instead of directly dealing damage, it forces opponents to sacrifice creatures as well. This creates a different dynamic in gameplay where Hecatomb’s direct damage can alter board states immediately, Grave Pact plays a more controlling, systematic role. Then there’s Attrition, which also leverages creature sacrifice but targeted towards creature destruction rather than the sweeping impact of Hecatomb.

Analyzing these cards in relation to Hecatomb, we can see it occupies a unique niche. Its ability to convert every death into potential damage makes it a formidable tool, especially in decks that can easily generate creature tokens or benefit from creatures dying, like those leveraging the morbid mechanic.

Cards similar to Hecatomb by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The essence of Hecatomb is to decimate your opponent’s board presence while swinging the tide of the game in your favor. In a twist of fate, the cards you would forfeit become the seeds of your ascension. By potentially clearing multiple threats at once, Hecatomb not only disrupts the equilibrium but also carves a path for you to leverage this newfound edge into card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Magic the Gathering is a game where tempo can determine the victor, and Hecatomb aligns perfectly with this adage. The immediate impact Hecatomb has by clearing opponent’s creatures can rapidly shift the momentum in your favor. Though not directly providing mana or resources, the acceleration comes from surgically removing resource-intensive threats from your path, catapulting your game plan unimpeded towards victory.

Instant Speed: The power to act on the whisper of intuition is what instant speed gifts a player. Hecatomb’s capability to be activated at instant speed offers flexibility and a psychological edge. You can navigate through your turn with the poise of a chess grandmaster, knowing you can unleash devastation in the midst of your adversary’s strategies, disrupting their most calculated plays in the blink of an eye.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hecatomb demands the player to discard three cards to play it, which can rapidly deplete your hand, leaving fewer options for future plays.

Specific Mana Cost: With a strict necessity for three black mana, Hecatomb is often restricted to mono-black or heavily black-focused decks, limiting its versatility in a diverse meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its initial cost of five mana, players should weigh if Hecatomb’s eventual payoff justifies the investment, particularly when there are alternative lower-cost cards that can produce or support similar strategies.

Reasons to Include Hecatomb in Your Collection

Versatility: Hecatomb is a unique enchantment that offers a variety of strategic options for black-focused deck builders. Due to its ability to consume creatures for a powerful effect, it can easily be slotted into sacrifice-themed decks or ones that benefit from death triggers.

Combo Potential: The synergy between Hecatomb and decks that generate token creatures can be game-changing. Players can create devastating combinations by using these tokens as fuel for its ability to deal damage directly to creatures or players, leading to potential board control or direct win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Hecatomb can serve as a potent deterrent. Its ability to pick off smaller creatures with ease can disrupt opponents’ game plans and give you a significant edge in creature-heavy metas.

How to beat

Hecatomb is a powerful Magic: The Gathering card that can be a real challenge to overcome on the battlefield. To tilt the odds in your favor, a sound strategy is to keep the board clear of creatures, especially those with converted mana cost 1. Since Hecatomb requires sacrificing such creatures to activate, an opponent’s depleted board means Hecatomb lies dormant. Control decks excelling in creature removal are particularly effective in this matchup.

Enchantment removal spells are also invaluable tools to directly address Hecatomb. Disenchant and Naturalize are classic examples that can remove the troublesome enchantment before it accrues too much value. Additionally, employing counterspells can prevent Hecatomb from ever hitting the field. By strategically managing your removal spells or counterspells, you stand a better chance of disarming this threat and preserving your life total and board presence.

Ultimately, an approach that balances creature control and targeted enchantment disruption gives you the upper hand against Hecatomb. Considering the high impact of this enchantment, it is crucial to reserve resources for timely intervention, rendering Hecatomb inert and thus swinging the momentum in your favor.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hecatomb MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, 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 Hecatomb and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hecatomb Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1995-06-03	Ice Age	ICE	130	1993	Normal	Black	NéNé Thomas
2	1997-03-24	Fifth Edition	5ED	167	1997	Normal	White	George Pratt
3	1999-04-21	Classic Sixth Edition	6ED	136	1997	Normal	White	George Pratt
4	2007-09-10	Masters Edition	ME1	71	1997	Normal	Black	NéNé Thomas

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hecatomb has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If you have less than 4 creatures, you do not partially sacrifice. You pay 4 creatures or none.
2004-10-04	The sacrifice is done as a triggered ability just after it enters the battlefield. It is not done on casting.
2004-10-04	You choose whether to sacrifice creatures or not on resolution. If not, then you sacrifice Hecatomb. You can choose to not sacrifice creatures if you no longer control this card on resolution.