Woebringer Demon MTG Card

Woebringer Demon - Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)

Ravnica: City of Guilds (RAV)
2005-10-07 - Number 113

Woebringer Demon - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)

Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
2024-01-12 - Number 98

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Demon
Abilities	Flying
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Capable of controlling the board, Woebringer Demon offers strategic advantage through its demanding sacrifice requirement.
It is a powerful card for decks that thrive on sacrificing creatures, enhancing combo potential and versatility.
While strong, its steep mana cost and upkeep sacrifice can present challenges, necessitating careful deck composition.

Text of card

Flying At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature. If the player can't, sacrifice Woebringer Demon.

Each soul he devours adds its hunger to his own.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Woebringer Demon provides a recurring method to potentially clear the board of creatures. This can lead to an attrition-based advantage if your opponents are unable to maintain a creature on the battlefield, letting you pull ahead in resources.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly contributing to traditional mana acceleration, Woebringer Demon pressures opponents into sacrificing creatures. This can indirectly accelerate your game plan by removing blockers and potential threats, allowing for more direct attacks to your opponent’s life total.

Instant Speed: Although Woebringer Demon itself is not a spell that can be cast at instant speed, it influences how both players utilize their instant-speed spells. Opposing players must consider whether to use removal on the demon at the risk of falling behind on board presence, potentially altering the pace of the game in your favor.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Woebringer Demon requires a sacrifice at each of your upkeeps, which could be a potential drawback, especially in decks with a limited number of creatures or those that rely on maintaining a broad presence on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a strict mana cost that includes two black mana symbols. This requirement might narrowly tailor your deck building options, especially in multi-colored decks, making it a less versatile choice if your mana base isn’t heavily skewed towards black.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The casting cost of Woebringer Demon is on the higher side, requiring a total of five mana, which can be a barrier to play earlier in the game when establishing board presence could be more critical.

Reasons to Include Woebringer Demon in Your Collection

Versatility: Woebringer Demon is a dynamic choice for decks focused on sacrifice and recursion themes. Its ability to constantly demand a creature sacrifice means it can skillfully manipulate the board state to its controller’s advantage.

Combo Potential: The demon’s innate power to force sacrifices each turn can be paired with numerous cards that capitalize on creature deaths. This opens up possibilities for combo plays that could lead to significant advantages or even game-winning scenarios.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, Woebringer Demon emerges as a formidable tool. Its recurring demand for sacrifices can stifle opponents’ plans and pave the way for your strategic maneuvers, making it a timely addition to a well-thought-out deck.

How to beat

Woebringer Demon presents a duality in Magic: The Gathering, joining the ranks of powerful yet risky cards that can dominate the battlefield or backfire. This flying behemoth requires you to sacrifice a creature at the beginning of your upkeep; fail to do so, and the Demon becomes its own demise. Overcoming such an imposing presence calls for strategic foresight. If you’re on the opposing side, exploiting its sacrificial demand is key.

Efforts like creature removal to strip its sacrificial fodder can turn the tide to your favor. When Woebringer Demon is bereft of creatures to consume, it self-destructs, clearing your path to victory. Instant-speed removal spells come in handy here, allowing you to disrupt the sacrifice during the upkeep before the demon’s ability resolves. Consider cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, which are efficient in removing the Demon’s supporting creatures and rendering it vulnerable. This tactic revolves around timing and resource management; strip its support at the right moment, and you transform an intimidating threat into a critical liability for your opponent.

Balancing the scales, remember that the battle against Woebringer Demon isn’t just about direct confrontation; it’s about outmaneuvering your opponent and strategically dismantling their plan piece by piece.

Cards like Woebringer Demon

Woebringer Demon is a unique creature card in MTG that presents a devilish twist for its controller. When comparing it with similar creature cards that require sacrifices, such as Abyssal Gatekeeper, the immediate difference is the size and power. Woebringer Demon brings a significant 4/4 flying body to the battlefield, while Abyssal Gatekeeper is a smaller 1/1 without flying.

Looking at Desecration Demon adds another layer to the analysis. Both are large flying demons, but Desecration Demon allows opponents to sacrifice a creature to tap and pacify it, whereas Woebringer Demon necessitates its controller to sacrifice a creature each turn or face its ominous sacrifice. Meanwhile, the likes of Archfiend of Depravity restrict player sacrifice to just two creatures per turn, providing a constrained yet predictable ritual.

Ultimately, Woebringer Demon has a high-risk-high-reward profile in creature-based decks, especially where sacrifice is beneficial. It is a potent airborne threat that can dominate games if the requisite sacrifices can be sustained, distinguishing itself among similar MTG cards through the constant dilemma it poses to its controller.

Archfiend of Depravity - MTG Card versions

Desecration Demon - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

Archfiend of Depravity - Fate Reforged (FRF)

Cards similar to Woebringer Demon by color, type and mana cost

Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions

Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions

Predatory Nightstalker - Vintage Masters (VMA)

Stone Catapult - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Sengir Vampire - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)

Earwig Squad - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Indulgent Tormentor - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Wei Elite Companions - Masters Edition III (ME3)

Shriekmaw - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Woebringer Demon MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Ravnica Remastered, 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 Woebringer Demon and other MTG cards: