Cabal Ritual MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Threshold

Key Takeaways

  1. Ramps up mana resources, enabling powerful plays and complex strategy development.
  2. Instant speed allows for flexible, unforeseen maneuvers during play.
  3. Threshold requirement is demanding but rewards players with a substantial mana boost.

Text of card

Add o Bo Bo B to your mana pool. Threshold Instead add o Bo Bo Bo Bo B to your mana pool. (You have threshold if seven or more cards are in your graveyard.)

"Each syllable chills your veins. Each word rattles your mind." —Cabal Patriarch


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cabal Ritual greatly aids in ramping up your mana resources. Despite not providing card draw directly, the additional mana can be fundamental in enabling plays that can lead to drawing more cards or casting multiple spells in a single turn.

Resource Acceleration: This card shines in its ability to generate a significant boost in mana. For a relatively low investment, you can produce three or even five black mana if you have threshold, setting you up for a powerful game-changing spell or a quick development of your board presence.

Instant Speed: The card operates at instant speed, allowing for flexibility and surprise plays. You can respond to opponents’ actions or end-of-turn maneuvers to optimize your strategy without telegraphing your moves in advance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cabal Ritual doesn’t explicitly ask you to discard cards, it does necessitate having threshold (seven or more cards in your graveyard) to achieve maximum value. For many decks, particularly those that don’t self-mill, this can be a steep requirement, indirectly leading to a need for card disposal to reach that count.

Specific Mana Cost: Cabal Ritual asks for two black mana, which can be restrictive for multicolored decks that don’t prioritize black mana. This makes it less flexible than other mana acceleration options that may have colorless costs or provide multiple colors of mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial output of three black mana for two is decent, but in a game where efficiency is key, spending two mana to only net one can be sub-optimal. Other mana accelerants can offer better ratios or additional benefits, making Cabal Ritual a sometimes lackluster choice, especially if its threshold condition isn’t met.


Reasons to Include Cabal Ritual in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Ritual is a powerhouse in any deck that thrives on harnessing bursts of black mana. Its ability to slot into a variety of archetypes makes it a must-have for players who enjoy flexible and adaptive gameplay.

Combo Potential: As a card that excels in generating large amounts of mana, Cabal Ritual is the backbone in numerous combos. It’s often a key component in storm decks that aim to cast multiple spells in a single turn, exponentially increasing their power.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where speed and efficiency are paramount, Cabal Ritual stands out. It enables powerful plays much earlier than normal, keeping pace with or outstripping other prominent strategies. Its continued relevance in various formats ensures it’s a smart addition for any competitive player’s collection.


How to Beat

Cabal Ritual is a renowned powerhouse in Magic: The Gathering, particularly within formats that embrace fast mana acceleration. Known for its ability to rapidly increase a player’s mana pool, this card enables explosive plays as players delve into their darker arsenals. However, while the temptation to harness such power may be alluring, every card has its Achilles’ heel. As you face off against Cabal Ritual, remember the importance of disrupting your opponent’s graveyard.

Strategies to counter this burst of mana revolve around graveyard control. Employing cards that can exile or diminish a graveyard’s potency can effectively render Cabal Ritual less impactful. Prioritize effects like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, which can neutralize graveyard-based strategies from the get-go. Moreover, conserving instant-speed removal or counter spells for key moments when your opponent aims to cast Cabal Ritual can disrupt their elaborate plans and tempo, steering the game back into your favor.

Ultimately, understanding and anticipating the climactic moments when Cabal Ritual can turn the tides is crucial. Timely intervention and a keen sense of when to rattle your opponent’s strategy can ensure that this potent spell doesn’t eclipse your path to victory in a shadow of overwhelming mana.


BurnMana Recommendations

Unlocking the secrets of MTG not only demands a strategic grasp but also a keen sense of timing and resource management. Cabal Ritual serves as a beacon for deck builders aiming to cast imposing spells swiftly or summon an army of creatures all at once. As you refine your deck and plan your route to victory, consider the utility of Cabal Ritual for a formidable mana surge, particularly in decks where reaching threshold is part of the game plan. Unleash its full potential and transform your playstyle into one that opponents will dread. Still pondering your options? Dive into our resources to discover the profound impact that Cabal Ritual can have on your gameplay.


Cards like Cabal Ritual

Cabal Ritual is a key player in the world of mana acceleration in Magic: The Gathering, sharing this space with notable companions. Dark Ritual, an iconic spell, is a pioneer in the realm of rapid mana generation, offering three black mana at just one mana cost without any prior conditions. Cabal Ritual, for a slightly higher cost, provides similar output, but with the potential to produce five black mana with Threshold.

Exploring this theme further leads us to Culling the Weak, which generates four mana at the expense of a creature sacrifice. These one-time bursts of mana advantage are pivotal in empowering combo decks and can lead to game-winning plays. Comparatively, Cabal Ritual avoids creature sacrifice but delivers less mana without Threshold. Then, there’s Desperate Ritual from the Red slice of the MTG pie, pumping out three red mana. However, it is bound by the Splice onto Arcane mechanic, distinctly different from Cabal Ritual’s straightforward mana boost.

To sum up, Cabal Ritual stands with its peers as a flexible cornerstone for explosive turns. Whether enabling a game-ending storm of spells or accelerating your game plan, it is a potent tool for any MTG player aiming to manipulate the resource game.

Dark Ritual - MTG Card versions
Culling the Weak - MTG Card versions
Desperate Ritual - MTG Card versions
Dark Ritual - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Culling the Weak - Exodus (EXO)
Desperate Ritual - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

Cards similar to Cabal Ritual by color, type and mana cost

Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Shallow Grave - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Command - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Terror - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Diabolic Edict - Masters 25 (A25)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Shallow Grave - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - Magic 2012 (M12)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Ritual MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Vintage 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 Cabal Ritual and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Cabal Ritual Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2016-08-19. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-02-04TormentTOR 511997normalblackGreg Hildebrandt
22014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1062015normalblackGreg Hildebrandt
32016-08-19From the Vault: LoreV16 22015normalblackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cabal Ritual has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks