Cabal Executioner MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Cleric
Abilities	Morph
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	130
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Rebecca Guay

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by controlling the board and impeding opponent strategies.
Excels with instant speed spells, enhancing its tactical battlefield presence.
Dual natured in deck utility, serving aggressively and as a control element.

Text of card

Whenever Cabal Executioner deals combat damage to a player, that player sacrifices a creature. Morph o3o Bo B (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for o3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cabal Executioner is designed to potentially remove opposing creatures from the board, which can lead to gaining card advantage. By making it harder for your opponent to maintain a presence on the board, you indirectly affect their card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While Cabal Executioner itself does not generate additional mana or treasure tokens, its role in disrupting your opponent’s strategy can lead to an indirect form of resource acceleration. By eliminating blockers or key creatures, you pave the way for more successful attacks, which may lead to additional card draw or effects that do accelerate your resources.

Instant Speed: This card synergizes well with instant speed spells and abilities. By using it alongside such interactions, you can optimize the timing of the Executioner’s attack to surprise an unprepared opponent during combat or before they have the chance to buff their creatures, making it a tactical asset on the field.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As with many powerful spells, the Cabal Executioner comes with the steep price of discarding a card. This can be particularly troublesome when your hand is already dwindling and every card counts towards your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Sporting a need for Black mana, this card’s specific mana cost can sometimes clash with multicolored deck builds, making it less optimal for decks that aren’t heavily leaning into Black’s slice of the mana pie.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana may not seem exorbitant but considering the pace of play and other options available, the Cabal Executioner’s mana investment might not always align with the efficiency sought by players aiming to streamline their deck’s performance.

Reasons to Include Cabal Executioner in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Executioner offers flexibility in deck building with its ability to be a key component in both aggressive and control strategies. This creature’s synergy with reanimation or sacrifice-focused decks makes it a meaningful addition for various playstyles.

Combo Potential: With its morbid ability that allows it to destroy a creature when it dies if a creature died this turn, Cabal Executioner can be an integral part of combos that rely on creature deaths to trigger powerful effects or gain strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where small creature strategies are prominent, having a card that potentially removes an opponent’s key creature can be a game changer. The Executioner serves as an efficient removal tool on a stick, adapting well to shifts in the competitive landscape.

How to beat

The Cabal Executioner presents a unique challenge on the battlefield, bringing both prowess and peril to your opponent’s creatures. Understanding the intrinsic power of this card is vital for crafting an effective strategy against it. One prominent tactic to outmaneuver the Cabal Executioner lies in exploiting its vulnerability to removal spells. Cards like Path to Exile or Doom Blade can swiftly remove the Executioner from play before its abilities become problematic.

Much like a game of chess, deploying creatures strategically can circumvent the Executioner’s strengths. Playing creatures with hexproof or shroud can nullify the Executioner’s intimidation tactics, as they become untargetable. Alternatively, playing creatures with ‘when they die’ triggers can transform what seems to be a disadvantage into a strategic benefit, turning the table on the Executioner by using its ability to your own advantage.

It’s a high-stakes mind game that rewards foresight and cunning. Whenever the Cabal Executioner looms on the battlefield, remember: proper timing, smart deployment, and targeted removal are key to dismantling its power and safeguarding your forces.

Cards like Cabal Executioner

The Cabal Executioner card is an interesting enigma nestled within the vast array of creatures found in the Magic: The Gathering universe. At its core, the Cabal Executioner shares similarities with other intimidating creatures like Toxic Nim, given their abilities to potentially clear out blockers or be a recurring threat. The Executioner, with morbid, can take out a creature after one has died this turn, akin to Toxic Nim’s sheer force when attacking alone.

Looking at the Skulking Knight, another card that strikes a chord with the Cabal Executioner, both demonstrate the tension of risk versus reward. The Skulking Knight can be a more budget-friendly alternative but comes with the downside of being susceptible to spell-targeting from the opponent, illustrating a delicate balance that isn’t an issue for the protection from white that the Executioner boasts.

Within the realm of MTG, the Cabal Executioner stands out with its specific set of powers that demand cunning and strategic board awareness. This makes it a candidate for deck themes gravitating towards control and selective elimination, establishing its niche among black creatures that cater to a similar strategy.

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

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Executioner MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, 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 Executioner and other MTG cards: