Diabolic Edict MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 14 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Forces opponents to sacrifice creatures, potentially tipping the balance in your favor during critical moments.
  2. Highly efficient instant speed removal, ideal for reactive play and keeping tempo with low mana cost.
  3. Limited by mono-black mana requirement and less effective against decks with numerous low-value creatures.

Text of card

Target player sacrifices a creature.

Greven *il*-Vec lifted Vhati off his feet. "The fall will give you time to think on your failure."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Can indirectly lead to card advantage by forcing an opponent to sacrifice a creature, which can be more critical than losing a card from your hand, especially when targeting expensive or utility creatures that they rely on for their strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration but efficiently utilizes the mana by having a low casting cost. This allows you to deploy other cards alongside Diabolic Edict, effectively advancing your board position without falling behind on resources.

Instant Speed: The power of Diabolic Edict is significantly amplified by its instant speed, enabling tactical flexibility. You can disrupt your opponent’s plays during their turn, wait for them to commit to a strategy, or respond to creature buffs and equipment before they can impact the board, while preserving mana for other spells if a better opportunity presents itself.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Diabolic Edict does not have a discard requirement itself, forcing an opponent to sacrifice a creature can be less efficient than targeted removal if the opponent has disposable creatures on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Diabolic Edict’s casting cost requires one black mana, which can limit its inclusion to decks that are prepared to generate that specific color of mana consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the mana cost against its effect, there are other removal options available that might provide more flexibility or additional benefits for a similar or lower investment of mana resources.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Diabolic Edict is a classic removal spell that can slide into a multitude of Black-centric decks. Its ability to make an opponent sacrifice a creature bypasses indestructible and hexproof defenses, making it a flexible choice in various gameplay situations.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with strategies that aim to control the board by forcing opponents into difficult positions. When combined with cards that restrict opponent’s creature plays, Diabolic Edict becomes a potent tool to clear the way for your win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where players tend to rely on a key creature or commander, the utility of Diabolic Edict shines. Its low mana cost and instant-speed interaction mean it can disrupt your opponent’s strategy efficiently, keeping you ahead in the game.


How to beat

Diabolic Edict is a powerful spell in MTG that forces a player to sacrifice a creature. This can be particularly disruptive when you’ve painstakingly built up your board presence. But fear not, there are ways to outmaneuver this card and maintain your battlefield advantage. One effective strategy is to maintain a steady stream of creature tokens. Cards that generate these tokens, such as Raise the Alarm or Dragon Fodder, ensure that you have expendable creatures to sacrifice, safeguarding your more valuable ones.

Another approach involves creatures with hexproof or shroud, preventing them from being targeted by spells and abilities, although this won’t directly stop Diabolic Edict as it doesn’t target. Lastly, consider cards with an “indestructible” attribute or those that can be easily recurred from your graveyard. This way, even if you do sacrifice a creature, it won’t be a permanent loss. By diversifying your creature base and employing these tactics, you can diminish the impact of Diabolic Edict and keep your game plan on track.


BurnMana Recommendations

Appreciating the nuanced tactics in MTG is key to your success as a player. Through understanding cards like Diabolic Edict, you can adapt your deck to challenge the evolving metagame effectively. Whether you aim to disrupt indestructible creatures or simply seek versatile removal options, Diabolic Edict could be a valuable addition to your arsenal. By balancing your deck with expendable creatures or including key cards that offer rebound potential, you can mitigate the effect of sacrifice-based control. Dive deeper into the strategic intricacies of MTG with us and discover how Diabolic Edict and cards like it can fortify your gameplay.


Cards like Diabolic Edict

Diabolic Edict stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a formidable force in the sphere of creature removal. It’s often compared to other removal spells like Chainer’s Edict, which not only forces a sacrifice but also has the upside of flashback, providing a second use. However, Diabolic Edict has the advantage of being an instant, allowing players to react swiftly to threats at any time during the game.

Another similar card, Geth’s Verdict, treads closely to Diabolic Edict’s territory by also mandating a creature sacrifice while causing the opponent to lose one life. The life loss adds a subtle layer of pressure, but Diabetic Edict’s lower mana cost grants it a quicker positioning on the board.

Analyzing the choices available for targeted creature removal, we see that Diabolic Edict’s combination of low cost and instant speed gives it a strong position among its peers. It represents a balance of timing and resource management that is crucial for players looking to maintain control over the battlefield.

Chainer's Edict - MTG Card versions
Geth's Verdict - MTG Card versions
Chainer's Edict - Torment (TOR)
Geth's Verdict - New Phyrexia (NPH)

Cards similar to Diabolic Edict by color, type and mana cost

Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Headstone - 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
Chill Haunting - MTG Card versions
Grim Harvest - MTG Card versions
Dash Hopes - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Terror - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
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 (CMR)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Chill Haunting - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Grim Harvest - Coldsnap (CSP)
Dash Hopes - The List (PLST)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Diabolic Edict MTG card by a specific set like Media Inserts and Tempest, 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 Diabolic Edict and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Diabolic Edict Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-01-02Media InsertsPMEI 312015normalblackRon Spencer
21997-10-14TempestTMP 1281997normalblackRon Spencer
31999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 js1281997normalgoldRon Spencer
42000-10-01Beatdown Box SetBTD 231997normalwhiteRon Spencer
52001-01-01Arena League 2001PAL01 101997normalblackRon Spencer
62002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325271997normalblackRon Spencer
72002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 624132015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
82015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 1022015normalblackRon Spencer
92017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 412015normalborderlessDaarken
102018-03-16Masters 25A25 852015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
112019-06-14Modern HorizonsMH1 872015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
122019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 6242015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
132020-09-26The ListPLST A25-852015normalblackFranz Vohwinkel
142022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 672015normalblackTetsu Kurosawa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Diabolic Edict has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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