Excruciator MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	8
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Avatar
Released	2005-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set code	RAV
Power	7
Toughness	7
Number	121
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Paolo Parente

Key Takeaways

Excruciator enforces a dynamic play style by demanding strategic mana ramping for its substantial cost.
Excellent for decks aiming to counteract common defensive tactics with its unblockable damage.
Requires carefully curated hand management and addressing its high mana cost through deck design.

Text of card

Damage that would be dealt by Excruciator can't be prevented.

"Though used as a piercing weapon, the tusk is more akin to a stinger, spreading pain instantly throughout the body of its victim. This specimen deserves further study." —Simic research notes

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Excruciator distinguishes itself as a powerful creature in Magic the Gathering, offering significant board presence that can pressure opponents effectively. Its unique ability to prevent damage prevention can be leveraged to maintain a lead when Excruciator is in play, gradually tilting the game in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Excruciator itself does not directly accelerate resources, its demanding eight-mana cost reinforces the need for effective mana ramp strategies. Decks that make use of this card often incorporate elements of resource acceleration to deploy Excruciator ahead of schedule, achieving overwhelming board states ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: This characteristic doesn’t apply directly to Excruciator as the card operates at sorcery speed. However, the threat it poses can influence the game similar to the flexibility offered by instant speed interaction. Opponents might need to hold back mana for answers to Excruciator rather than committing to their own plays, thus indirectly benefiting your game plan and shaping the pace of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Excruciator often necessitates a strategic setup of your hand, as it doesn’t involve a discard mechanic as its cost or effect. Keeping your hand full becomes essential to optimize its play, which might clash with your deck’s structure and put you at a disadvantage should you not have adequate card draw mechanisms.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Excruciator demands a specific mana investment of eight, including both generic and red mana. This stringent cost could easily impair the card’s compatibility with a variety of decks, especially those that operate on a tighter mana curve or those that are not deeply invested in red mana resources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Excruciator’s eight-mana casting cost is well on the higher end for creatures and can hamper its playability. In situations where swift board presence is crucial, the efficiency of Excruciator pales in comparison to creatures with lower mana costs. Its appearance in the late game might not be as impactful, given that many games could be nearing conclusion or in states where cheaper, more versatile threats or answers are prized.

Reasons to Include Excruciator in Your Collection

Versatility: Excruciator offers a unique ability to bypass damage prevention, which makes it a formidable threat across various opposing strategies. This red creature can become a staple in decks looking to deal direct damage in the face of common defensive measures.

Combo Potential: Its distinct damage clause can be leveraged in combos that are designed to penetrate through typically safe guards like protection and shrouding effects. Players can craft synergies that maximize unpreventable damage, making Excruciator a key component in aggressive red decks.

Meta-Relevance: In game environments where damage prevention is a popular tactic, Excruciator shines. It can shape the way opponents prepare their defenses, forcing them to adapt to its relentless attack strategy. Including it in your collection ensures that you have an answer to prevalent protective measures in MTG play.

How to beat

Excruciator stands as a formidable creature in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, recognized for its unique ability to bypass damage prevention. Wielding this eight-mana beast effectively blocks paths of defense that many rely on. To combat such a Goliath, smart play and specific card counters are paramount. Consider deploying removal spells that aren’t contingent on dealing damage, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, as they can swiftly dispatch the Excruciator without having to engage its damage prevention clause.

Additionally, control decks may find solace in cards like Counterspell to thwart the Excruciator’s casting or ensnaring it with enchantments that prevent it from attacking or blocking. Another strategy is to outpace your opponent, streamlining a more aggressive deck that overwhelms before the Excruciator can even enter the battlefield. Remember, adaptation and anticipation are key; knowing when to hold back that removal spell or when to push forward with your own threats can make all the difference in overcoming the challenge posed by the Excruciator.

In essence, when met with the Excruciator’s daunting presence, savvy players adapt their tactics, whether it’s through direct removal without damage, counter plays, or by simply racing past this veritable juggernaut in MTG.

Cards like Excruciator

Excruciator stands out in the realm of damage-dealing creatures in MTG. It shares the battlefield with other heavy hitters but is distinctive due to its unique ability to bypass damage prevention. Gruul Ragebeast, as an example, also brings a powerful presence to the table with its fight-triggering ability upon entering the battlefield or when another creature enters under your control. While imposing, Gruul Ragebeast doesn’t offer the same damage assurance that Excruciator provides.

Bearing a resemblance in purpose, we can look at Inferno Titan, which deals damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets when it enters the battlefield or attacks. However, Excruciator offers the relentless guarantee that, if it can connect with the opponent, its damage cannot be stopped by effects that would usually prevent it. Then there’s Flameblast Dragon, which allows you to pay mana whenever it attacks to deal that much damage to any target. While versatile, it doesn’t have the blunt force of unpreventable damage that defines Excruciator’s role in a match.

In evaluating these alternatives, one can appreciate the niche Excruciator fills by offering players a creature whose damage can’t be easily mitigated, making it a formidable threat in any game it graces.

Cards similar to Excruciator by color, type and mana cost

Myojin of Roaring Blades - MTG Card versions

Akroma, Angel of Fury - MTG Card versions

Scourge of Kher Ridges - MTG Card versions

Bearer of the Heavens - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Excruciator has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2005-10-01	A creature dealt lethal damage by Excruciator can be regenerated.
2005-10-01	An effect may redirect Excruciator’s damage.
2005-10-01	Damage prevention shields that would prevent this damage aren’t used up and they stick around for the next time something would deal damage.
2005-10-01	Excruciator can deal damage to creatures with protection from red. (It can’t block creatures with protection from red, though.)
2005-10-01	Replacement effects that don’t use the word “prevent” can replace Excruciator’s damage with something else. See Phytohydra and Szadek, Lord of Secrets, for example.