Diabolic Intent — Magic: The Gathering card

Diabolic Intent

{1}{B}
Sorcery

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a creature.

Search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then shuffle.

*Gix pierced his disciples' minds and savored their experiences as he took in their knowledge.*

Set The Brothers' War
Rarity Rare
Mana Value 2
Artist Dan Murayama Scott
Collector # 89
Scryfall

Why Play Diabolic Intent

At just two mana, this tutors for any card in your deck while requiring only a creature sacrifice as additional cost. Sacrifice-focused decks and token strategies can easily turn this drawback into an advantage, using expendable creatures or those with death triggers. The ability to find any answer or combo piece makes it invaluable in toolbox strategies where flexibility matters more than raw card advantage.

Format Notes

Commander sees the heaviest play for Diabolic Intent, where its low mana cost and versatility shine in 100-card singleton formats. Legacy and Vintage decks occasionally include it in combo shells that can easily generate sacrificial creatures. Modern adoption remains limited due to the format's speed, though it appears in some aristocrats builds and fringe combo decks that can leverage the sacrifice requirement.

Combos & Synergies

Token generators like Bitterblossom and Ophiomancer provide ideal sacrifice fodder while maintaining board presence. Creatures with death triggers such as Viscera Seer or Blood Artist turn the sacrifice into additional value rather than pure cost. Academy Rector represents a particularly powerful synergy, as sacrificing it directly puts an enchantment into play while searching for another key piece, effectively netting two cards from your deck for two mana.

Learn More

Sorcery Tutor Modern Pioneer Commander