Culling Ritual
Sorcery
Destroy each nonland permanent with mana value 2 or less. Add or for each permanent destroyed this way.
*"Great power requires great sacrifice. But it need not be my own."*
Set
Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander
Rarity
Rare
Mana Value
4
Artist
Lorenzo Mastroianni
Collector #
85
Why Play Culling Ritual
Culling Ritual excels as both a devastating board wipe and explosive ramp spell in midrange and combo decks that can leverage the massive mana boost. The card shines when opponents have deployed multiple cheap permanents like mana rocks, tokens, or aggressive creatures, often generating 4-6+ mana while clearing problematic threats. Play it when you need to reset the board against aggressive strategies or when you're setting up for a game-ending turn with the generated mana.Format Notes
Pioneer and Modern see the most competitive play for Culling Ritual, where it punishes artifact-heavy strategies and token decks while enabling powerful follow-up plays. The card has become a staple in Commander, particularly in Golgari value decks and combo builds that can immediately use the mana acceleration. Historic occasionally features it in ramp strategies, though the format's power level sometimes limits its impact.Combos & Synergies
The massive mana generation pairs perfectly with expensive threats like Karn Liberated or game-ending spells that can immediately capitalize on the tempo swing. Greta, Sweettooth Scourge creates additional value by drawing cards when Culling Ritual destroys multiple permanents. Consider pairing it with your own disposable permanents like Treasure tokens or cheap artifacts to guarantee mana generation even when opponents play around the effect.Featured in These Decks
- Grand Larceny Commander
- Enduring Enchantments Commander
- Death Toll Commander
- Corrupting Influence Commander
