Dictate of Erebos — Magic: The Gathering card

Dictate of Erebos

{3}{B}{B}
Enchantment

Flash<br>Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Set Pioneer Masters
Rarity Rare
Artist Michael C. Hayes

Why Play Dictate of Erebos

Aristocrats and sacrifice-based decks prize this enchantment for its ability to turn your own creatures dying into asymmetrical board control. The flash keyword allows you to hold up mana and deploy it reactively, either in response to removal or right before your turn when you're ready to start sacrificing creatures. Unlike symmetric effects, you maintain control over which of your creatures die while forcing opponents to lose their best threats, making it particularly effective against creature-heavy metas.

Format Notes

Commander represents this card's strongest format, where it's considered a staple in black sacrifice decks and aristocrats strategies. The multiplayer nature amplifies its impact since each opponent must sacrifice a creature whenever one of yours dies. Pioneer and Modern see occasional play in fringe aristocrats builds, though the five-mana cost can be prohibitive in faster formats where more efficient alternatives exist.

Combos & Synergies

Grave Pact provides redundancy for the same effect, while Butcher of Malakir offers a creature-based version that's harder to remove but more expensive. Token generators like Bitterblossom create steady fodder to trigger the sacrifice effect repeatedly. Persist creatures such as Murderous Redcap become particularly devastating, as they naturally die and return, forcing opponents into a grinding war of attrition they're unlikely to win.

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Enchantment Flash Modern Pioneer Commander