When can you really sacrifice a creature?

Asked by Krhaynes1 8 years ago

With all the new Zulaport Cutthroat and Grim Haruspex decks where you wain down your opponents life and draw cards etc, and from observing and playing against these decks, I've confused now on when you can sac a creature. Let's take the BFZ Event Deck for example. When can one truly sac the creatures they have on the battlefield. Is it when they have a Nantuko Husk or Smothering Abomination? If that's the case I think I've been duped in some games.

wasianpower says... #1

You can only sac a creature if a card specifically tells you to. Otherwise cards like Willbreaker would be pointless because you could just sac in response.

December 27, 2015 2:13 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #2

You can't just sacrifice a permanent for no reason. You need to pay a cost that requires a sacrifice or fulfill an effect's instructions to sacrifice something.

December 27, 2015 2:14 p.m.

TreeCat says... #3

Whenever you have both priority and a card that allows you to sacrifice a creature.

December 27, 2015 3:12 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #4

You don't necessarily need priority. Sacrificing a creature isn't a game action in the same sense that activating an ability or casting a spell is. The only reason you would need priority before sacrificing something is if the sacrifice is part of the cost to cast a spell or activate an ability, in which case priority is necessary for the casting or activation process and not specifically for the sacrifice.

In particular, no player has priority when something is resolving, so priority is not necessary for sacrifices performed as part of effects (such as the resolution of Fleshbag Marauder's ability).

December 27, 2015 3:23 p.m.

Krhaynes1 says... #5

Okay thanks all.

December 27, 2015 3:57 p.m. Edited.

wasianpower says... #6

Correct.

December 27, 2015 3:57 p.m.

This discussion has been closed