Master of Cruelties

Creature — Demon

First strike, deathtouch

Master of Cruelties can only attack alone.

Whenever Master of Cruelties attacks a player and isn't blocked, that player's life total becomes 1. Master of Cruelties assigns no combat damage this combat.

Discussion (51)

Spirits on Kaalia, Mirror Breaker EDH

1 week ago

Hi again realsoupersand,

Had to fly out to Ottawa, ON in Canada for a bit, so back in action.

50% of the time, I win with my primary win-con, which is Buried Alive + Reanimate , generally between T1-4 depending on how much tutoring and mana ramps I have available. It's CMC4, which happens on T1 occassionally, T2/T3 more realistically.

Karmic Guide is a critical component of that combo, also, yes she is playable with Kaalia of the Vast . Also enables Razaketh, the Foulblooded from the graveyard, and provides for sac/tutor. It's usually never a dead draw, and at CMC5 is still playable from hand, on occasion if the game is going on, and the Protection: with Flying also has assisted occasionally. Other than her obvious CMC as just a recursion tool, she's generally been good, and a requirement for the primary win-con.

Angel of Despair is just a Vindicate for CMC7, its ridiculous and only 5/5 flying. However, it's what I ALWAYS Tainted Pact to when Show and Tell + Omniscience , unless they have Leyline of Anticipation it's "usually" good enough. I can tutor Anguished Unmaking , however, I have to give priority up with an Omniscience on the table, so it's far too late by then. Can also destroy other random threats if needed too. She's borderline for sure. Red Elemental Blast is too slow in this case.

Angelic Arbiter was answering the Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge but now it's always Kess, Dissident Mage . Also for Tooth and Nail type encounters (eg: Craterhoof Behemoth ) or any type of haste/recursion. All together stops a few. I usually just put 1 response to any situation, because I just tutor the exclusive solution needed.

Avacyn, Angel of Hope protects against MLD type situations, but she's not difficult to remove anyway, everyone's removal deals with her no problem. If she buys me an extra turn though, it's worth it. Can also put a player on a turn timer or make them act before prepared (no Force of Will for example), sometimes... Not the strongest for sure. Or like a The Gitrog Monster looping destroy maybe...

Balefire Dragon is again, just to solve specific issues or eliminate high value ground targets. Like the others, Tainted Pact to hand whenever, a situation calls for it. I tried to cut back on creature controls (ex: Damnation ) just because its not a creature world, but often creatures can be enablers.

Baneslayer Angel cut, served no purpose other than lifelink for the Hatred but the CMC5 was too much, and only removed a single opponent. Serra Ascendant T1 "usually" puts enough pressure on 1 player (usually )), who is now on a turn timer, spending life for tutoring becomes harder, and sometimes waste time removing it. Statistically found, I was usually nearly 1 turn earlier to win with Serra Ascendant , plus overcharges me for an early Necropotence or Razaketh, the Foulblooded win or Doom Whisperer win.

Phyrexian Arena is tough, high CMC, no return. It still the second highest played card in commander, and I don't know how else to draw? Mardu is a drawing nightmare. Have to think on it, how to deal with it but agreed, same issue is with Bloodgift Demon . I've had Skyline Despot recommended has a same turn impact (draw at EOT), but also, might be ramping oppponents draw too, especially if I have no way to reconnect on attack as Skyline Despot doesn't have trample.

Gisela, Blade of Goldnight has the added benefit of removing 1-damage win-cons like Impact Tremors , Blasting Station , Goblin Bombardment , Dragon Tempest (with 1 dragon), Etc... Also puts pressure on. Usually just for a specific application though. I think my interaction package is more similar to a Thoughtseize type application, where if I can't win early, I tutor what I need to address the specific threats, instead of using Instant spell to do them? If that makes sense. Gisela, the Broken Blade i've cut.

Hellkite Tyrant was specifically answering an almost consistent Breya, Etherium Shaper deck. It's been a while since C16 set now, so definitely seeing it less and less. Might help with Teferi, Temporal Archmage or Urza, Lord High Artificer on occasion. It wasn't enough on it's own though, it also needed a Linvala, Keeper of Silence to go with it. Prior to this, I had nothing to compete with Breya, Etherium Shaper , had no way to win.

Lyra Dawnbringer is on my cut list now, might become the Sire Of Insanity or something like that. Mother of Runes works good with Master of Cruelties , also can protect Kaalia of the Vast , makes guys like Balefire Dragon unblockable too, or protects a Razaketh, the Foulblooded and becomes Tutor mana, or blocks an early Infect attack. Slow yes, but has some utility. Also can protect my Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Worldgorger Dragon causing me to win (instead of lose). It's borderline for sure, have to think about it. Aven Mindcensor feels good, looking for a way to include him as well as the Sire Of Insanity .

Steel Hellkite I tried for over a year, I would either, not be able to connect (no trample), or when I did, not enough mana to get the threat that I really needed to remove. I gave up on Steel Hellkite , also needs a Mother of Runes for support.

Ancient Tomb is back in, can't recall why I removed it. Think it screwed me one game with the colorless, but now that I've removed most of the colorless, it makes sense. Prismatic Vista isn't great, only 2 basics (can put in the snow's but for why), I like that it filters a land out (lower probability of drawing a land), but also destroys my mana-fixing as well, so agreed, unnecessary in this build, but feels weird.

I'm probably going to continue reducing CMC and reducing land counts as you've recommended, but needs some expensive 0-CMC rocks which I don't have, or some resource planning around alt. mana sources.

Overall goal is still to build for cEDH, understanding that consistency isn't going to push into more than a Tier-2.5/3 categorization, so I'll go over High Power again later lol.

Thinking about Interaction, I really don't want to go heavy into that with things like, Dismember or Lightning Bolt would rather let the opponents use their removal, and PRAY that I can sneak through a combo. If I combo T1 it has a fairly high success rate (other than a Pact of Negation which eliminated themselves) usually don't get stopped (Odd Force of Will or Swords to Plowshares here and there), T2 is still decently good, often others are still tutoring for a T3 win, but outside of T3 or beyond, usually I need to wait until someone tries to combo, and then is stopped, before I have a chance. I just go for it whenever I can though, increases winning % over trying to strategically go for it and being too late.

I think perhaps Red Elemental Blast or Pyroblast or both perhaps will be handy, Silence I wish it had Split Second (like Teferi's Protection ) because most combos don't have a "sorcery" speed interaction so doesn't stop. Can protect me on the turn I'm going for it like another Grand Abolisher but outside of that not highly useful. Will do some playtesting with it and see if it improves my completion % for combo and increases my combo win % because that's all that matters.

I decided not to go MLD, can Stax/MLD certainly is a strategy, but prefer just to ignore others, and just go for the win myself, win or lose. Plus I don't repopulate my hand nor ramp, so probably just slowing myself down instead of the opponents. Plus I don't have a Ravages of War so would require a financial commitment, would rather focus on finding a way to go for the win on T1-T3 more consistently.

I think if you found Kaalia of the Vast wasn't competitive using MLD before you dissolved that strategy, don't think it's the right course to go down either. Would rather try some out-of-the-box planning, and see if we can get her into a cEDH, which your comments are VERY helpful, and VERY appreciated. Think I've made some decent strides, still waiting for my card order to come in the mail so I can make some more cuts/adds to the deck!

I'll reply on high power shortly since it's lower priority, and hopefully you'll see my deck going in a stronger direction. Pushing that T1 probability up is key. I keep thinking there must be a T1 with Entomb and Goryo's Vengeance that I can do somehow? Razaketh, the Foulblooded would need another enabler, but there must be someone (like Griselbrand aka Griselbanned) to win with? Hmm.

onthestack on Kaalia of the Vast + ...

3 weeks ago

Did some reading on Gatherer and came across Kaalia of the Vast and Master of Cruelties . If Master of Cruelties ' ability triggers in the declare blockers step, would cards like Aurelia, the Warleader 's ability trigger for a second attack too?

th3d1v1n35h4d0w on Rakdos EDH

1 month ago

Master of Cruelties

Kogarashi on Does Master of Cruelties and ...

1 month ago

Please link cards using double square brackets to make the question easier to understand, like so:

[[Liliana's Contract]], [[Master of Cruelties]], [[Kaalia of the Vast]]

Liliana's Contract , Master of Cruelties , Kaalia of the Vast

Master of Cruelties has an attacking restriction (can only attack alone) and a triggered ability. The attacking restriction is only checked when it's declared as an attacker as part of the Declare Attackers step. Kaalia's ability bypasses this. He's a valid choice for Kaalia's ability.

The triggered ability triggers during the Declare Blockers step, and only checks that (1) the creature was attacking (whether officially declared as such or placed on the battlefield attacking by an effect) and (2) wasn't blocked. As long as your opponent doesn't block Master of Cruelties , its ability will trigger.

It's important to note that there's nothing about Kaalia's ability that prevents blockers from being declared, so it isn't a guaranteed win.

From the Gatherer rulings on Master of Cruelties :

• An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step. (2013-04-15)

ezio2907 on monarch 2

1 month ago

Het doel van je deck is duidelijk: go wide. Than we grow tall. Sterk en flexibel. Je commander geeft je card draw of tokens. Alleen zijn er een aantal kaarten die je erin volgens mij in doet omdat ze leuk kunnen zijn. Met de volgende lijst ben ik het niet eens dat ze in je deck (gaan) zitten:

• Torment of Hailfire : Geweldige kaart inderdaad. Je kan hem erin doen. Maar het draagt niet bij aan je strategie. Hij komt vanuit het niets en aan het aantal landje te zien komt die kaart hard aan. Dus zelf zou ik hem er niet indoen omdat het niet bijdraagt aan je strategie en pas een kaart is die je op het laatste moment wilt pakken in de uber late game om dan je te reden. Zou jij deze kaart liever hebben op beurt 5/6/7 dan een andere kaart?

• Crawlspace & Ghostly Prison & Norn's Annex : Ik begrijp dat je niet aangevallen wilt worden. Maar 2 creautes is genoeg om de monarch van je te pakken. Je speelt aggro. Wil je dan dat je langer leeft om je tegenstander dood te maken? Of wil je meer gas hebben om ze dood te maken? Als je langer wilt blijven leven dan raad ik iets aan als lifelink voor je hele team met Whip of Erebos . Daarnaast kan Legion's Landing  ^Flip ook goed van pas komen. Het geeft een chump blocker en kan weer een token maker worden op instant speed (met lifelink).

• Mathas, Fiend Seeker : Is een top kaart. Als je die creatures kan killen tenminste. De manier die ik van jou deck nu veel zie om iets echt weg te halen is met exile of via combat. Door exile word het niet getriggerd en andere kunnen om de combat heen. En denk eraan dat jij voordeel krijgt, maar je tegenstanders ook. Als je deze met 4 man speelt, een creature gaat dood bij de tegenstander. Dan mogen !2! tegenstanders een kaart pakken en jij maar 1. Niet helemaal in jou vordeel denk ik.

• ff tussendoor: Xantcha, Sleeper Agent pracht kaart. Goed gekozen!

• Spiteful Visions : de damage loopt lekker op inderdaad. Maar je helpt je tegenstanders waarschijnlijk meer dan dat je ze tegenwerkt.

• Return to Dust : Simpele vraag: wat zou je met deze kaart allemaal willen removen? Als je weet dat er iets is dat vaak gespeeld is dat je tegenwerkt en dit je antwoord is, hou hem erin. Anders kan die kaart eruit. Voor 4 mana kan je leukere dingen doen.

• Odric, Lunarch Marshal : is een lastige. Je hebt ongeveer 15 creatures met abilities waardoor je iets aan Odric hebt. Je hebt hem zelf gespeeld, hoe vaak was deze guy goed genoeg?

• Master of Cruelties : Gaat deze guy echt alleen aanvallen XD? Je wilt wijd gaan dan werkt hij je toch tegen? Er is vast wel een leuk deck voor hem. Maar deze niet...

• Gleam of Battle : WHY?!?! op het moment dat deze eerlijk het veld op komt dan is +1/+1 niet meer genoeg voor je leger. Het klopt dat het enorm kan helpen maar daar is deze te laat voor.

• Denk er eens aan: Darien, King of Kjeldor & Whip of Erebos ....

• Hour of Revelation : ............. je probeert een leger te maken ........... waarom zou je dat willen weg halen? ......

• Plague Wind & In Garruk's Wake : ze zijn !!9!! mana. Dit kan je reden maar denk maar eens na... Kan jij sneller weer een veld opbouwen voordat je tegenstanders dat kunnen? Gaat de !!9!! mana spel jou helpen om de game te winnen of het spel alleen maar langer te laten duren?

Als ik het goed zie zou ik er dus 12 kaarten uithalen. MAAR.... omdat je nu een iets lagere curve hebt omdat je geen !!9!! mana spells meer speelt kan je er misschien zelfs land uithalen. De mana base laat ik aan jou over om te herzien <-- Doe het, landjes die getapt het veld op komen met een aggro deck zijn vaak niet de oplossing.

De volgende kaarten zou ik overwegen als ik jou was:

• Kambal, Consul of Allocation : Als je deze op tijd kan neerleggen dan drain je je tegenstanders en gain je levens. Je doet langer mee en je tegenstanders minder. Hij gaat waarschijnlijk snel kapot. Maar waarschijnlijk met minimaal 2 triggers en hij eet een removal spel op die naar een groter ding kan gaan van jou.

• Thalia, Heretic Cathar : Deze kaart zorgt ervoor dat je tegenstanders minder snel worden terwijl je een leuke early game chick krijgt. In de late game is deze al minder sterk maar kan je tegenstanders zeker leuk pesten. Maar zelf twijfel ik ook of deze kaart is wat je nodig hebt.

• Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite : lijkt me duidelijk.

• Skullclamp : card draw... Het kost je een token maar je hebt meerdere manieren om meer te maken

• Anointed Procession : Je maakt een heleboel tokens early en late game. Zou het niet heerlijk zijn als je 2x zoveel guys kreeg. En denk nu eens aan al die token met Divine Visitation :)

• Liliana, Dreadhorde General : geeft je creatures, kan je card draw geven en kan creatures van je tegenstander weg halen.

• Ophiomancer : geeft je waarschijnlijk elke upkeep een creature.

• Whip of Erebos : geeft je lifelink en kan iets reanimaten. Ik ben gek op graveyard tricks :D.

• Legion's Landing  ^Flip: geeft je een leuke beurt 1 misschien. Kan een mana zink worden. Geeft als snel een leuk creature

• Als je pillow fort wilt spelen (geloof me dat kan enorm leuk zijn) dan heb je meer kaarten nodig als Ghostly Prison . Dan heb je toch Sphere of Safety nodig.

Of je gaat een hele andere kant op. Je zorgt er voor dat je deck bijna mono removal is. Je vult je deck met betere removal en veel meer boardwipes. ( Vindicate , Wrath of God , Cleansing Nova , Austere Command , Path to Exile en Dreadbore zijn al een paar snelle kaarten die ik kan bedenken) Dan ga je je commander spelen om op gang te komen nadat het veld schoon is. Dan ga je ondertussen investeren in je pillow fort op te bouwen of enchantments neer te leggen die je veld of je commander kunnen helpen. Als jij dat idee niet gaat gebruiken dan ga ik dat doen :) (met een andere commander natuurlijk).

Met andere worden: Je bent op de goede weg maar je moet nog een stukje verder lopen. En als je loopt vergeet dan geen schoenen!!! Een edh deck heeft namelijk 97 kaarten. De eerste 2 zijn Lightning Greaves en Swiftfoot Boots . Focus op je plan om andere dood te maken voordat jij bijna dood bent. Hou rekening met Sander en zijn wipes door kaarten te spelen die je later in de game weer in een klap vooraan kunnen zetten. Hopelijk heb ik je geholpen en als je meer tips van me wilt dan moet je het ff melden :)

skyscraper_soup on Alesha, Queen of Combos

2 months ago

Couple of cool things you're missing Master of Cruelties with alesha is an instant kill from the gy ... also, I like Guilty Conscience + Stuffy Doll ... also I recommend Felidar Guardian for blink, Goblin Bombardment for sac, and Iroas, God of Victory for combat protection... also, don't forget Reconnaissance !

shinyrays on zenith flicker

2 months ago

there has been some hubbub about why ive held on to Virtus the Veiled it stayed because Vesperlark and then that spurred Master of Cruelties and for different reasons Flickerwisp after...

Demarge on Commander 2019...

2 months ago

Muse is strong for commanders with mana cost only value engines, but if they really said planeswalkers how many are actually staples that isn't just reprinting war of the spark?

Now provided we just rule out fetch lands in these (lets face it if they were none of these would be used as precons and nearly everything else in it would be valued together about $5) Just by skimming over the commander staples I'm going to guess these cards could be reprinted.

Master of Cruelties , even with kaalia printed in m20 it's price has lowered.

Fire Covenant , old removal that I'm sure they have interest in reprinting

The Kaladesh gearhulks they each do something, and some do something kinda in theme with the mechanics.

Though honestly to actually get us to readily buy them without just tearing them apart it'd be cards like the various Vampiric Tutor cycle, but they're likely just going to give us Heroic Intervention level reprints.