Chainer's Edict MTG Card


Efficient early game removal with a valuable late game flashback ability for sustained card advantage. Targets indestructible and hexproof creatures, maintaining relevance in diverse metagames. Competitive mana costs and deck constraints may limit its application in various strategies.
Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Abilities Flashback

Text of card

Target player sacrifices a creature. Flashback o5o Bo B (You may play this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then remove it from the game.)

The pits have their own form of mercy.


Cards like Chainer's Edict

The grip that Chainer’s Edict holds in the realm of creature removal in Magic: The Gathering is akin to other formidable options like Diabolic Edict and Geth’s Verdict. Chainer’s Edict stands out with its flashback ability, enabling a second use from the graveyard at a later stage of the game. This feature provides players with enduring value and strategic depth, as they navigate their path to victory.

In contrast, Diabolic Edict doesn’t offer a second act, but it’s valued for its lower initial mana cost, making it a more accessible option early in the game. Then comes Geth’s Verdict, which adds a life loss to your opponent, introducing an added layer of pressure. Yet, it requires black mana specifically, which can be restrictive in multicolor decks. All these cards share the trait of forcing the opponent to sacrifice a creature, a powerful effect that can bypass indestructible and hexproof barriers.

Evaluating these spells alongside Chainer’s Edict, we see a balance between immediate impact and long-term advantage playing a critical role. Each has its merits, further enriching the tactics of removal spells available to players in Magic: The Gathering.

Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Geth's Verdict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Geth's Verdict - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chainer's Edict by color, type and mana cost

Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions
Drain Life - MTG Card versions
Demonic Tutor - MTG Card versions
Sinkhole - MTG Card versions
Word of Binding - MTG Card versions
Soul Exchange - MTG Card versions
Dry Spell - MTG Card versions
Hymn to Tourach - MTG Card versions
Mind Knives - MTG Card versions
Shattered Crypt - MTG Card versions
Disturbed Burial - MTG Card versions
Death Stroke - MTG Card versions
Exhume - MTG Card versions
Imperial Edict - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Intent - MTG Card versions
Decompose - MTG Card versions
Walk the Plank - MTG Card versions
Predators' Hour - MTG Card versions
Nausea - MTG Card versions
Hunger of the Nim - MTG Card versions
Distress - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Chainer's Edict. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir ControlDimir Control PauperDimir ControlPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-13
Dimir FaeriesDimir Faeries PauperDimir FaeriesLiga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 3
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange PauperGolgari MidrangePauper Preliminary 2024-04-22
UBUB PauperPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-12
Golgari GardensGolgari Gardens PauperGolgari GardensPauper Challenge 32 2024-04-12
Mono-Black ControlMono-Black Control PauperLiga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 3
Golgari ControlGolgari Control PauperGolgari GardensLiga Gacha de Pauper 2024 - Etapa 3

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chainer’s Edict shines by providing intrinsic card advantage in both the early game and the late game. Deployed early, it efficiently deals with a threat, and with its flashback ability, it can be used a second time from the graveyard, ensuring you stay ahead without expending additional cards from hand.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating your resources, Chainer’s Edict potentially disrupts your opponent’s board state, often forcing them to sacrifice a mana-producing creature. This indirect resource deceleration can put you at a significant advantage, allowing for better board control.

Instant Speed: Although Chainer’s Edict operates at sorcery speed, the fact that its flashback ability can be activated at any point in the game when you have sufficient mana gives it an element of surprise and flexibility that is akin to the strategic depth instants provide, helping you navigate complex board states effectively.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the power to make an opponent sacrifice a creature is formidable, Chainer’s Edict doesn’t let you choose the target. This means your opponent can sacrifice their least valuable creature, which could be less impactful in the late game when multiple creatures are on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both black mana can make Chainer’s Edict less versatile, as it is primarily limited to mono-black or black-focused multicolored decks. This can be a hindrance in formats that value a flexible mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its flashback ability, the initial and flashback costs are steep, sitting at two and seven mana respectively. In a game where tempo is crucial, the high cost can slow down your strategy compared to other lower-cost removal options.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Chainer’s Edict is a flexible tool for any black-based control or midrange deck. Its ability to force an opponent to sacrifice a creature bypasses indestructible and hexproof statuses, making it a solid removal option against various threats on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: In decks that utilize graveyard mechanics, Chainer’s Edict shines. With flashback, it can be cast from the graveyard for additional value, dovetailing perfectly with strategies that cycle their graveyards as a resource.

Meta-Relevance: Creature-heavy strategies often populate the meta, and Chainer’s Edict targets these effectively. As players weave in resilient creatures to their decks, having a removal that doesn’t target, like Chainer’s Edict, becomes increasingly advantageous, maintaining relevance in numerous metagame shifts.


How to Defeat Chainer’s Edict

Chainer’s Edict presents a unique challenge in MTG, acting as a pivotal removal tool that can disrupt an opponent’s board strategy. Unlike direct damage spells or point removals, Chainer’s Edict targets the player, compelling them to sacrifice a creature. This can be particularly devastating if you have a singular, high-value threat on the field. The key to overcoming this forceful edict lies in maintaining creature redundancy. To safeguard your board, it’s advisable to deploy multiple creatures, prioritizing the summoning of tokens or creatures with lesser value. This strategy ensures that in the face of Chainer’s Edict, your most critical creatures survive.

Another effective countermeasure is utilizing graveyard disruption. Since Chainer’s Edict has a flashback ability allowing it to be played from the graveyard, cards that exile or shuffle graveyard contents into the library can mitigate this threat. Emphasizing resilience and redundancy in your battlefield presence, coupled with keen graveyard management, makes it possible to successfully navigate around the obstacles posed by Chainer’s Edict, preserving your board state and maintaining the upper hand in the duel.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chainer's Edict MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Magic Online Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Chainer's Edict and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chainer's Edict Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-02-04TormentTOR 571997NormalBlackBen Thompson
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 362422003NormalBlackBen Thompson
32002-08-14World Championship Decks 2002WC02 cr571997NormalGoldBen Thompson
42003-08-07World Championship Decks 2003WC03 pk572003NormalGoldBen Thompson
52013-08-23From the Vault: TwentyV13 102003NormalBlackMark Zug
62014-06-16Vintage MastersVMA 1082015NormalBlackMark Zug
72018-12-07Ultimate MastersUMA 892015NormalBlackMark Zug
82023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 4252015NormalBorderlessDermot Power
92023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 782015NormalBlackMark Zug
102023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 3001997NormalBlackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chainer's Edict has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chainer's Edict card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-03-19 A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
2021-03-19 If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
2021-03-19 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
2021-03-19 You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
2021-03-19 You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
2021-03-19Flashback
-ost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying
-ost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”