Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos MTG Card


Enables card advantage and mana acceleration by sacrificing creatures at instant speed, a crucial tactical maneuver. Potentially costly casting and activation requirements may pose a challenge, particularly in non-Rakdos decks. With both damage-dealing and deck-sifting abilities, it’s a dynamic card that can influence the game profoundly.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Ogre Demon
Abilities Scry
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

, Sacrifice a creature: Scry 2. , : Exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. When you exile a nonland card this way, Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos deals damage equal to the exiled card's mana value to any target.


Cards like Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos

Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos offers a unique spin in the Magic: The Gathering roster, much like its predecessors that tap into life total manipulation. This card invites strategies revolving around careful life point calculations, paralleling the functionalities of cards like Guul Draz Assassin, which also thrives on controlling the board. However, Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos differentiates itself by potentially dealing massive damage through its activated ability, whereas Guul Draz Assassin focuses on incremental creature removal.

When we consider Erebos, God of the Dead, both cards offer a method to utilize life as a resource, but Erebos provides continual card advantage and a static condition that hinders opponents’ life gain. Nevertheless, the randomness of Hidetsugu’s second ability can turn the tide of the game in a single turn, albeit at a higher risk and cost. Cards like Heartless Hidetsugu also echo a similar ethos, where it deals damage to each player based on their life totals, but Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos has the added benefit of flexibility in either damaging creatures or players based on your strategic needs.

Analyzing the fine balance between risk and reward, Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos stands out within Magic: The Gathering for its dynamic abilities that can escalate quickly, presenting an intriguing choice for players who enjoy an aggressive and calculative playstyle.

Guul Draz Assassin - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions
Guul Draz Assassin - MTG Card versions
Erebos, God of the Dead - MTG Card versions
Heartless Hidetsugu - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos by color, type and mana cost

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Possessed Barbarian - MTG Card versions
Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, Lord of Riots - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos offers strategic depth and versatility in gameplay. By activating its ability, you sift through your deck, potentially setting up favorable draws and maintaining the flow of resources, which is critical in outpacing your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: The ability to sacrifice a creature and generate two red mana not only speeds up your mana curve but also leverages unused or sacrificial creatures as a resource. This empowers you to execute high-impact plays earlier than usual, which can be a game-changer in many scenarios.

Instant Speed: The flexibility to activate Hidetsugu’s second ability at instant speed allows you to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield of MTG. Whether it’s disrupting an opponent’s strategy or setting up for a powerful next turn, this instant-speed interaction keeps your adversaries on their toes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos demands a card discard to activate its primary ability. This effect can diminish your hand advantage, potentially stalling momentum, especially in cases where your hand is already running lean.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s activation revolves around black and red mana, necessitating a strict adherence to a Rakdos color identity. Decks not aligned with these colors might not be able to take advantage of Hidetsugu’s chaos.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana requirement crossing two specific colors for its casting cost, this legendary creature sits at a relatively steep curve. This can limit early game plays or delay other strategic actions, making it less cost-effective compared to other options in the meta.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos offers adaptability across various deck archetypes due to its ability to both deal damage and sift through your library, potentially setting up for crucial plays.

Combo Potential: This card can be an integral component in a combo-centric deck, working well with effects that trigger upon dealing damage or sacrificing creatures, enhancing synergy within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors aggressive or creature-heavy strategies, Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos becomes a valuable asset to disrupt your opponents and maintain card quality with its activated abilities.


How to beat

Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos is a formidable adversary in any MTG gameplay, bringing both a strategic advantage and a unique ability to sacrifice a creature for scrying and dealing damage. Yet, no card is insurmountable. To overcome this challenge, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergy it creates. Tactics such as using instant-speed removal spells before opponents have the chance to use its ability, or employing graveyard disruption tools to limit the benefits from sacrificing creatures, can be quite effective.

Key spells like Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile can remove Hidetsugu from the field before it becomes a threat, while graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus prevent your opponent from maximizing their gains from the creature sacrifices. One should also consider the timing of these interactions; by waiting for the opponent to invest resources into activating Hidetsugu’s ability, you can maximize your strategic advantage by removing it in response. Sideboard strategies, therefore, should be adapted to include such answers when facing a deck that runs Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos.

Ultimately, the trick lies in not allowing Hidetsugu to fully execute its game plan. By staying vigilant and having the right counters in place, you can nullify this otherwise potent threat and maintain control over the game’s pace and direction.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, 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 Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2022-02-18 and 2022-02-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 979492015NormalBlackIsis
22022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4312015NormalBlackSENNSU
32022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 3782015NormalBlackSENNSU
42022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty PromosPNEO 99p2015NormalBlackIsis
52022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4302015NormalBlackSENNSU
62022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4542015NormalBlackIsis
72022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4322015NormalBlackSENNSU
82022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 4292015NormalBlackSENNSU
92022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon DynastyNEO 992015NormalBlackIsis
102022-02-18Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty PromosPNEO 99s2015NormalBlackIsis
112022-02-18Neon Dynasty Art SeriesANEO 562015Art seriesBorderlessSENNSU

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hidetsugu, Devouring Chaos has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2022-02-18 You must still pay all costs and follow all normal timing rules when playing a card this way. For example, you may play a land this way only during one of your own main phases while the stack is empty, and only if you haven't previously played a land this turn.