In the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering, few cards strike fear and demand respect in multiplayer games quite likeDictate of Erebos. As a black enchantment dripping with flavor and brutal control, it has earned its place as a staple in many Commander (EDH) decks and sacrifice-based strategies. Its powerful ability to punish opponents for daring to remove your creatures transforms board wipes and minor losses into devastating symmetrical effects. Understanding how to use Dictate of Erebos effectively, what synergies it unlocks, and how to play around it is essential for any serious MTG player.
What is Dictate of Erebos?
Dictate of Erebosis a rare enchantment card from the set Journey into Nyx. It costs3BBto cast and comes with a simple but punishing ability:
Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Additionally, it has theflashkeyword, allowing you to cast it at instant speed. This small detail provides massive strategic advantage and makes it harder for opponents to prepare for or counter its arrival.
Card Details
- Mana Cost: 3BB
- Type: Enchantment
- Set: Journey into Nyx
- Rarity: Rare
- Keywords: Flash
In terms of raw value and potential board control, Dictate of Erebos turns creature death into a tactical weapon that scales incredibly well in multiplayer formats like Commander.
Dictate of Erebos vs. Grave Pact
Often compared to its older siblingGrave Pact, Dictate of Erebos offers very similar functionality but with some key differences.
Comparison Points
- Mana Cost: Grave Pact costs 1BBB, while Dictate of Erebos costs 3BB. Dictate is slightly easier on color requirements.
- Flash: Dictate’s flash makes it more flexible and reactive than Grave Pact.
- Reprints and Price: Grave Pact has been reprinted more, affecting availability and deckbuilding choices.
While both functionally do the same thing forcing sacrifices whenever your creatures die Dictate of Erebos gives you more control over timing. This can be critical in high-level games where surprise plays and responding to board states are vital.
Best Deck Archetypes for Dictate of Erebos
Dictate of Erebos thrives in any deck that includes recurring sacrifice engines, death triggers, and token generation. It especially shines in Commander decks that use sacrifice as a core mechanic or in Aristocrats-style builds where sacrificing creatures is a feature, not a drawback.
Top Deck Types
- Aristocrats: Decks built around sacrificing creatures for value often featuring cards like Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat, and Viscera Seer.
- Graveyard Recursion: Decks that constantly recycle creatures from the graveyard like Meren of Clan Nel Toth or Chainer, Dementia Master.
- Token Strategies: Decks that flood the board with creature tokens (e.g., Teysa Karlov, Endrek Sahr) and use them as fuel for sac outlets.
- Stax/Control: Decks that want to lock down the board and slowly grind out opponents can use Dictate to limit opposing creatures significantly.
Any deck running black and featuring a heavy creature component can likely make excellent use of Dictate of Erebos.
Powerful Synergies with Dictate of Erebos
Dictate of Erebos becomes exponentially more dangerous when paired with cards that allow you to sacrifice creatures repeatedly or generate creature tokens for free. Combined with other effects that punish creature death or reward graveyard interaction, it becomes a centerpiece of a soft-lock combo.
Key Synergistic Cards
- Viscera Seer: A zero-cost sacrifice outlet that enables constant triggering of Dictate.
- Grave Titan: Produces tokens that can be sacrificed again and again.
- Blood Artist / Zulaport Cutthroat: Deal additional life loss whenever creatures die.
- Reassembling Skeleton: Recurs itself easily, allowing repeated sacrifice loops.
- Butcher of Malakir: Another version of the Dictate effect on a creature body.
- Yawgmoth, Thran Physician: Combines sacrifice and card draw with removal for ultimate synergy.
With just a few of these cards on the board, Dictate of Erebos becomes a control tool that keeps opponents from maintaining any creature presence. Even a single creature sacrificed can trigger a cascade of destruction in multiplayer games.
Strategic Use in Multiplayer Formats
Dictate of Erebos is at its best in formats like Commander, where you have multiple opponents and greater opportunities to exploit symmetrical effects. The enchantment makes each player cautious about attacking or blocking, knowing any interaction could cost them valuable board presence.
Effective Multiplayer Strategies
- Play Dictate at the End Step: Flash it in after a board wipe or before your turn to maximize its surprise factor.
- Coordinate with Allies: In semi-cooperative moments, use Dictate as leverage to gain favor with players who fear bigger threats.
- Use Politics: Threaten to activate a sac outlet unless you’re left alone Dictate can be a bargaining tool.
The mere presence of Dictate on the battlefield warps the game state. Players will avoid playing creatures or engaging in combat if they can’t afford to lose key pieces.
Playing Against Dictate of Erebos
If your opponent lands a Dictate of Erebos and you rely on creature-based strategies, the pressure is on. You’ll need to find ways to deal with the enchantment directly or bypass its punishing trigger through strategic removal or alternate win conditions.
Counter Strategies
- Enchantment Removal: Cards like Return to Nature, Krosan Grip, or Feed the Swarm are essential in green or black decks.
- Board Wipes: If everyone loses creatures at once, Dictate triggers can still be devastating but may not matter if the board is reset.
- Graveyard Hate: Limit their recursion engines by using Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void.
- Non-Creature Win Conditions: Use combos or spells that don’t rely on creatures to bypass Dictate’s influence entirely.
Letting Dictate of Erebos remain on the board for long usually spells trouble, especially if your opponent has a steady stream of tokens or self-recurring creatures. Removing it early is crucial.
Dictate of Erebosis a cornerstone enchantment for black-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its power lies not only in its effect but in its ability to alter the psychology of the table. With flash speed and potent synergy with sacrifice mechanics, it remains a favorite among Commander players and a nightmare for creature-heavy decks. Whether you’re building a Meren value engine, piloting an aristocrats deck, or crafting a sacrifice-centric combo, Dictate of Erebos deserves a place in your 99. Just be ready for the board to shift in your favor every time something dies because with Dictate on your side, your losses are your opponents’ pain.