Sacrifice

Keywords · beginner

To sacrifice a permanent is to move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard as a cost or effect. The owner of the permanent must be its controller.

How it works

• Sacrifice is not "destroy." Indestructible permanents can be sacrificed.
• Sacrifice is not "discard" either -- discard moves cards from hand to graveyard.
• Most sacrifice effects ask the controller of an effect to sacrifice their own permanent. "Each player sacrifices a creature" is also possible.
• A sacrificed permanent goes to the graveyard, triggering "when this dies" abilities.

Common interactions

• Aristocrats decks turn sacrificing into the win con: Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat, sacrifice outlets like Phyrexian Altar.
• Edicts force opponents to sacrifice a creature -- bypass hexproof and indestructible. Liliana of the Veil, Innocent Blood.
• Sacrifice in response to removal is a classic save: the opponent targets your value creature, you sacrifice it for value (often via Phyrexian Altar for mana, Skullclamp for cards, etc.) so the spell fizzles.

Rule reference

[701.21]