Decree of Pain (LTC)

Decree of Pain
Casting Cost: {6}{B}{B}
Card Type: Sorcery
Card Text:

• Destroy all creatures. They can't be regenerated. Draw a card for each creature destroyed this way.
• Cycling 3BB (3BB, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
• When you cycle Decree of Pain, all creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.

Artist: Antonio Jos Manzanedo

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:

  • A powerful board wipe that can clear the battlefield of all creatures, preventing regeneration.
  • Provides card advantage by allowing you to draw a card for each creature destroyed.
  • Has a cycling ability, which can be used to draw a card and also serves as a board-wide debuff in a pinch.

• Weaknesses:

  • High mana cost, requiring significant resources to cast.
  • Cycling cost is also relatively expensive.
  • Affects your own creatures if you cycle it, potentially harming your own board presence.

Deck Utility:

• Control and Removal: A staple in control decks for its ability to clear the board of threats and generate card advantage.

• Cycling Strategies: Can be used in decks that utilize cycling as a theme to take advantage of both its board-clearing and cycling abilities.

Interactions and Combos:

• Regeneration Prevention: Destroys creatures without allowing regeneration, countering strategies that rely on regeneration effects.

Flavor and Lore:
"Decree of Pain" depicts a moment of destructive power and chaos, symbolizing the far-reaching impact of a decree issued by a powerful authority. The -2/-2 effect when cycled represents the lingering despair caused by the decree.

Overall Impression:
"Decree of Pain" is a versatile sorcery card that excels in control decks by providing a potent board wipe and card draw. Its cycling ability adds flexibility, allowing players to choose between mass removal or card draw and a debuff for all creatures. However, its high mana cost and potential collateral damage to your own creatures when cycled require careful consideration in deck construction and timing of use.