| Sacrifice | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced |
Alpha (mechanic) Revised Edition (keyword) |
| Last used | Evergreen |
| Reminder Text | No official reminder text |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Sacrifice" | |
Sacrifice, often shortened to sac, is a keyword action. It means to move a permanent you control to its owner's graveyard.
Description
Sacrificing or saccing is purposely or forcefully removing a permanent from play. This can be due to an effect on the card itself, the effect of another permanent already in play, coming into or leaving play or a spell such as an instant or sorcery. A sacrificed permanent cannot be regenerated. Even though the card Sacrifice was in Alpha, the keyword action of sacrifice didn't show up until Revised Edition.[1]
Strategy
Sacrifice decks have a unique strategy: convert one resource into another that leads you to victory. One of the first competitive combo sacrifice decks is among the most famous in its history: Prosperous Bloom.[2]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- Sacrifice
- To move a permanent you control to its owner’s graveyard. See rule 701.17, “Sacrifice.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
- 701.17. Sacrifice
- 701.17a To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the battlefield directly to its owner’s graveyard. A player can’t sacrifice something that isn’t a permanent, or something that’s a permanent they don’t control. Sacrificing a permanent doesn’t destroy it, so regeneration or other effects that replace destruction can’t affect this action.
Examples
Example 1
Arms Dealer 
Creature — Goblin
1/1
, Sacrifice a Goblin: Arms Dealer deals 4 damage to target creature.
Example 2
Cruel Edict 
Sorcery
Target opponent sacrifices a creature.
Example 3
Krark-Clan Ironworks 
Artifact
Sacrifice an artifact: Add 
.
Forced sacrifice
- Sacrifice a creature (target/each player sacrifices a creature) is primary in black.[3]
- Sacrifice an artifact (target/each player sacrifices an artifact) is primary in red.[3]
- Sacrifice a permanent (target/each player sacrifices a permanent) is also primary in red.[3]
Creatures that prevent/prohibit sacrificing
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Adam Styborski (July 28, 2020). "What Woud You Sacrifice To Win?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.