Accursed Centaur is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When this creature enters, sacrifice a creature.
Complete guide
Accursed Centaur is a low-cost Zombie that packs a punch for just one black mana, but its power comes with a steep price. To keep this creature on the battlefield, you must be prepared to give up one of your own, making it a staple for sacrifice-themed strategies.
A Mandatory Sacrifice
Accursed Centaur features a triggered ability that occurs as soon as it enters the battlefield. Unlike some cards that give you a choice, this ability is mandatory. If the ability resolves and you have creatures on the battlefield, you must choose one to sacrifice. This can include the Centaur itself if you have no other options or if it serves your tactical needs.
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, you cast Accursed Centaur and it resolves, entering the battlefield. This puts the sacrifice trigger on the stack. At this point, players can respond with instants or abilities. When the trigger finally resolves, you choose a creature you control and move it to the graveyard. This does not target, so you do not choose which creature to sacrifice until the ability is actually resolving.
Common Pitfalls
A frequent mistake is thinking you can avoid the sacrifice if you have no other creatures. According to official rulings, if Accursed Centaur is the only creature you control when the trigger resolves, you must sacrifice the Centaur itself. Additionally, because the ability doesn't target, your opponent cannot 'fizzle' the ability by removing a specific creature in response; you simply choose from what remains when the trigger resolves.
When to Play It
This card shines in decks that want their own creatures to die. It acts as a reliable 'sacrifice outlet' that triggers 'death' abilities immediately upon arrival. It is best played when you have a creature that has already outlived its usefulness or when you have a card that rewards you for creatures entering the graveyard.
Interaction examples
Blood ArtistWith Blood Artist on the battlefield, you cast Accursed Centaur. When it enters, its trigger goes on the stack. You choose to sacrifice a creature (perhaps even the Centaur itself). This triggers Blood Artist, allowing you to drain 1 life from an opponent and gain 1 life.
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou have Ornithopter of Paradise on the field to provide mana. After using it to cast Accursed Centaur, the Centaur's entry trigger requires a sacrifice. You can choose to sacrifice the Ornithopter of Paradise, effectively replacing your mana producer with a 2/2 attacker while keeping your Centaur alive.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Accursed Centaur
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Accursed Centaur is the only creature on the battlefield, you must sacrifice it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Liliana, Untouched by Death + Rooftop Storm + Accursed Centaur
- 1Activate Liliana's third ability by removing three loyalty counters from it, allowing you to cast Zombie cards from your graveyard this turn.
- 2Cast Accursed Centaur either from your hand or from your graveyard by paying
. - 3When Accursed Centaur enters, it triggers, causing you to sacrifice it.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Liliana, Untouched by Death + Accursed Centaur + Pitiless Plunderer
- 1Activate Liliana by removing three loyalty counters from it, allowing you to cast Zombie cards from your graveyard this turn.
- 2Cast Accursed Centaur either from your hand or from your graveyard by paying
. - 3Accursed Centaur enters the battlefield, sacrificing itself.
- 4Accursed Centaur dies, triggering Pitiless Plunderer, creating a Treasure token.
- 5Activate the Treasure token by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Necroduality + Rot Hulk + Accursed Centaur
- 1Cast Rot Hulk by paying
. - 2When Rot Hulk enters, it and Necroduality trigger.
- 3Resolve the Rot Hulk trigger, returning Accursed Centaur from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 4When Accursed Centaur enters, it and Necroduality trigger.
- 5Resolve the Accursed Centaur trigger, sacrificing it.
- 6Resolve the Necroduality trigger, creating a token copy of Accursed Centaur.
- 7When the token Accursed Centaur enters, it triggers, sacrificing Rot Hulk.
- 8Resolve the Necroduality trigger from step 2, creating a token copy of Rot Hulk.
Solemnity + Luminous Broodmoth + Accursed Centaur
- 1Cast Accursed Centaur by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Accursed Centaur enters, it triggers, causing you to sacrifice it.
- 3Luminous Broodmoth triggers, returning Accursed Centaur from your graveyard to the battlefield without a flying counter on it due to Solemnity.
- 4Repeat from step 2
Magnanimous Magistrate + Accursed Centaur + Metastatic Evangel
- 1Cast Accursed Centaur from your hand by paying .
- 2When Accursed Centaur enters the battlefield, it and Metastatic Evangel trigger.
- 3Resolve the Metastatic Evangel trigger, putting a repreive counter on Magnanimous Magistrate.
- 4Resolve the Accursed Centaur trigger, sacrificing it.
- 5Magnanimous Magistrate triggers, causing you to remove a reprieve counter from it and return Accursed Centaur from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight + Vizier of Remedies + Accursed Centaur
- 1Cast Accursed Centaur by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Accursed Centaur enters, it triggers, causing you to sacrifice it.
- 3When Accursed Centaur dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Vizier of Remedies.
- 4Repeat from step 2
Mortuary + Accursed Centaur + Gwenom, Remorseless + Cauldron of Essence
- 1Cast Accursed Centaur by paying its mana cost.
- 2Activate Accursed Centaur by sacrificing it.
- 3When Accursed Centaur dies, Mortuary and Cauldron of Essence trigger.
- 4Resolve the Mortuary trigger, putting Accursed Centaur from your graveyard onto the top of your library.
- 5Resolve the Cauldron of Essence trigger, causing each opponent to lose 1 life and you to gain 1 life.
- 6Cast Accursed Centaur from the top of your library by paying 1 life.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
Mortuary + Bolas's Citadel + Accursed Centaur + Venerated Stormsinger
- 1Cast Accursed Centaur by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Accursed Centaur enters, it triggers, sacrificing itself.
- 3When Accursed Centaur dies, Mortuary and Venerated Stormsinger trigger.
- 4Resolve the Mortuary trigger, putting Accursed Centaur from your graveyard onto the top of your library.
- 5Resolve the Venerated Stormsinger trigger, causing you to gain 1 life and each opponent to lose 1 life
- 6Cast Accursed Centaur from the top of your library by paying 1 life.
- 7Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Accursed Centaur
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.