Butcher of Malakir — ruling 1

When the triggered ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is (if that player is an opponent) chooses which creature they will sacrifice, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, then all chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time.

Butcher of Malakir — ruling 2

If multiple creatures you control (possibly including Butcher of Malakir itself) are put into their owners' graveyards at the same time, Butcher of Malakir's triggered ability will trigger that many times.

Butcher of Malakir — ruling 3

If you control more than one Butcher of Malakir and a creature you control is put into a graveyard, each of those Butchers' abilities will trigger. Each opponent will sacrifice a creature each time one of those abilities resolves.

Butcher of Malakir — ruling 4

If you and an opponent each control a Butcher of Malakir and a creature is put into a graveyard, a chain reaction happens. First the ability of one player's Butcher will trigger, causing each opponent to sacrifice a creature. That sacrifice causes the ability of the other player's Butcher to trigger, and so on.

Butcher of Malakir : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Butcher of Malakir 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

Flying Whenever this creature or another creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice.

Complete guide

Butcher of Malakir is a powerful Vampire Warrior that ensures your opponents feel every loss on your side of the battlefield. With its flying keyword and a punishing triggered ability, it turns every creature death into a devastating board wipe for your rivals.

A Symphony of Sacrifice

The primary role of Butcher of Malakir is to police the board. Whenever it or any other creature you control dies, a triggered ability goes on the stack forcing each opponent to sacrifice a creature. Because this is a sacrifice effect, it bypasses keywords like Indestructible and Ward, making it an incredibly effective tool against protected threats.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When the ability resolves, the active player (the player whose turn it is), if they are an opponent, chooses a creature they control. Then, in turn order, each other opponent chooses a creature. Finally, all chosen creatures are sacrificed simultaneously. If multiple creatures you control die at once—perhaps due to a board wipe—this ability triggers once for each of them, potentially forcing opponents to sacrifice their entire board.

Timing and Strategy

This card is best played in 'Aristocrats' style decks where you have reliable ways to sacrifice your own creatures. It creates a 'lock' on the game state where opponents are afraid to block or use removal, as doing so will cost them their own resources. Note that if an opponent also controls a Butcher of Malakir, a chain reaction can occur where one sacrifice triggers another until one player runs out of creatures.

Interaction examples

The Upkeep Squeeze

Sheoldred, Whispering One

At the start of an opponent's upkeep, Sheoldred, Whispering One forces that player to sacrifice a creature. While this doesn't trigger your Butcher, your Sheoldred also returns a creature from your graveyard to the battlefield during your upkeep. If you sacrifice that returned creature to a different effect, Butcher of Malakir triggers, forcing that opponent to sacrifice yet another creature on top of Sheoldred's tax.

Lethal Board Wipes

Massacre Wurm

If you play Massacre Wurm and it shrinks and kills several small creatures you control (perhaps tokens), Butcher of Malakir will trigger for each one. As your opponents sacrifice creatures to satisfy those triggers, Massacre Wurm's second ability triggers, causing those opponents to lose 2 life for every creature they are forced to sacrifice.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Butcher of Malakir

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 1, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
When the triggered ability resolves, first the player whose turn it is (if that player is an opponent) chooses which creature they will sacrifice, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, then all chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 1, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple creatures you control (possibly including Butcher of Malakir itself) are put into their owners' graveyards at the same time, Butcher of Malakir's triggered ability will trigger that many times.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3March 1, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If you control more than one Butcher of Malakir and a creature you control is put into a graveyard, each of those Butchers' abilities will trigger. Each opponent will sacrifice a creature each time one of those abilities resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4March 1, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
If you and an opponent each control a Butcher of Malakir and a creature is put into a graveyard, a chain reaction happens. First the ability of one player's Butcher will trigger, causing each opponent to sacrifice a creature. That sacrifice causes the ability of the other player's Butcher to trigger, and so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.