Chainer's Edict 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
Target player sacrifices a creature of their choice. Flashback(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Complete guide
Chainer's Edict is a classic removal spell that provides incredible value by forcing an opponent to lose their best protection. Its dual-use nature makes it a staple for control decks looking to outlast their enemies through attrition.
Forced Sacrifice
When Chainer's Edict resolves, the target player must choose one creature they control and move it to the graveyard. Unlike targeted removal, this spell affects the player, meaning it bypasses keywords like Hexproof, Shroud, or Protection from Black. The opponent, not you, chooses which creature is lost.
Understanding Flashback
The Flashback ability allows you to cast Chainer's Edict from your graveyard by paying its alternative cost of {5}{B}{B}. This follows standard sorcery timing rules: you must cast it during your main phase when the stack is empty. Once the spell leaves the stack after being cast this way, it is exiled regardless of whether it resolved or was countered.
Timing and Strategy
Because this is a sorcery, you cannot use it as a combat trick. It is most effective when your opponent only controls one powerful creature, ensuring they cannot choose a less valuable 'token' or utility creature to satisfy the sacrifice requirement. Always check your graveyard for that extra value in the late game.
Interaction examples
If Chainer's Edict is put into your graveyard directly from your library or hand, you can still cast it using its Flashback cost. You do not need to cast it from your hand first to gain access to the graveyard cast later.
Demonic TutorIf your opponent has a creature you can't target, use Demonic Tutor to find Chainer's Edict. Since the Edict targets the player and not the creature, it is the perfect tool to fetch when you need to remove a threat with Hexproof.
ReanimateAfter casting Chainer's Edict and forcing your opponent to sacrifice their creature, you can then cast Reanimate targeting that same creature in their graveyard. This allows you to turn their best threat into your own weapon for the cost of a few life points.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Chainer's Edict
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
“Flashback [cost]” means “You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost” and “If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.”
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You must still follow any timing restrictions and permissions, including those based on the card's type. For instance, you can cast a sorcery using flashback only when you could normally cast a sorcery.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a flashback cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined only by its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast the spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast using flashback will always be exiled afterward, whether it resolves, is countered, or leaves the stack in some other way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You can cast a spell using flashback even if it was somehow put into your graveyard without having been cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with flashback is put into your graveyard during your turn, you can cast it if it's legal to do so before any other player can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Chainer's Edict
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.