Collective Brutality 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
Escalate—Discard a card. (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.) Choose one or more — • Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose an instant or sorcery card from it. That player discards that card. • Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. • Target opponent loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Complete guide
Collective Brutality is a versatile black sorcery that allows you to tailor its impact to the current board state. By utilizing the Escalate mechanic, you can turn unwanted cards in your hand into additional powerful effects.
How Escalate Works
When you cast Collective Brutality, you choose one, two, or all three of its modes. The first mode is covered by the mana cost of {1}{B}. For every additional mode you select, you must pay the Escalate cost by discarding one card from your hand. You choose all modes and pay all costs simultaneously as you cast the spell; you cannot wait for one effect to resolve before deciding to pay for another.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you announce the spell and choose your modes. Second, you select targets for each chosen mode—you can target the same opponent or creature with multiple effects if applicable. Third, you pay the total cost, including mana and any cards discarded for Escalate. Finally, the spell resolves in the order written on the card: the hand disruption happens first, followed by the creature debuff, and ending with the life drain.
Common Pitfalls
One common mistake is forgetting that if all chosen targets become illegal (for example, if a targeted creature is sacrificed in response), the entire spell fails to resolve and none of its effects happen. However, if at least one target remains legal, the spell will do as much as possible. Additionally, remember that Escalate costs must be paid even if you are casting the spell 'without paying its mana cost' via another effect.
Interaction examples
ReanimateYou cast Collective Brutality and choose two modes, targeting an opponent to discard a spell and a creature for -2/-2. To pay the Escalate cost, you discard a high-value creature card from your hand. After Collective Brutality resolves, you then cast Reanimate to bring that discarded creature directly onto the battlefield.
Demonic TutorIf your opponent is at 2 life, you can cast Demonic Tutor to search your library for Collective Brutality. Once in hand, you cast it choosing only the third mode. Since you only chose one mode, you pay only {1}{B} and do not need to discard any cards to drain the final 2 life for the win.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Collective Brutality
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You choose all of your modes at once. You can’t wait to perform one mode’s actions and then decide to choose more modes.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t choose any one mode multiple times.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If two of the chosen modes of an escalate spell target a creature, you may choose the same creature for each mode’s target, or choose different creatures. The same is true if the chosen modes target a player (or opponent).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If one target of an escalate spell becomes illegal, the other targets will still be affected. If all of the targets become illegal, the spell won’t resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Effects that reduce the cost of spells reduce the total cost, including any escalate costs added.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to cast a spell that has escalate without paying its mana cost, you pay escalate costs for that spell if you choose more than one mode.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Additional costs don’t affect a spell’s mana value.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Collective Brutality
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.