Demon's DiscipleHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

When Demon's Disciple enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. This ability forces every player—including you—to sacrifice either a creature or a planeswalker. Because the choice is made upon resolution, it bypasses keywords like Hexproof and Protection, making it an excellent tool for removing problematic permanents that are difficult to target directly.

How it Resolves Step by Step

First, the player whose turn it is (the active player) chooses a creature or planeswalker they control. Then, in turn order, each other player makes their choice while knowing what the previous players have selected. Once everyone has chosen, all selected permanents are sacrificed simultaneously. If a player controls no creatures or planeswalkers, they simply do nothing.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that the player casting Demon's Disciple must choose a target. Since the ability says 'chooses' and not 'targets,' players do not select what to sacrifice until the ability actually resolves. Additionally, remember that Demon's Disciple is already on the battlefield when the ability triggers, meaning you can choose to sacrifice the Disciple itself to its own effect if you have no other permanents to spare.

When to Play It

This card shines in the early to mid-game to disrupt opponents who rely on a single powerful creature or planeswalker. It is also highly effective in decks that benefit from their own creatures dying. Because it is a Human and a Cleric, it fits perfectly into tribal synergies or 'aristocrat' decks that want to loop creatures in and out of the graveyard.

Interaction examples

Double the Sacrifice

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield and chose 'Human' or 'Cleric' as it entered, Demon's Disciple will trigger twice when it enters the battlefield. This forces each player to sacrifice two creatures or planeswalkers in total (one for each resolution of the trigger).

Extracting Extra Value

Solemn Simulacrum

When you have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield and play Demon's Disciple, you can choose to sacrifice the Simulacrum. This allows you to resolve the Disciple's sacrifice requirement while simultaneously triggering the Simulacrum's death ability to draw a card, turning a mandatory sacrifice into a tactical advantage.

Self-Sacrifice Strategy

If your opponent controls a single powerful creature and you control no other permanents, you can play Demon's Disciple and choose to sacrifice it to its own ability. This results in your opponent losing their creature while you simply spent mana to trigger a forced sacrifice, effectively using the Disciple as a sorcery-speed removal spell.