Emperor Crocodile 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 you control no other creatures, sacrifice this creature.
Complete guide
Emperor Crocodile is a classic high-power green creature that offers a massive body for its mana cost. However, its dominance on the battlefield is fragile, as it requires a loyal entourage to remain in play. Understanding the timing of its sacrifice trigger is essential for any commander or limited player.
The Strength and the Burden
Emperor Crocodile is a 5/5 creature for only four mana, but it comes with a strict 'state-triggered' ability. If at any point you control no other creatures, the Crocodile recognizes its solitude and forces you to sacrifice it. This check is constant; even if another creature leaves the battlefield for just a brief moment, the trigger will find its way onto the stack.
How the Trigger Resolves
When the condition 'you control no other creatures' is met, the ability triggers immediately. According to official rulings, this ability only checks the condition at the time it triggers. Unlike many other Magic abilities, it does not have an 'intervening if' clause that checks again upon resolution. This means that even if you manage to flash in another creature or create a token while the sacrifice ability is on the stack, you will still have to sacrifice Emperor Crocodile when the ability resolves.
Strategic Considerations
To keep the Emperor alive, you must ensure your board state is never empty of other units. It is often best to play this card only when you have high-toughness creatures or creatures with protection that are difficult for your opponent to remove. If an opponent can destroy your other creatures in response to the Crocodile entering the battlefield, the Crocodile will be forced to follow them to the graveyard.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control Solemn Simulacrum and then cast Emperor Crocodile, the Crocodile enters the battlefield safely because you control another creature. However, if your opponent casts a spell to destroy Solemn Simulacrum, the moment it leaves the battlefield, Emperor Crocodile's ability triggers. Even if you use the card draw from Solemn Simulacrum to find a flash creature, the Crocodile is already doomed to be sacrificed.
Eternal WitnessImagine you control both Emperor Crocodile and Eternal Witness. If an effect causes you to exile Eternal Witness and return it to the battlefield immediately, there is a tiny window where you control no other creatures. During that brief moment, the Crocodile's ability triggers. By the time Eternal Witness returns and its own 'enters' ability is put on the stack, the sacrifice trigger is already waiting to resolve and kill your Crocodile.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Emperor Crocodile
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Emperor Crocodile’s ability will trigger if you don’t control another creature, even if it’s only for a brief moment during the resolution of another spell or ability (such as that of Brago, King Eternal).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The ability only checks if you control no other creatures at the time it triggers. It does not check again on resolution, so gaining control of a creature before then will not save Emperor Crocodile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Assault Suit + Emperor Crocodile
- 1If needed, give control of Emperor Crocodile to an opponent who controls no creatures.
- 2When Emperor Crocodile's controller controls no creatures, Emperor Crocodile triggers, causing them to sacrifice it.
- 3However, Emperor Crocodile cannot be sacrificed due to Assault Suit.
- 4Emperor Crocodile triggers again, creating a mandatory infinite loop that causes the game to end in a draw.
Jon Irenicus, Shattered One + Emperor Crocodile
- 1At the beginning of your end step, Jon Irenicus triggers, giving control of Emperor Crocodile to an opponent who controls no creatures.
- 2When Emperor Crocodile's controller controls no other creatures, Emperor Crocodile triggers, causing them to sacrifice it.
- 3However, Emperor Crocodile cannot be sacrificed due to its ability.
- 4Emperor Crocodile triggers again, creating a mandatory infinite loop that causes the game to end in a draw.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Emperor Crocodile
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.