Faceless Butcher 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 this creature enters, exile another target creature. When this creature leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Complete guide
Faceless Butcher is a classic black Nightmare Horror that serves as a temporary removal piece on a stick. It uses two distinct triggered abilities to manage the flow of creatures on and off the battlefield, making it a versatile tool for controlling the board or resetting your own creatures.
Temporary Exile Explained
When Faceless Butcher enters the battlefield, you must target another creature to exile. It is important to note that this ability is mandatory; if your opponent has no creatures, you must target one of your own. The exiled creature remains in the exile zone until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, at which point the second ability triggers and returns that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Resolution Step-by-Step
1. Faceless Butcher enters the battlefield, triggering its first ability. 2. You choose a legal target for the exile effect. 3. When the ability resolves, the target is moved to exile. 4. Later, if Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield (whether it is destroyed, exiled, or returned to your hand), the second ability triggers. 5. When this second ability resolves, the previously exiled card is returned to the battlefield.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common mistake involves token creatures. If Faceless Butcher exiles a token creature, that token ceases to exist once it hits the exile zone. Even if Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield later, the token will not return. Additionally, players often forget that the return trigger belongs to the Butcher; if the Butcher is exiled while its first ability is still on the stack, the return ability will trigger and resolve before the creature is even exiled, resulting in the target being exiled permanently.
When to Play Faceless Butcher
Faceless Butcher is best used to temporarily remove an opponent's key blocker or a creature with dangerous static abilities. It can also be used defensively on your own creatures to save them from a board wipe, or to reset 'enters the battlefield' triggers on your own permanents by exiling them and then letting the Butcher die.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, you can play Faceless Butcher and target the Golem. The Simulacrum is exiled. If your opponent later destroys Faceless Butcher, the Simulacrum returns to the battlefield, allowing you to search for another basic land and eventually draw another card when the Golem dies again.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Horror', Faceless Butcher's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. You can target two different creatures to exile. However, because both exile effects are tied to the same Butcher, when the Butcher leaves the battlefield, both cards will be returned to the battlefield simultaneously.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Faceless Butcher
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Faceless Butcher’s first ability isn’t optional. If no other players control any creatures and you do, you must choose a creature you control as the target.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If Faceless Butcher exiles a token creature, the token will cease to exist after being exiled. It won’t return to the battlefield because of the second ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If Faceless Butcher exiles a second Faceless Butcher, and then a third Faceless Butcher comes along and exiles the first one, the second one will return to the battlefield. If there are no other creatures on the battlefield, the second will exile the third one, returning the first one, and so on. If no one can stop the loop, the game will be a draw.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Viscera Seer + Faceless Butcher
- 1Activate Kiki-Jiki by tapping it, creating a token copy of Faceless Butcher.
- 2When the Faceless Butcher token enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Kiki-Jiki until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield.
- 3Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing the Faceless Butcher token.
- 4When the Faceless Butcher token dies, it triggers, returning Kiki-Jiki from exile to the battlefield.
- 5Resolve the Viscera Seer ability.
- 6Repeat.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Ashnod's Altar + Faceless Butcher
- 1Activate Kiki-Jiki by tapping it, creating a token copy of Faceless Butcher.
- 2When the Faceless Butcher token enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Kiki-Jiki until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield.
- 3Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing the Faceless Butcher token, adding
. - 4When the Faceless Butcher token dies, it triggers, returning Kiki-Jiki from exile to the battlefield.
- 5Repeat.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Woe Strider + Faceless Butcher
- 1Activate Kiki-Jiki by tapping it, creating a token copy of Faceless Butcher.
- 2When the Faceless Butcher token enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Kiki-Jiki until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield.
- 3Activate Woe Strider by sacrificing the Faceless Butcher token.
- 4When the Faceless Butcher token dies, it triggers, returning Kiki-Jiki from exile to the battlefield.
- 5Resolve the Woe Strider ability.
- 6Repeat.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Restoration Angel + Faceless Butcher
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian from the command zone by paying
and command tax, if applicable. - 2When Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Faceless Butcher and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3When Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, it triggers, returning Restoration Angel from exile to the battlefield.
- 4When Restoration Angel enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 5Abdel Adrian leaves and re-enters the battlefield, causing Faceless Butcher to return from exile to the battlefield, and triggering both Faceless Butcher and Abdel Adrian's abilities.
- 6Resolve the Faceless Butcher trigger, exiling Restoration Angel until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield.
- 7Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Faceless Butcher and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Felidar Guardian + Faceless Butcher
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian from the command zone by paying and command tax, if applicable.
- 2When Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, it triggers, exiling Faceless Butcher and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3When Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, it triggers, returning Felidar Guardian from exile to the battlefield.
- 4When Felidar Guardian enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 5Abdel Adrian leaves and re-enters the battlefield, causing Faceless Butcher to return from exile to the battlefield, and triggering both Faceless Butcher and Abdel Adrian's abilities.
- 6Resolve the Faceless Butcher trigger, exiling Felidar Guardian until Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield.
- 7Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Faceless Butcher and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Viscera Seer + Faceless Butcher + Karmic Guide
- 1Cast Faceless Butcher by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Faceless Butcher enters, its first ability triggers, exiling Karmic Guide.
- 3Activate Viscera Seer by sacrificing Faceless Butcher.
- 4When Faceless Butcher dies, its second ability triggers, returning Karmic Guide from exile to the battlefield.
- 5When Karmic Guide enters, it triggers, returning Faceless Butcher from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 6When Faceless Butcher enters, its first ability triggers, exiling Karmic Guide.
- 7Resolve the Viscera Seer ability.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Faceless Butcher + Oblivion Ring
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian either from your hand or from the command zone by paying and command tax, if applicable.
- 2Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, exiling Oblivion Ring until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Oblivion Ring leaves the battlefield, triggering its second ability, returning Faceless Butcher from exile to the battlefield.
- 4Faceless Butcher enters the battlefield, triggering its first ability, exiling Abdel Adrian.
- 5Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, returning Oblivion Ring from exile to the battlefield.
- 6Oblivion Ring enters the battlefield, triggering its first ability, exiling Faceless Butcher.
- 7Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, triggering its second ability, returning Abdel Adrian from exile to the battlefield.
- 8Repeat from step 2.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Faceless Butcher + Journey to Nowhere
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian either from your hand or from the command zone by paying and command tax, if applicable.
- 2Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, exiling Journey to Nowhere until Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Journey to Nowhere leaves the battlefield, triggering its second ability, returning Faceless Butcher from exile to the battlefield.
- 4Faceless Butcher enters the battlefield, triggering its first ability, exiling Abdel Adrian.
- 5Abdel Adrian leaves the battlefield, returning Journey to Nowhere from exile to the battlefield.
- 6Journey to Nowhere enters the battlefield, triggering its first ability, exiling Faceless Butcher.
- 7Faceless Butcher leaves the battlefield, triggering its second ability, returning Abdel Adrian from exile to the battlefield.
- 8Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Faceless Butcher
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.