Grim Hireling 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
Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, create two Treasure tokens., Sacrifice X Treasures: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn. Activate only as a sorcery.
Complete guide
Grim Hireling is a powerhouse in aggressive black decks, rewarding you for successful attacks with a steady flow of Treasure tokens. Not only does it ramp your mana, but it also serves as a repeatable removal engine to clear the way for your creatures. Whether you are playing Commander or casual formats, understanding how to maximize its triggered and activated abilities is key to dominating the board.
Generating Treasure
Grim Hireling triggers whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player. It is important to note that you receive exactly two Treasure tokens per player hit, regardless of how many creatures actually connected with that player. If you hit three different opponents in a single combat phase, you will create six Treasures in total.
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, creatures deal combat damage during the combat damage step. If at least one creature dealt damage to a player, Grim Hireling's ability triggers and is put on the stack. Once the ability resolves, you create two Treasure tokens. Later, during your main phase, you can activate the second ability by paying one black mana and sacrificing any number of Treasures to give a target creature -X/-X until end of turn.
Timing and Restrictions
The removal ability of Grim Hireling has a 'sorcery speed' restriction. This means you can only activate it during your own main phase when the stack is empty. You cannot use this ability to shrink an attacker during your opponent's turn or in response to a spell. However, the Treasures themselves can be sacrificed for mana at any time to cast other spells or activate different abilities.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking you get two Treasures for every creature that deals damage; remember, it is 'one or more' creatures per player. Additionally, since the -X/-X ability targets, it cannot affect creatures with Hexproof or Protection from Black. If the target becomes illegal before the ability resolves, the entire ability fails and no Treasures are sacrificed because the sacrifice is part of the cost paid upfront.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you attack one opponent with Grim Hireling and another opponent with Solemn Simulacrum, and both deal combat damage, Grim Hireling triggers twice. You will create two Treasure tokens for the first opponent and two more for the second, totaling four Treasures.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Tiefling' or 'Rogue', Grim Hireling's triggered ability triggers an additional time. When your creatures deal combat damage to a player, instead of two Treasures, you will create four Treasures for that player.
TreasureDuring your main phase, you can sacrifice two Treasure tokens and pay one black mana to activate Grim Hireling. This allows you to give a target creature -2/-2. If you have more Treasures, you can activate this multiple times to whittle down even the largest threats on the board.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Grim Hireling
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom + Grim Hireling
- 1Deal combat damage to at least three opponents, triggering Grim Hireling, creating two Treasure tokens for each opponent dealt combat damage.
- 2Holding priority, activate five Treasures by tapping and sacrificing them, adding
. - 3Activate Najeela by paying , causing you to untap all attacking creatures you control, give them lifelink, trample and haste, and get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4Repeat from step 2 each combat phase.
Grim Hireling + Time Sieve + Academy Manufactor
- 1Attack with a creatue you control.
- 2When that creature deals combat damage to an opponent, Grim Hireling triggers.
- 3Resolve the Grim Hireling trigger, creating two Treasure tokens, two Food tokens, and two Clue tokens.
- 4Activate Time Sieve by sacrificing five of the created artifacts and tapping it to take an extra turn.
- 5Pass the turn.
- 6Repeat.
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki + Combat Celebrant + Grim Hireling
- 1Activate Reflection of KIki-Jiki by paying
and tapping it, creating a token copy of Combat Celebrant with haste. - 2Declare the Combat Celebrant token and, if needed, an additional creature an opponent cannot block as attackers, choosing to exert Combat Celebrant as it attacks.
- 3When you attack, the token Combat Celebrant triggers, untapping all other creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4When you deal combat damage, Grim Hireling triggers, creating at least one Treasure token.
- 5Activate a Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding one mana.
- 6Repeat.
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Meta decks with Grim Hireling
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