Kaervek's HexHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Kaervek's Hex is a sorcery that deals damage to creatures based on their colors. It checks every creature on the battlefield and applies damage in two potential waves: 1 damage to any creature that is not black, and a second point of damage specifically to green creatures.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When the spell resolves, it checks the color of every creature currently on the battlefield. First, it identifies all nonblack creatures and deals 1 damage to them. Simultaneously, it identifies all green creatures and deals an additional 1 damage to them. If a creature meets both criteria—being green and not black—it takes a total of 2 damage. If a creature is black and green, the 'nonblack' condition fails, but the 'green' condition succeeds, resulting in 1 total damage.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking a green-black creature takes 2 damage; because it is black, it avoids the first point of damage entirely. Additionally, remember that this is damage, not a reduction in toughness. Effects that prevent damage or creatures with protection from black can stop this spell from being effective, unlike spells that give -X/-X.

When to Play It

This card is most effective in a mono-black deck facing off against token strategies or 'Weenie' decks. It is particularly potent against Elves or other small green utility creatures, as it will almost certainly clear them off the board while leaving your black creatures untouched.

Interaction examples

Sweeping the Forest

If your opponent controls three 1/1 green Squirrel tokens and two 2/2 white Knight tokens, casting Kaervek's Hex will deal 2 damage to each Squirrel (1 for being nonblack, 1 for being green) and 1 damage to each Knight. All five creatures will be destroyed.

The Multi-Color Interaction

If there is a 2/2 creature that is both black and green on the battlefield, Kaervek's Hex sees that it is black and does not apply the first point of damage. However, it sees the creature is green and deals 1 damage to it. The creature survives with 1 damage marked on it.

Comparison with Toxic Deluge

Toxic Deluge

Unlike Toxic Deluge, which requires you to pay life and bypasses indestructible by reducing toughness, Kaervek's Hex is a flat damage spell. If you face a nonblack creature with indestructible, Kaervek's Hex will deal damage, but the creature will not be destroyed, whereas Toxic Deluge could remove it.

Setting Up the Graveyard

Victimize

You can use Kaervek's Hex to clear small blockers from your opponent's side. After thinning their ranks, you might use Victimize to sacrifice one of your surviving black creatures to bring back two powerful threats from your graveyard to an open battlefield.