Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 1

To resolve Kroxa's second triggered ability in a multiplayer game, the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's an opponent's turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a card in hand and sets it aside without revealing it. Then each other opponent in turn order does the same. Next, all chosen cards are revealed and discarded at the same time. Finally, each opponent who didn't discard a nonland card loses 3 life.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 2

Kroxa's second ability triggers when it enters the battlefield, even if it didn't escape.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 3

As the second ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's an opponent's turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. All the chosen cards are discarded at the same time, and then the appropriate players lose 3 life each.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 4

An opponent loses 3 life if they discard a land card or if they can't discard a card at all.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 5

Escape's permission doesn't change when you may cast the spell from your graveyard.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 6

To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as an escape cost), add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was and no matter whether an alternative cost was paid.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 7

Kroxa's first ability causes you to sacrifice it if you didn't cast it, or if it was cast using any permission other than an escape ability.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger — ruling 8

If a card has multiple abilities giving you permission to cast it, such as two escape abilities or an escape ability and a flashback ability, you choose which one to apply. The others have no effect.

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger 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 Kroxa enters, sacrifice it unless it escaped. Whenever Kroxa enters or attacks, each opponent discards a card, then each opponent who didn't discard a nonland card this way loses 3 life. Escape—, Exile five other cards from your graveyard. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its escape cost.)

Complete guide

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger is a powerhouse from the underworld that punishes your opponents' resources. Whether it is entering the battlefield or charging into combat, this Elder Giant forces difficult choices and drains life. Understanding how its Escape ability and triggers interact is key to mastering this Rakdos staple.

What It Does

Kroxa has two main mechanics: a recurring discard/drain trigger and the Escape keyword. When Kroxa enters the battlefield (ETB) or attacks, every opponent must discard a card. If they discard a land card or have no cards to discard at all, they lose 3 life. Additionally, Kroxa has a built-in restriction: if you cast it from your hand or put it into play through other means, you must sacrifice it immediately. To keep Kroxa on the battlefield, you must cast it from your graveyard using its Escape cost: two Black mana, two Red mana, and exiling five other cards from your graveyard.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When Kroxa enters the battlefield, two abilities trigger: the 'sacrifice unless it escaped' ability and the discard ability. You choose the order they are put on the stack. As the discard ability resolves in a multiplayer game, the next opponent in turn order chooses a card without revealing it, followed by the others. All chosen cards are then discarded simultaneously. Finally, the game checks if each opponent discarded a nonland card; if they didn't, they lose 3 life. Even if Kroxa is sacrificed to its first trigger, the discard trigger still resolves fully.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion is whether the life loss applies if an opponent has an empty hand. The answer is yes: if an opponent cannot discard a card, they have certainly failed to discard a 'nonland' card, so they lose 3 life. Another mistake involves alternative costs; you cannot use other alternative costs (like 'without paying its mana cost') if you are choosing to cast it via Escape. Lastly, remember that Kroxa's mana value is always 2, even when you pay the much larger Escape cost.

When to Play It

In the early game, Kroxa serves as a cheap sorcery-speed discard spell that builds your graveyard. Because it sacrifices itself when played from the hand, it is often best to cast it early just to get it into the graveyard. In the late game, once you have five cards to exile, Kroxa becomes a recurring 6/6 threat that provides massive value every time it attacks, eventually emptying your opponent's hand and closing out the game with direct damage.

Interaction examples

Draining the Artist

Blood Artist

You have Blood Artist on the battlefield and cast Kroxa from your hand. Kroxa enters, triggering both its discard ability and its sacrifice ability. You resolve the discard trigger first, then the sacrifice trigger. When Kroxa is sacrificed, Blood Artist triggers, allowing you to drain an additional 1 life from an opponent and gain 1 life yourself.

Impulse Casting for Value

Professional Face-Breaker

You attack with a creature and trigger Professional Face-Breaker to create a Treasure. You sacrifice the Treasure to exile the top card of your library, which is Kroxa. Since you are playing Kroxa from exile and not via Escape, the sacrifice trigger will occur. Kroxa enters, forces a discard/life loss, and then must be sacrificed, sending it to the graveyard where it can later be Escaped.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
To resolve Kroxa's second triggered ability in a multiplayer game, the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's an opponent's turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a card in hand and sets it aside without revealing it. Then each other opponent in turn order does the same. Next, all chosen cards are revealed and discarded at the same time. Finally, each opponent who didn't discard a nonland card loses 3 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Kroxa's second ability triggers when it enters the battlefield, even if it didn't escape.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
As the second ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order (or, if it's an opponent's turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. All the chosen cards are discarded at the same time, and then the appropriate players lose 3 life each.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
An opponent loses 3 life if they discard a land card or if they can't discard a card at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Escape's permission doesn't change when you may cast the spell from your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as an escape cost), add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was and no matter whether an alternative cost was paid.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Kroxa's first ability causes you to sacrifice it if you didn't cast it, or if it was cast using any permission other than an escape ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If a card has multiple abilities giving you permission to cast it, such as two escape abilities or an escape ability and a flashback ability, you choose which one to apply. The others have no effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell with its escape permission, you can't choose to apply any other alternative costs or to cast it without paying its mana cost. If it has any additional costs, you must pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If a card with escape is put into your graveyard during your turn, you'll be able to cast it right away if it's legal to do so, before an opponent can take any actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Once you begin casting a spell with escape, it immediately moves to the stack. Players can't take any other actions until you're done casting the spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
After an escaped spell resolves, it returns to its owner's graveyard if it's not a permanent spell. If it is a permanent spell, it enters the battlefield and will return to its owner's graveyard if it dies later. Perhaps it will escape again—good underworld security is so hard to come by these days.
No other card is named in this ruling.