Minister of Pain 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
Exploit (When this creature enters, you may sacrifice a creature.) When this creature exploits a creature, creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Minister of Pain is a versatile Human Shaman that brings a powerful board-shrinking effect to your command. By utilizing the Exploit mechanic, this creature turns your own assets into a tool to dismantle your opponent's army. It serves as both a sacrifice outlet and a tactical strike against small creatures.
Understanding Exploit
Exploit is a triggered ability that occurs exactly once when Minister of Pain enters the battlefield. You are never forced to sacrifice a creature; the ability gives you the choice to do so as it resolves. However, the secondary effect—giving your opponents' creatures -1/-1—only triggers if you successfully sacrifice a creature to the exploit ability.
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, Minister of Pain enters the battlefield, putting the exploit trigger on the stack. When that trigger resolves, you decide whether to sacrifice a creature. If you do, the second 'When this creature exploits a creature' ability triggers and is put on the stack. Finally, that second ability resolves, and all creatures your opponents control receive the -1/-1 penalty until the end of the turn.
Common Pitfalls
A crucial rule to remember is that Minister of Pain must be on the battlefield for its second ability to trigger. If an opponent destroys Minister of Pain in response to the exploit trigger, you can still choose to sacrifice a creature when the exploit ability resolves, but the -1/-1 effect will never happen. Additionally, you can only sacrifice exactly one creature to a single exploit trigger; you cannot sacrifice multiple creatures to increase the penalty.
Strategic Timing
Minister of Pain is best used when your opponent has a board full of low-toughness creatures, such as tokens or small utility creatures. Since the -1/-1 effect does not target, it is an excellent way to bypass keywords like Hexproof or Shroud. You can even sacrifice Minister of Pain to its own ability if it is the only creature you control and you desperately need the board wipe effect.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumWith Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, you cast Minister of Pain. When Minister of Pain enters, its exploit ability triggers. You choose to sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum. This triggers two abilities: Minister of Pain's -1/-1 effect and Solemn Simulacrum's death trigger. You will draw a card, and your opponents' creatures will get -1/-1.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Human' or 'Shaman' chosen, casting Minister of Pain causes the exploit ability to trigger twice. If you sacrifice a creature to the first exploit trigger, the -1/-1 ability triggers twice because of Roaming Throne. This results in your opponents' creatures receiving a total of -2/-2 for the turn.
If you have no other creatures, Minister of Pain can exploit itself. When the exploit trigger resolves, you sacrifice Minister of Pain. Because it was on the battlefield when the sacrifice happened, its second ability triggers, applying the -1/-1 penalty to your opponents' creatures even though Minister of Pain is now in the graveyard.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Minister of Pain
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A creature with exploit “exploits a creature” when the controller of the exploit ability sacrifices a creature as that ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You choose whether to sacrifice a creature and which creature to sacrifice as the exploit ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can sacrifice the creature with exploit if it’s still on the battlefield. This will cause its other ability to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield as the exploit ability resolves, you won’t get any bonus from the creature with exploit, even if you sacrifice a creature. Because the creature with exploit isn’t on the battlefield, its other triggered ability won’t trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t sacrifice more than one creature to any one exploit ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Minister of Pain
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