The Wretched 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
At end of combat, gain control of all creatures blocking this creature for as long as you control this creature.
Complete guide
The Wretched is a classic Demon that punishes anyone brave enough to stand in its path. By surviving combat, you can permanently turn your opponent's defenders into your own loyal servants. This card creates a unique incentive for opponents to either let damage through or ensure the Demon dies in the process.
Corrupting the Defenders
The Wretched features a triggered ability that activates during the 'At end of combat' step. To successfully gain control of blockers, The Wretched must remain on the battlefield through the combat damage step and until the end of combat begins. If it survives, you gain control of every creature currently blocking it. This effect lasts as long as you maintain control of The Wretched; if it leaves the battlefield or if an opponent takes control of it, the stolen creatures immediately return to their previous controllers.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, The Wretched attacks and the opponent declares blockers. Second, combat damage is dealt; The Wretched must not be destroyed by lethal damage or effects during this time. Third, as the 'end of combat' step starts, the ability triggers and goes on the stack. Finally, when the ability resolves, you gain control of all creatures currently blocking it. Note that if a creature was regenerated, it was removed from combat and is no longer 'blocking,' so the ability will not snatch it.
Maintaining Your Grip
A common mistake is thinking the control effect is permanent regardless of what happens to The Wretched. Because the duration is 'for as long as you control this creature,' the moment The Wretched is exiled, destroyed, or even bounced to your hand, you lose the creatures it claimed. Additionally, if The Wretched is destroyed by the very creatures blocking it during the damage step, the ability never triggers because it is no longer on the battlefield when the end of combat step begins.
Strategic Deployment
You should play The Wretched when you can protect it with spells or when your opponent relies on small utility creatures to block. It forces a difficult choice: take 5 damage or lose their creatures. It is particularly effective against 'chump blockers' that lack the power to kill a creature with 5 toughness, turning their defensive line into your offensive force.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf your opponent blocks The Wretched with Solemn Simulacrum, The Wretched deals 5 damage to the Golem, and the Golem deals 2 damage to the Demon. Since The Wretched has 5 toughness, it survives. At the end of combat, the ability triggers and you gain control of the Solemn Simulacrum. Even if the Golem later ceases to be a creature, you keep control of it as long as you control The Wretched.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Demon' chosen as the creature type, The Wretched's ability will trigger an additional time at the end of combat. While this doesn't change much if the creatures are already stolen by the first trigger, it ensures that if the first trigger is countered, the second one still attempts to give you control of the blockers.
If The Wretched is blocked by multiple creatures whose total power is 5 or greater (for example, five 1/1 tokens), and no other effects are present, The Wretched will be destroyed during the combat damage step. Because it is in the graveyard when the 'end of combat' step begins, its ability will not trigger, and you will not gain control of any tokens.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : The Wretched
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The Wretched’s ability triggers only if it’s still on the battlefield when the end of combat step begins (after the combat damage step). For example, if it’s blocked by a 7/7 creature and is destroyed, its ability won’t trigger at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If The Wretched leaves the battlefield, you no longer control it, so the duration of its control-change effect ends.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If you lose control of The Wretched before its ability resolves, you won’t gain control of the creatures blocking it at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Once the ability resolves, it doesn’t care whether the permanents you gained control of remain creatures, only that they remain on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Any blocking creatures that regenerated during combat will have been removed from combat. Since such creatures are no longer in combat, they cannot be blocking The Wretched, which means you won’t be able to gain control of them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If The Wretched itself regenerated during combat, then it will have been removed from combat. Since it is no longer in combat, there cannot be any creatures blocking it, which means you won’t be able to gain control of any creatures.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
The ability grants you control of all creatures that are blocking it as the ability resolves. This will include any creatures that were put onto the battlefield blocking it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with The Wretched
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.