Tip the Scales 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
Sacrifice a creature. When you do, all creatures get -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the sacrificed creature's toughness.
Complete guide
Tip the Scales is a powerful black sorcery that turns your own creatures into a devastating board wipe. By sacrificing a creature, you can reduce the toughness of every creature on the battlefield based on the size of the sacrificed unit. This card is perfect for decks that want to control the board while benefiting from their creatures entering the graveyard.
How it Works
Tip the Scales uses a 'reflexive' triggered ability. When the sorcery resolves, you choose one creature you control and sacrifice it. This act then triggers a separate ability that applies a -X/-X penalty to all creatures on the battlefield. The value of X is determined by the sacrificed creature's toughness as it last existed on the battlefield.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, Tip the Scales is cast and put on the stack. When it resolves, you must sacrifice a creature if you control one. Immediately after the sacrifice, the reflexive ability goes on the stack. At this point, all players know the value of X, and they have a chance to respond with spells or abilities before the -X/-X effect actually happens.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking you choose the creature when you cast the spell. You actually choose only when the spell resolves. Additionally, if the creature you sacrificed had its toughness modified by other effects (like a +1/+1 counter or an Aura) just before it died, those modifications will count toward the value of X.
Strategic Timing
Use this card when your opponent has a wide board of small creatures and you have one creature with high toughness. Because the -X/-X effect follows the sacrifice, you can wait to see if the spell resolves before committing to which creature you lose.
Interaction examples
If you control a creature with 4 toughness and cast Tip the Scales, you sacrifice that creature during resolution. The reflexive ability then triggers, giving all creatures -4/-4. Even if the creature you sacrificed had a temporary toughness boost earlier in the turn, that boosted number is used for X.
Toxic DelugeUnlike Toxic Deluge, which requires you to pay life as you cast it, Tip the Scales requires a creature sacrifice only upon resolution. This means if Tip the Scales is countered, you don't lose your creature, whereas you always lose the life spent on Toxic Deluge regardless of whether it resolves.
Demonic TutorIf you need a specific board wipe, you can use Demonic Tutor to search your library for Tip the Scales. Once you have it in hand, you can evaluate your current creatures to see if any have enough toughness to clear your opponent's side of the field.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Tip the Scales
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You don’t choose which creature to sacrifice until Tip the Scales resolves. You must sacrifice exactly one creature if you control one at that time. Doing so causes a “reflexive” ability to trigger. Players may respond to that ability knowing the value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Use the sacrificed creature’s toughness as it last existed on the battlefield to determine the value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Tip the Scales
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