Triumph of Cruelty 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 the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent discards a card if you control the creature with the greatest power or tied for the greatest power.
Complete guide
Triumph of Cruelty is a black enchantment that punishes your opponents for being physically weaker than your forces. By rewarding the control of the largest creature on the battlefield, it turns your combat dominance into card advantage every turn.
Winning the Power Struggle
Triumph of Cruelty features a triggered ability that looks for a specific condition at the start of your turn. It doesn't matter who has the biggest creature when the ability triggers; the game only checks the 'greatest power' requirement at the moment the ability resolves. If you control a creature whose power is equal to or greater than every other creature on the battlefield, your target must discard a card.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, at the start of your upkeep, the ability is placed on the stack and you choose a target opponent. Second, players may respond with spells or abilities, such as removing a creature or casting a pump spell. Third, as the ability resolves, the game compares the power of all creatures currently on the battlefield. If your creature is tied for the lead or is the undisputed strongest, the target discards one card.
Timing and Interaction
Since the check happens during your upkeep, it works perfectly alongside other 'at the beginning of your upkeep' triggers. You can choose the order in which these triggers resolve if you control multiple enchantments. However, keep in mind that if your opponent removes your largest creature in response to the trigger, the condition may no longer be met when the ability attempts to resolve, resulting in no discard.
Interaction examples
Phyrexian ArenaIf you have both enchantments on the battlefield, both trigger at the start of your upkeep. You can choose to have Phyrexian Arena resolve first to draw a card and then have Triumph of Cruelty resolve. As long as you control the strongest creature when Triumph of Cruelty resolves, your opponent will discard a card while you have already gained a card from the Arena.
Black Market ConnectionsIf you were hoping to use a 3/2 Shapeshifter token from Black Market Connections to satisfy the power requirement for Triumph of Cruelty, be careful. Black Market Connections triggers at the start of your precombat main phase, which occurs after the upkeep. This means the token will not be on the battlefield in time to help you trigger the discard effect for that turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Triumph of Cruelty
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Triumph of Cruelty’s ability will trigger at the beginning of each of your upkeeps regardless of who controls the creature with the greatest power. The ability checks whether the opponent will discard a card when it resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Triumph of Cruelty
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