Vile RequiemHow it works & interactions with other cards

Building the Verse

The primary mechanic of Vile Requiem is its triggered ability that occurs at the beginning of your upkeep. You have the option to put a verse counter on the enchantment; this is not mandatory, but you cannot go back and add one later if you forget. The more counters you collect, the higher the 'X' value becomes for its activated ability.

Activating the Destruction

For the cost of {1}{B} and sacrificing the enchantment, you can target up to X nonblack creatures, where X is the number of verse counters currently on Vile Requiem. Because the sacrifice is part of the cost, the enchantment is in the graveyard by the time the ability is on the stack. The ability also specifies that targeted creatures cannot be regenerated, bypassing one of the most common ways creatures survive destruction.

Strategic Timing

Since Vile Requiem targets creatures, you must be careful if your opponents have ways to give their creatures hexproof or protection from black. If all targets for the ability become illegal before it resolves, the entire ability will fizzle and do nothing, even though you have already sacrificed the enchantment as a cost.

Interaction examples

Upkeep Synergies

Phyrexian Arena

At the start of your upkeep, both Vile Requiem and Phyrexian Arena trigger. Since you control both, you choose the order they go on the stack. You can choose to draw your card from the Arena first, then decide if you want to place a verse counter on the Requiem.

Managing Resources

Black Market Connections

Vile Requiem triggers during your upkeep, while Black Market Connections triggers at the start of your first main phase. This means you must decide whether to add a verse counter and potentially sacrifice the Requiem to clear the board before you move to your main phase to generate Treasures or creatures with Connections.

Solo Board Control

If Vile Requiem has four verse counters on it, you can pay {1}{B} and sacrifice it to target four different nonblack creatures your opponents control. Upon resolution, all four are destroyed and cannot use regeneration shields to survive.