Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines 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
Flying Sacrifice three other creatures: Transform this creature. Madness(If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.) Flying When this creature transforms into Abolisher of Bloodlines, target opponent sacrifices three creatures of their choice.
Complete guide
Voldaren Pariah is a fearsome Vampire Horror that represents the dark, transformative power of the Eldritch Moon. This double-faced card can enter the battlefield early via its madness cost and later evolve into a massive Eldrazi threat that wipes your opponent's board.
Dual Faces and Madness
Voldaren Pariah begins as a black creature with flying. Its most important keywords are Madness and its transformation trigger. If you discard this card, you can pay its Madness cost of three black mana to cast it immediately, regardless of timing rules. Once on the battlefield, you can pay a cost of sacrificing three other creatures to transform it into the Eldrazi Vampire, Abolisher of Bloodlines.
Resolving the Transformation
When you activate the ability to sacrifice three other creatures, Voldaren Pariah transforms into its back face, Abolisher of Bloodlines. This triggers a specific ability: a target opponent must sacrifice three creatures of their choice. If the opponent controls fewer than three creatures, they must sacrifice every creature they control. Note that the opponent chooses which creatures to sacrifice, and this ability only triggers exactly when the transformation occurs.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that you must sacrifice 'other' creatures; you cannot sacrifice Voldaren Pariah to its own ability. Additionally, if you discard Voldaren Pariah to pay the cost of another spell or ability, its Madness trigger will go on the stack and resolve first. If you choose not to cast it via Madness when the trigger resolves, the card is put into the graveyard and you cannot cast it for its Madness cost later.
Strategic Timing
Voldaren Pariah is best used in decks that utilize sacrifice synergies or discard outlets. By transforming it, you not only upgrade your creature into a 6/5 flyer but also force a 3-for-3 trade that often leaves your opponent with an empty board. It is an excellent finisher in aggressive or mid-range strategies that can afford the creature cost.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control Voldaren Pariah and three other creatures, including Solemn Simulacrum, you can activate the Pariah's ability. You sacrifice the three creatures, including the Simulacrum. The Simulacrum's 'dies' ability and the Pariah's transformation trigger will occur. You will draw a card from the Golem and your opponent will be forced to sacrifice three creatures as the Pariah becomes Abolisher of Bloodlines.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Vampire' chosen as the creature type, and you transform Voldaren Pariah, the 'When this creature transforms' ability of Abolisher of Bloodlines triggers an additional time. This means your target opponent will have to sacrifice three creatures, and then sacrifice another three creatures, for a total of six.
Eldritch Moon ChecklistBecause Voldaren Pariah is a double-faced card, you can use the Eldritch Moon Checklist in your deck to represent it. You mark the box next to 'Voldaren Pariah'. This allows you to play with opaque sleeves or no sleeves without revealing the card's identity in your library. When you play the card, you replace the checklist with the actual Voldaren Pariah card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Cards are discarded in a Magic game only from a player's hand. Effects that put cards into a player's graveyard from anywhere else do not cause those cards to be discarded.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Madness works independently of why you're discarding the card. You could discard it to pay a cost, because a spell or ability tells you to, or because you have too many cards in your hand during your cleanup step. You can't discard a card with madness just because you want to, though.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
A card with madness that's discarded counts as having been discarded even though it's put into exile rather than a graveyard. If it was discarded to pay a cost, that cost is still paid. Abilities that trigger when a card is discarded will still trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
A spell cast for its madness cost is put onto the stack like any other spell. It can be countered, copied, and so on. As it resolves, it's put onto the battlefield if it's a permanent card or into its owner's graveyard if it's an instant or sorcery card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a spell with madness ignores the timing rules based on the card's card type. For example, you can cast a sorcery with madness if you discard it during an opponent's turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost (such as a madness cost) you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell is determined by only its mana cost, no matter what the total cost to cast that spell was.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose not to cast a card with madness when the madness triggered ability resolves, it's put into your graveyard. Madness doesn't give you another chance to cast it later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If you discard a card with madness to pay the cost of a spell or activated ability, that card's madness triggered ability (and the spell that card becomes, if you choose to cast it) will resolve before the spell or ability the discard paid for.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
If you discard a card with madness while a spell or ability is resolving, it moves immediately to exile. Continue resolving that spell or ability, noting that the card you discarded is not in your graveyard at this time. Its madness triggered ability will be placed onto the stack once that spell or ability has completely resolved.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted opponent doesn't control three creatures as the triggered ability of Abolisher of Bloodlines resolves, that player sacrifices as many creatures as able.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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