Yawgmoth DemonHow it works & interactions with other cards

Feeding the Demon

The primary mechanic of Yawgmoth Demon is its triggered ability that occurs at the beginning of your upkeep. You have a choice: sacrifice an artifact or face the consequences. While the ability is optional, the 'penalty' only occurs if you choose not to sacrifice or if you cannot sacrifice because you control no artifacts.

Resolution Step by Step

First, the upkeep trigger goes on the stack. As it resolves, you choose whether to sacrifice an artifact. If you do, the ability finishes. If you don't (either by choice or necessity), two things happen immediately: the Demon is tapped, and it deals 2 damage to you. Importantly, if the Demon is already tapped, it stays tapped and you still take the 2 damage.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that the sacrifice is mandatory. According to official rulings, you can always choose not to sacrifice an artifact even if you have one, accepting the 2 damage and the tap effect instead. Additionally, remember that this happens during your upkeep, which is before your draw step and before you can play sorcery-speed spells.

Strategic Implementation

Because this creature has two black mana symbols in its cost, it contributes significantly to your devotion to black. While its maintenance cost is high, it serves as a reliable way to trigger 'death' effects or to clear away artifacts that have served their purpose, all while presenting a 6/6 aerial threat with first strike.

Interaction examples

Devotion and Life Swing

Gray Merchant of Asphodel

With Yawgmoth Demon on the battlefield, your devotion to black is increased by two. When you play Gray Merchant of Asphodel, the Demon contributes to the total X value, forcing opponents to lose more life and granting you a larger life gain, which helps offset the potential damage the Demon deals to you during upkeep.

Converting Artifacts to Damage

Syr Konrad, the Grim

If you control Syr Konrad, the Grim and use Yawgmoth Demon to sacrifice an artifact creature, two things happen. The Demon's hunger is satisfied for the turn, and Syr Konrad's ability triggers because a creature died, dealing 1 damage to each opponent. This turns your upkeep maintenance into an offensive move.

The Penalty Phase

If you start your upkeep with no artifacts in play, the Demon's ability still triggers. Since you cannot sacrifice an artifact, the 'If you don't' clause takes effect. Yawgmoth Demon becomes tapped (preventing it from attacking that turn) and you are dealt 2 damage.