Devour Flesh
Instant
Target player sacrifices a creature of their choice, then gains life equal to that creature's toughness.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- B
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Pioneer Masters
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #19861
Devour Flesh forces a sacrifice — no targeting restrictions, hits hexproof and indestructible creatures cleanly — at the cost of giving the opponent life. That life gain almost never matters enough to pass on a two-mana instant that answers anything.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Devour Flesh earns its slot by ignoring the hexproof and indestructible creatures that hard removal misses, and at two mana it fits under most interaction windows. The life gain is close to irrelevant in a 40-life format with multiple opponents. In Pauper it sees occasional play in black control shells that need cheap, unconditional sacrifice effects. Legacy, Modern, and Pioneer all have faster, cleaner options — Devour Flesh is legal in each but rarely chosen when Fatal Push and Fatal Push alternatives exist at the same price point. It's a format staple in Commander and a functional role-player elsewhere; don't expect it to show up in competitive sixty-card lists.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Devour Flesh is a common that sees enough Commander demand to stay in circulation, which keeps it cheap — typically a few cents in most printings. It's an easy pickup that won't stress any budget.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.