Kaervek the Merciless
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Kaervek deals damage equal to that spell's mana value to any target.
- CMC
- 7
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- BR
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Double Masters 2022
- Price
- $0.41
- EDHREC rank
- #2566
Kaervek the Merciless punishes every spell an opponent casts — each one deals damage equal to that spell's mana value to any target, turning a busy table into a kill condition by itself. The Lord of Pain nickname fits: seven mana is a real cost, but once Kaervek is on board, opponents either stop casting spells or die doing it.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
The Lord of Pain
The Lord of Pain is functionally named after this relationship — both commanders deal damage whenever opponents cast spells, and stacking Kaervek the Merciless on top of that commander means every spell an opponent plays triggers two separate pain sources, compressing the clock to just a few rounds of normal play.
Yurlok of Scorch Thrash
Yurlok of Scorch Thrash turns mana burn into a resource, and Kaervek the Merciless pairs naturally by threatening additional life loss on top of whatever mana opponents burn — together they create a table environment where doing anything is costly and doing nothing is equally losing.
Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls grows every time an opponent pays life or takes damage outside their turn, and Kaervek the Merciless fires on every opponent spell, making it a consistent growth trigger that also threatens to kill whichever opponent is casting the most.
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces // Vial Smasher the Fierce
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces // Vial Smasher the Fierce already wants the first spell each turn to deal damage to an opponent, and adding Kaervek the Merciless means subsequent spells in the same turn keep the pain going — the copy effect from Sakashima can also double Kaervek's trigger if you're running a second Kaervek clone.
Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Rakdos, Lord of Riots reduces creature costs for each point of damage dealt to opponents, and Kaervek the Merciless chips in on every opposing cast, potentially enabling massive cost reductions and letting Rakdos slam expensive threats for free or nearly free.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the natural home for Kaervek the Merciless — three opponents casting spells every turn cycle means the trigger fires constantly, and a multiplayer table amplifies the damage output far beyond what a duel could manage. In Legacy and Vintage, seven mana is simply unplayable competitively; those formats end before Kaervek enters the battlefield, and nothing in those formats needs a slow enchantment-creature to win. Oathbreaker is the only other format where Kaervek the Merciless sees real consideration, and only in life-drain shells where opponents are already pressured. Outside of Commander, treat this card as format-legal in name only.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.41 bulk tier
At $0.41, Kaervek the Merciless is bulk — a seven-mana legendary with no constructed applications keeps the price pinned down regardless of casual demand. It holds that floor reliably; there's no spike risk here, and picking up copies for Commander is painless at this price.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- The Lord of Pain
- Yurlok of Scorch Thrash
- Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
- Sakashima of a Thousand Faces // Vial Smasher the Fierce
- Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.