Altar of the Wretched: grave tradeoff that pays in cards
Altar of the Wretched is a pragmatic black artifact for decks that convert bodies into value. When it enters the battlefield you can sacrifice a nontoken creature to draw X cards and then mill X cards where X equals that creature s power. That sequence rewards careful clocking of power and timing of sacrifice effects while imposing the usual tradeoff between card advantage and graveyard positioning.
The card pairs well with creatures that leave behind a meaningful graveyard footprint or that return from sacrifice, and the Craft cost grants a route to cheat it into play in creature centric builds. The activated return ability is a tidy piece of recursion that keeps the engine running across multiple turns. Use it to smooth card selection and feed graveyard synergies without relying on repeated tutor effects.
Card Details:
- Mana Cost – {2}{B}
- Card Type – Artifact
- Subtypes –
- Card Text / Rules Text (Printed) – When Altar of the Wretched enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a nontoken creature. If you do, draw X cards, then mill X cards, where X is that creature s power. Craft with one or more creatures {2}{B}{B}. {2}{B}: Return Altar of the Wretched from your graveyard to your hand.
- Power / Toughness – */*