Annihilator

Annihilator
Keyword Ability
Type	Triggered
Introduced	Rise of the Eldrazi
Last used	Modern Horizons 3 Commander
Reminder Text	Annihilator N (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents of their choice.)
Storm Scale	9
Scryfall Statistics
cards

Annihilator is a triggered ability introduced in Rise of the Eldrazi that appears on all the colorless Eldrazi creatures from that set.

Description

“Annihilator N” means “Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents.”

Annihilator originally only appeared on colorless Eldrazi creatures, and on a single colorless Eldrazi Aura, Eldrazi Conscription. The mechanic serves two purposes: it helps break the large board stalls that can occur in Rise of the Eldrazi games, and it demonstrates the storyline idea of the Eldrazi as extremely powerful destroyers of planes in an in-game mechanic.

Annihilator is also granted by the Nazgûl Battle-Mace equipment from the Lord of the Rings Holiday Release set.

Its power and design limitation put it high on the Storm Scale, and the return in Battle for Zendikar left it behind as an Eldrazi mechanic in favor of Processors and colorless mana. It got a single callback in Bane of Bala Ged, which has an exiling variant. It also reappeared in Modern Horizons 3 and MH3 Commander.

History

According to Mark Rosewater, it is unlikely to be reused. It returned however as a one-off mechanic granted by Nazgûl Battle-Mace from the Lord of the Rings Holiday Release.

The Eldrazi returned as a focus for Modern Horizons 3 and brought several new cards with annihilator, including the first Kindred Eldrazi in Idol of False Gods.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Annihilator

A keyword ability that can make a creature particularly brutal when it attacks. See rule 702.86, “Annihilator.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

• 702.86. Annihilator
  • 702.86a Annihilator is a triggered ability. “Annihilator N” means “Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices N permanents.”
  • 702.86b If a creature has multiple instances of annihilator, each triggers separately.

Rulings

From the Release Notes for Modern Horizons 3 (May 15, 2024)

• Annihilator abilities trigger and resolve during the declare attackers step. The defending player sacrifices the required number of permanents of their choice before they declare blockers. Any creatures sacrificed this way won't be able to block.
• If a creature with annihilator is attacking a planeswalker, and the defending player chooses to sacrifice that planeswalker, the attacking creature continues to attack. It may be blocked. If it isn't blocked, it simply won't deal combat damage to anything.

From the Rise of the Eldrazi FAQ

• The defending player is the player that the creature with annihilator is attacking, or the controller of the planeswalker that the creature with annihilator is attacking.
• In a Two-Headed Giant game, the controller of an attacking creature with annihilator chooses which of the defending players is affected by the ability. Only that player sacrifices permanents. The choice is made as the ability resolves; once a player is chosen, it's too late for anyone to respond.

Examples

Example

Ulamog's Crusher
Creature — Eldrazi
8/8
Annihilator 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices two permanents of their choice.)
This creature attacks each combat if able.

Cards that grant Annihilator

• Azlask, the Swelling Scourge (Spawns and Scions)
• Eldrazi Conscription (Enchanted creature)
• Nazgûl Battle-Mace (Equiped creature)

External links

• A Planeswalker's Primer to Rise of the Eldrazi: Eldrazi (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.