When building a powerful black deck in Magic: The Gathering, especially in formats like Commander, few enchantments strike fear into opponents quite likeGrave PactandDictate of Erebos. Both cards offer punishing effects when creatures die, creating powerful board control and forcing sacrifices across the battlefield. While they serve a similar function, each has unique characteristics that can influence how and when they are best used. Understanding the differences between these enchantments is critical for players looking to optimize their deck strategy, balance mana costs, and choose synergy over redundancy.
Card Overview and Core Effect
What Does Grave Pact Do?
Grave Pactis a black enchantment with a converted mana cost of four (1BBB). Its effect is straightforward but brutal: whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent sacrifices a creature. This ability makes it extremely difficult for opponents to keep creatures on the battlefield while yours are falling, especially in decks that feature sacrifice outlets or creature token engines.
What Does Dictate of Erebos Do?
Dictate of Erebosshares a nearly identical effect with Grave Pact. It costs five mana (3BB), and it also causes each opponent to sacrifice a creature whenever one of your creatures dies. The difference? Dictate of Erebos has flash. This means you can play it at instant speed, which opens the door for surprise plays, defensive reactions, or unexpected combo completions during your opponent’s turn.
Comparing Mana Costs and Tempo
Grave Pact: Lower Mana, Earlier Impact
The cheaper cost of Grave Pact makes it a more attractive option for early or mid-game plays. At just four mana, it’s easier to cast while still leaving room to perform other actions on the same turn. This helps aggressive decks or combo-focused builds deploy it quickly and begin forcing sacrifices before opponents can stabilize.
Dictate of Erebos: Higher Cost, Greater Flexibility
Dictate of Erebos costs one more mana but compensates with its flash ability. The extra mana can be a minor drawback in mana-tight situations, but in decks with mana acceleration or late-game strength, the flexibility of flashing it in makes it invaluable. Holding up mana to either cast a removal spell or drop Dictate of Erebos creates tension for your opponents and allows you to react with greater control.
Flash vs Static Speed
Strategic Value of Flash
Flash is not just a minor upgrade. In a multiplayer setting like Commander, Dictate of Erebos can be played just before your turn or in response to an opponent’s creature-heavy board development. This means your enchantment won’t become an immediate threat as it hits the board, buying you some political breathing room before its effects start triggering.
Downsides of Sorcery-Speed Enchantments
Grave Pact, by contrast, is more transparent. Casting it on your turn makes your intentions clear, potentially painting a target on your back. Opponents have more time to respond, remove it, or play around it. While it still offers excellent board control, the predictability of Grave Pact may work against you in more politically nuanced games.
Synergy with Sacrifice Engines
Ideal Pairings for Both Cards
Both enchantments thrive in decks built around sacrifice themes. Here are common synergy engines:
- Viscera Seer Free sacrifice outlet that helps scry and trigger the enchantment repeatedly.
- Pitiless Plunderer Generates treasure tokens on creature death, fueling more sacrifice combos.
- Reassembling Skeleton Recurs itself easily for multiple sacrifice loops.
- Blood Artist / Zulaport Cutthroat Complements the sacrifice triggers by draining life from all opponents.
Whether you play Grave Pact or Dictate of Erebos, these synergies significantly amplify the enchantments’ value.
Deck Archetypes That Benefit the Most
Aristocrats Decks
The classic home for these enchantments is the Aristocrats archetype. This style of play focuses on gaining incremental value through sacrificing creatures, with cards likeCartel AristocratandFalkenrath Noble. Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos transform these sacrifices into mass removal tools, making it nearly impossible for opponents to maintain board presence.
Token Strategies
Decks that flood the board with tokens (e.g., black/white or black/green builds) are ideal. Cards likeEndrek Sahr,Ophiomancer, andArmy of the Damnedcan generate many creatures quickly. Even if the tokens are expendable, they serve as fodder to trigger your enchantments repeatedly.
Stax and Control Decks
Control-focused decks that already restrict opponents’ actions benefit from adding sacrifice elements to their strategy. Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos force opponents to lose resources even when they don’t attack, breaking their tempo and keeping their boards light.
Which One Should You Choose?
Grave Pact for Aggression and Speed
If your deck aims to establish early dominance and snowball from a fast start, Grave Pact is likely the better choice. Its lower cost allows you to impact the game quicker, making it a great inclusion in more aggressive or combo-centric decks. You can force multiple sacrifice triggers in a single turn and pull ahead before opponents stabilize.
Dictate of Erebos for Reactivity and Surprise
If your deck leans toward control or relies on political maneuvering, Dictate of Erebos is the stronger option. The flash ability gives you the element of surprise, letting you bait opponents into committing creatures to the board before punishing them with a sudden sacrifice chain. It’s ideal for decks that prefer to operate at instant speed or that thrive on unpredictability.
Running Both: Redundancy or Synergy?
Many Commander decks, especially in black, choose to run both cards. This redundancy is not wasteful in fact, it’s strategic. Since both cards are often priority removal targets, having two copies increases the chance you’ll draw one and gives your deck resilience. Additionally, they synergize with each other: the more sacrifice triggers you generate, the more devastating your board control becomes.
Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos are two of the most powerful black enchantments available for sacrifice-themed decks. While their core effect is nearly identical, the difference in mana cost and the flash ability of Dictate introduces nuanced decision-making for players looking to optimize their decks. Grave Pact rewards speed and aggression, while Dictate of Erebos excels in flexibility and strategic timing. Choosing the right one or both depends on your deck’s overall game plan, mana curve, and desired level of interaction. Whichever you pick, expect your opponents to lose creatures fast and often, all while you reap the rewards of well-timed sacrifices.