All 19 Annihilator Cards in Magic Ranked

Last updated on July 11, 2025

Azlask, the Swelling Scourge | Illustration by Alexander Mokhov

Annihilator is a powerful mechanic, and one that’s quite divisive. A signature of the biggest Eldrazi, it shows off their world-eating nature, and a demonstration of their place as an otherworldly force of nature. However, not all annihilator cards are equal, so let’s take a look to see which is the best of the best!

What Is Annihilator in MTG?

Pathrazer of Ulamog | Illustration by Austin Hsu

Annihilator is a keyword ability on creatures, most closely associated with the eldrazi, particularly some of the gigantic ones, rather than the smaller drones. Annihilator comes with a number (for example, annihilator 2), and when the creature with annihilator attacks, the defending player must sacrifice a number of permanents equal to the number associated with annihilator.

For our purposes, I look at the creatures with annihilator printed on them, but also cards that can give creatures annihilator.

#19. Hand of Emrakul

Starting out fittingly for an Eldrazi-centric ability with a 9-mana common, Hand of Emrakul is a nice example of what it means to be a holder of annihilator. Big mana, big power and toughness… it’s a big deal. It does have an alternate cost, but a 9-mana 7/7 still isn’t super exciting, even with annihilator. Still, a good place to start.

#18. Idol of False Gods

Most cards here have high mana values, which is why pointing out the mana value of only 2 on Idol of False Gods is notable. That said, it’s not doing much when you first cast it, and you need several of your eldrazi to die before it can actually use annihilator. That said, annihilator 2 is twice as good as annihilator 1, so maybe I’m underestimating this one.

#17. Ulamog’s Crusher

Ulamog's Crusher is the common ramp payoff for all good Masters sets. It’s going to end games quickly, and if you ever attack with it, it’s going to cost your opponent a lot to get rid of it. The stats are solid on this one, even if it’s not flashy.

#16. Pathrazer of Ulamog

Pathrazer of Ulamog is 11 mana, but it’s worth each and every bit of that. Annihilator 3 is no joke, and this 9/9 with “super menace” is going to decimate any board that it attacks into. Lack of an ETB is holding it back a bit, but you can’t have too much on an uncommon like this.

#15. Eldrazi Ravager

One of the cheaper straight-up creatures on the list, Eldrazi Ravager is a strong creature that can keep coming back if needed. It’s not quite at the point of “if it attacks you win” like some of the others, but at 6 mana that would probably be an issue in Limited for an uncommon!

#14. Nulldrifter

One of the features of Modern Horizons 3 is the classic Magic cards reimagined in an Eldrazi guise. Nulldrifter is obviously a take on Mulldrifter, and tacking annihilator onto it is a way to hammer home the Eldrazi nature of it. Having an on attack trigger on a flying creature is always an upside, and if the cast trigger isn’t enough card advantage for you, annihilator helps hammer it home!

#13. Breaker of Creation

While you’re unlikely to get more than one attack in with Breaker of Creation, it’s certainly going to pull the game around to your favor when you do. It’ll gain you a bunch of life, make your opponent sacrifice two things, and trade with at least one of their creatures. Annihilator 2 is, as ever, stronger than you might first expect, even if they only sacrifice a couple of lands!

#12. Spawnsire of Ulamog

Spawnsire of Ulamog is a pretty sweet card from Rise of the Eldrazi, but it doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the annihilator ability on the card, which is probably the main reason why it’s not higher. Annihilator 1 is a nice upside, but the best thing about this card is the 20-cost ability. Grabbing any Eldrazi from “outside the game” (usually only from exile or your sideboard, unfortunately). It’s cool, but not for the reasons we’re here for.

#11. Artisan of Kozilek

Artisan of Kozilek is a sweet deal for an uncommon. A big ol’ spaghetti monster who reanimates a friend to come alongside it? Yeah, it’s 9 mana, but it’s a lot of value. Annihilator 2 is a great addition, too. Imagine you bring another Artisan back. That’s like annihilator 4!

#10. Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

The first Eldrazi titan on the list, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre brings us nicely into the top 10. The original run of Titans all had annihilator 4 printed on them, which is a lot of stuff to sacrifice whenever it attacks. Not only that, but you can use Ulamog to destroy their best permanent before that, making the decision of what to sac even harder. Super powerful, and you don’t want this one coming your way!

#9. Kozilek, Butcher of Truth

Another of the original batch of titans, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth pulls you back into the game by drawing a new grip of cards, all the while being a big, annihilatory stompy threat. Possibly the best version of Kozilek printed so far, it’s got it all.

#8. It That Betrays

What goes well with annihilator triggers? Abilities that care about cards being sacrificed is one option. It That Betrays brings the whole package, with annihilator 2 and the ability to steal anything that’s sacrificed. A lot of players don’t like you getting hold of their stuff, and they probably don’t like annihilator either. This one will really annoy them.

#7. Eldrazi Conscription

If you don’t have a handy Eldrazi titan to hand, you can always create your own! Eldrazi Conscription is a way to give anything of yours annihilator. Eight mana is quite a lot for this kindred aura, but remember this essentially makes a hasty Eldrazi, as long as what you’re enchanting isn’t something with summoning sickness. While you usually need your annihilating threats to wait a turn to attack, with this colorless enchantment you don’t!

#6. Flayer of Loyalties

Why make your own Eldrazi, when you can just make your opponent’s stuff into your own Eldrazi? Flayer of Loyalties is a very eldrazi take on a Threaten effect, stealing their best thing for a turn, and giving it a very tentacly upgrade. Again, this one can let you use annihilator on the turn it’s cast, but also leaves behind its own body for the next turn, too.

#5. Ulamog, the Defiler

Ulamog, the Defiler has the biggest possible value of annihilator yet, and all you need to do is to get some +1/+1 counters on it! It even comes with its own counters! I’ve mentioned before that the creature gets exponentially better as the annihilator number goes up, and with the values you can get with the latest Ulamog, it’s lights out if it gets a swing in.

#4. Nazgûl Battle-Mace

Look at all these Eldrazi with annihilator! It’s after all their signature mechanic, and no other creature in the entirety of the Multiverse has it but the… Oh, wait? What’s this…? Nazgûl, what are those?

When you venture into Middle-Earth, flavorful abilities were ported onto the cards from that world, and annihilator was (fittingly) used on this equipment. It’s a nice way to make a kind of Eldrazified equipment, especially as I can’t imagine Ulamog picking up a sword (okay, maybe I can imagine that, and as awesome as it would be, it wouldn’t really fit with the aesthetic…).

The card is a pretty good rate. Eight mana to both cast and equip looks similar to Eldrazi Conscription, and although it’s only got annihilator 1, dealing with the creature doesn’t deal with the equipment, so this one gets many more triggers in whether you keep the mace in the Lord of the Rings universe or not!

#3. Hideous Taskmaster

I already liked Threaten effects with annihilator, so I was always going to be a fan of Hideous Taskmaster. In Multiplayer formats it grabs something from each of your opponents, so not only do you take away their blockers, or similar, you then get multiple hasty annihilators for only 7 mana! Plus, this one has haste. Talk about creating an impact.

#2. Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

Many lists of the best Eldrazi have Emrakul, the Aeons Torn as the top card, but I think another card pips it to the post. Nevertheless, it’s a pretty ridiculous card, being one of the few outright bans in Commander! Fifteen mana is a lot, but it does so much. Annihilator 6 is the biggest value just straight-up printed on a card to date, so it’s even impressive simply in terms of its annihilator ability! But what could beat old Emmy?

#1. Azlask, the Swelling Scourge

Azlask, the Swelling Scourge breaks all the unwritten rules about annihilator. Usually, it’s printed on some big Eldrazi that needs to attack, and even then you usually only get one or two sacrifices off it. Not with Azlask, oh no my friend! This gives all your Spawn and Scion tokens annihilator 1, so if you’ve already got an army of them, you get a lot of Annihilator triggers. Azlask only costs 3 mana itself, too (although the cost to activate its ability is {WUBRG]). It still has pseudo-haste with its ability, though, as long as your Scions/Spawn don’t have summoning sickness. This one is disgusting if built right, and don’t underestimate it. A powerful Eldrazi in its own right, but absolutely stunning if you look at annihilator in particular.

Best Annihilator Payoffs

So, we’ve looked at literally all the cards with annihilator on them, what else can we play to make the most of the mechanic? Well, cards with benefits for sacrificing are a great addition, so add something like Rakdos staple, Mayhem Devil to the mix. Then whenever your opponent sacrifices something you get a ping! Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest looks to any player that sacrifices permanents and makes it a permanent anthem.

Not good enough for you? Tergrid, God of Fright lets you keep all the stuff your opponents sacrifice for yourself! This game changer is a nice one, so even if opponents sacrifice lands you get fuel for future spells. Go on. Be the bad guy. You’ll love it!

Ability doublers stack up well with annihilator. Certain ability doublers look for your creature's triggered ability so there's a lot of extra value to be found if you combine this list with The Peregrine Dynamo, Isshin, Two Heavens as One, or Roaming Throne.

How Does Annihilator Work on Ulamog, the Defiler?

Annihilator on Ulamog, the Defiler works like other attack triggers in that it resolves before blockers are declared. The X is determined when the ability resolves, so if you want to pump +1/+1 counters onto it, do so before the ability resolves.

Annihilating Ending

Ulamog, the Defiler | Illustration by Chase Stone

And that’s a wrap! The low down on one of the most powerful and hated mechanics in Magic! Are you in the gang of haters? Or do you like to make your opponents cry?

Have you ever built a deck around annihilator? Or do you have any cool annihilator stories? Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments, or anything out of place in the list. I’ve been on a bit of a colorless card bent recently!

Catch you in the Blind Eternities!