Annihilator
Annihilator is a triggered ability introduced in Rise of the Eldrazi, an ability characteristic of the Eldrazi, themed on cataclysmic beings believed to be borned from the Blind Eternities, and able to annihilate beings that cross their path.
Annihilator X stands for “When this creature attacks defending player sacrifices X amount of permanents”).
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 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.
When a Creature with Annihilator attacks the ability triggers and goes to the stack defending player must choose which permanents will be sarcificed, if defending player doesn’t have permanents to be sacrificed, the ability resolves and combat continues.
If an ability doesn’t allow defending player to sacrifice permanents such as Sigarda Host of Herons, the ability resolves without sacrificing permanents.
History
Rise of The Edrazi released on April 23, 2010. The newly introduced Eldrazi contained powerful creatures with their signature ability Annihilator X, symbolizing their strength and magnitude over the Zendikar plane, headlining with legendary creatures, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Ulamog The Infinite Gyre, and Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.
Annihilator in practice
Annihilator is often a key defining ability on the battlefield as it is able to get rid of many permanents of the opponents choosing, defending player will always try and mitigate this ability with the lesser important components of the table sacrificing tokens or smaller creatures that might not be as important and in some cases player will try and keep the board state by sacrificing lands and keep their core gameplay alive.
- 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.
- Annihilator abilities trigger and resolve during the declare attackers step. The defending player chooses and sacrifices the required number of permanents 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.
- 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 is put on the stack. See rules 810.7 and 805.10e
