<p>You cannot sacrifice a creature you do not control. The rule on sacrifice, 701.14a says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the battlefield directly to its owner’s graveyard. <strong>A player can’t sacrifice something that isn’t a permanent, or something that’s a permanent he or she doesn’t control</strong>. Sacrificing a permanent doesn’t destroy it, so regeneration or other effects that replace destruction can’t affect this action.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>From a common sense point of view, getting rid of something that's not yours isn't really a <em>sacrifice</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T17:47:53.670Z
2014-01-31T17:47:53.670Z
murgatroid99
<p>I have a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shadowborn%20Demon">Shadowborn Demon</a> and I was a little curious about the description of it. It specifically says &quot;At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are fewer than six creature cards in your graveyard, sacrifice a creature.&quot;</p>
<p>So what I was wondering is, do I have to sacrifice my own creature? Or can I try and keep less than six creatures in my graveyard and sacrifice an opponent's creature every upkeep? Since it does specifically says &quot;<em>a</em> creature&quot; — it does not say &quot;your creature&quot; or &quot;a creature you control.&quot; Most cards that have a sacrifice involved are extremely specific about that and will say &quot;your creature&quot; or &quot;a creature you control&quot; if it wants you to sacrifice your own creatures.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T17:49:50.800Z
As a historical note, cards used to be worded "Sacrifice a creature you control", but with the new definition, it's now redundant.
Discord
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T19:05:43.847Z
@ikegami The exact wording was more like _"Sacrifice one of your creatures"_. You can find it on Sacrifice, for example. http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=sacrifice
Rainbolt
<magic-the-gathering>
Can I sacrifice an opponent's creature to Shadowborn Demon?
Jack Lewis
# Can I sacrifice an opponent's creature to Shadowborn Demon?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-31)

I have a [Shadowborn Demon](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shadowborn%20Demon) and I was a little curious about the description of it. It specifically says "At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are fewer than six creature cards in your graveyard, sacrifice a creature."

So what I was wondering is, do I have to sacrifice my own creature? Or can I try and keep less than six creatures in my graveyard and sacrifice an opponent's creature every upkeep? Since it does specifically says "*a* creature" — it does not say "your creature" or "a creature you control." Most cards that have a sacrifice involved are extremely specific about that and will say "your creature" or "a creature you control" if it wants you to sacrifice your own creatures.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: As a historical note, cards used to be worded "Sacrifice a creature you control", but with the new definition, it's now redundant.  
> **username_2**: @ikegami The exact wording was more like _"Sacrifice one of your creatures"_. You can find it on Sacrifice, for example. http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=sacrifice  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-31. Score: 15

You cannot sacrifice a creature you do not control. The rule on sacrifice, 701.14a says

> To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the battlefield directly to its owner’s graveyard. **A player can’t sacrifice something that isn’t a permanent, or something that’s a permanent he or she doesn’t control**. Sacrificing a permanent doesn’t destroy it, so regeneration or other effects that replace destruction can’t affect this action.

From a common sense point of view, getting rid of something that's not yours isn't really a *sacrifice*.


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