What it does
Annihilator is a triggered ability found mostly on big Eldrazi creatures. When a creature with Annihilator attacks, the defending player must sacrifice that many permanents before blockers are declared. So Annihilator 6 means the defender chooses and sacrifices six of their own permanents—any combination of lands, creatures, artifacts, enchantments, or planeswalkers.
The key nuance: the trigger happens "whenever this creature attacks," during the declare attackers step, before blocks. People often think they can chump-block to avoid the sacrifice, but you've already lost permanents by then—blocking only stops the combat damage. Also, the defender chooses what to sacrifice, not the attacker.
In Commander, Annihilator is brutal because attacking one opponent can cripple their board and mana base in a single swing. It's a hallmark of "big mana" Eldrazi ramp decks and is widely considered a feel-bad, game-warping mechanic at many tables.
Iconic cards with Annihilator
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