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Cauldron of Essence
USD $3.02
USD foil $2.81
EUR €3.02
MTGO 0.02 tix

Cauldron of Essence

{1}{B}{G}

Artifact

Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

{1}{B}{G}, {T}, Sacrifice a creature: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate only as a sorcery.

In the gloomy depths of Widdershins Hall sits an iron belly—always hungry, but generous to those who feed it.

Set
Secrets of Strixhaven (SOS #179)
Rarity
Rare
Mana value
3
Released
2026-04-24
Artist
Craig J Spearing
EDHREC rank
#2,028
Colour identity
{B}{G}
Finishes
Nonfoil, Foil
Served from
Local database

Commander bracket

1 +
Fits any bracket
No Game Changer, land denial, extra turns or two-card combos.

Derived from card traits, not a ruling — bracket rules turn on how a deck intends to use a card. Bracket rules

EDHREC

Salt Score 0.29
How much players resent seeing this card. The scale tops out around 3.1.
Recursion

Combos 104

Warren Soultrader+Chatterfang, Squirrel General+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite artifact tokensInfinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite Treasure tokens
5,909 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Gravecrawler+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
2,358 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 countersNear-infinite card drawNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite draw triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
1,416 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Nest of Scarabs+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 countersNear-infinite card drawNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite draw triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
1,182 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Pitiless Plunderer+Reassembling Skeleton+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifeloss
1,014 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Flourishing Defenses+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Destroy all creatures opponents controlDestroy each creature that enters the battlefield under an opponent's controlLockNear-infinite -1/-1 countersNear-infinite card drawNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite draw triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
945 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Trudge Garden+Ashnod's Altar+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegainInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
751 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Veinwitch Coven+Phyrexian Altar+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain
538 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Veinwitch Coven+Phyrexian Altar+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegainInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
538 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Pawn of Ulamog+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
500 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Quina, Qu Gourmet+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite artifact tokensInfinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite Treasure tokens
419 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Fumulus, the Infestation+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
286 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Golgari Germination+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
181 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Stridehangar Automaton+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite artifact tokensInfinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite Treasure tokens
121 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+The Skullspore Nexus+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
84 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Viscera Seer+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite scry 1
80 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Ogre Slumlord+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
76 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Altar of Dementia+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite millInfinite self-mill
72 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Pitiless Plunderer+Cult Conscript+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifeloss
71 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Sifter of Skulls+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
71 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Umbral Collar Zealot+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite surveil
66 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Warren Soultrader+Pitiless Plunderer+Bloodsoaked Champion+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifeloss
63 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper+Warren Soultrader+Nether Traitor+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{R}{G}
Infinite artifact ETBInfinite artifact LTBInfinite artifact sacrifice triggersInfinite artifact tokensInfinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite Treasure tokens
47 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Ashnod's Altar+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite colorless manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
45 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Phyrexian Altar+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
43 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Carrion Feeder+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
28 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Altar of Dementia+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite millInfinite self-mill
24 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{R}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
23 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Viscera Seer+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite scry 1
22 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Gutter Grime+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifelossNear-infinitely large creature
20 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Ashnod's Altar+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite colorless manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
20 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Umbral Collar Zealot+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite surveil
19 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Phyrexian Altar+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite colored manaInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
18 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Goblin Bombardment+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{R}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite damageInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
14 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Yahenni, Undying Partisan+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
13 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Open the Graves+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
12 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Abzan Ascendancy+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
10 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Bridge from Below+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
10 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Skittering Precursor+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{R}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
9 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Woe Strider+Metamorphosis Fanatic+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite scry 1
8 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Mortuary+Bolas's Citadel+Viscera Seer+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
7 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Havengul Lich+Rooftop Storm+Warren Soultrader+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}{U}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
7 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Animation Module+Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root+Ashnod's Altar+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on creatures you controlInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegainInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
6 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Carrion Feeder+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creatureInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
6 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Mortuary+Viscera Seer+Gwenom, Remorseless+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite scry 1Infinite storm count
5 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Woe Strider+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite scry 1
4 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician+Rat King, Pale Piper+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite card drawInfinite draw triggersNear-infinite creature ETBNear-infinite creature LTBNear-infinite creature sacrifice triggersNear-infinite death triggersNear-infinite lifegain triggersNear-infinite lifeloss
4 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Junji, the Midnight Sky+Yahenni, Undying Partisan+Karmic Guide+Cauldron of Essence
{W}{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifeloss
4 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Mortuary+Carrion Feeder+Gwenom, Remorseless+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
3 decks Commander Spellbook ↗
Mortuary+Bolas's Citadel+Spore Frog+Cauldron of Essence
{B}{G}
Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite creature sacrifice triggersInfinite death triggersInfinite lifegain triggersInfinite lifelossInfinite storm count
3 decks Commander Spellbook ↗

Showing the 50 most played of 104.

Format legality

Standard Legal
Pioneer Legal
Modern Legal
Legacy Legal
Vintage Legal
Pauper Not legal
Commander Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Brawl Legal
Standard Brawl Legal
Historic Legal
Timeless Legal
Alchemy Legal
Penny Legal
Premodern Not legal
PreDH Not legal
Pauper EDH Not legal
Old School Not legal
Future Legal
Gladiator Legal
All printingsScryfall ↗Edhrec ↗

Rulings

  • 2026-03-20

    Because targets are chosen before costs are paid, the target of Cauldron of Essence's last ability can't be the creature sacrificed to pay its cost.

  • 2026-03-20

    If one or more creatures you control die at the same time that Cauldron of Essence leaves the battlefield, its first ability triggers once for each of those creatures.

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