Right, Ice Age's original Hecatomb was pretty awesome since you didn't have to worry about its cip/etb trigger if you didn't have any creatures anyways, and an activated ability like this would indeed easily cause infinite damage with only one swamp these days.
Posted By:
Mode
(1/1/2010 4:08:17 AM)
I like the art.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(6/15/2010 3:45:49 PM)
The wording "X to Y" always meant "X:Y." Or, in an activated ability with a mana component"as an additional cost do X. Then do Y." If it had said "X and Y" ("tap a swamp and deal 1 damage") then X would be an effect and not part of the cost. The little word "to" makes all the difference, which is why they stopped wording it that way.
Posted By:
longwinded
(1/15/2011 1:52:48 PM)
Tokens will do the trick
Posted By:
luxma
(3/17/2011 9:18:59 AM)
I don't remember the exact circumstances, but I think the errata to "or sacrifice Hecatomb" came very fast, they had made an actual mistake by leaving it off the card. It was no errata'd to reduce the power level (something which ***es me off).
Posted By:
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
(3/9/2012 5:48:12 PM)
@undergroundmonorail - in R&D terms, it is preferable in limiting power. If it were 
instead, cards such as the following would make it even more powerful than Pestilence due to the lack of self-damage, even without the global damage that you get with Pestilence - Mana Flare, Dark Ritual, Culling The Weak, Soldevi Adnate, Alter of Shadows, Black Market, Crypt of Agadeem, Cabal Coffers, et.
Posted By:
Dreznin
(7/6/2012 6:38:28 AM)
Lol, now here's a proper use for R&D's Secret Lair :D
Posted By:
Ritius
(1/19/2010 12:25:29 AM)
I'll just hurt myself while playing Pestilence, thanks.
Posted By:
scumbling1
(6/9/2011 6:03:11 PM)
stifle this.
Posted By:
Infylol
(2/19/2011 1:42:40 PM)