If you cast this as a spell, you choose how many and which creatures to devour as part of the resolution of that spell. (It can't be countered at this point.) The same is true of a spell or ability that lets you put a creature with devour onto the battlefield.
You may choose not to sacrifice any creatures for the Devour ability.
You may sacrifice only creatures that are already on the battlefield. If a creature with devour and another creature are entering under your control at the same time, the creature with devour can't devour that other creature. The creature with devour also can't devour itself.
Last observed on Scryfall 2 months ago at $0.31. Over the trailing 90 days the price moved between $0.02 and $0.31 across 44 observations. Cross-checked across TCGplayer, eBay sold, Cardmarket EU, and Star City.
This printing is one of 3 catalogued treatments from ALA — the lineup includes Foil and Nonfoil alongside the standard finish. Across our catalog the Rarix library tracks every variant in the same family so collectors can compare price, scarcity and demand inside a single lineage.
Card #89 of *Shards of Alara*, the set that shipped alongside the October 2008 Shards of Alara release.
Card type: Creature — Elemental, color identity black, printed at rare. Rares occupy the bottom-of-pack rare slot in standard boosters. Mana cost: {5}{B} (6 converted). Keyword abilities: Devour.
Legal in Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.
EDHrec ranks this card #24,315 in Commander, putting it in the fringe-play tier of the format's playable pool.
Illustrated by Anthony S. Waters. Rarix catalogs 413 other cards credited to this artist.
Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Anthony S. Waters
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.
If multiple creatures with devour are entering under your control at the same time, you may use each one's devour ability. A creature you already control can be devoured by only one of them, however. (In other words, you can't sacrifice the same creature to satisfy multiple devour abilities.) All creatures devoured this way are sacrificed at the same time.
