The Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer is a fuzz and preamp pedal that puts two of the maker's circuits in one enclosure: the Ritual V2 fuzz and the Oath preamp. Black Arts describes it as going "from a controllable WALL OF FUZZ, to a SAVAGE PREAMP ANNIHILATOR," with each side usable on its own or both engaged together1. It is an analog pedal aimed at players who want a high-output fuzz to drive the front end of an amp hard.
The pedal's stated purpose is blunt. On the original Destroyer page, the maker calls it "an all out amp slammer with a singular purpose; Provide the most usable fuzz and highest output to maul the front end of your amp"2.
The Ritual V2 and the Oath in one pedal
The Destroyer V2 combines the Ritual V2 and the Oath into what the maker calls "one unified assault"1. For a player, that means two distinct gain stages in one box:
- The Ritual side is the fuzz circuit, usable on its own for what Black Arts calls a controllable wall of fuzz4.
- The Oath side is the preamp, which the maker positions as the higher-output half of the pedal1.
- Both together: the two footswitches let you stack the fuzz into the preamp, which is where the "destroy" part of the name comes from. As RockBoard's PedalPedia puts it, "Use the Ritual or the OATH separately, OR STOMP BOTH AND DESTROY"3.
The V2 Ritual fuzz circuit carries more gain, compression and low mids than the earlier version, according to Black Arts Toneworks1. The maker also notes a cleanup trick: rolling the guitar's volume back to 9 gives more bite and less compression3. That is worth knowing for players who ride the guitar's volume knob, since the extra gain on tap in V2 can be pulled back without switching pedals.
How the pedal sounds is the maker's claim, not an independent one: Black Arts describes the range as running from that controllable wall of fuzz to a savage preamp annihilator1.
Versions: the V2 and the etched short run
The Destroyer has been offered in two forms: the standard V2 pedal and a limited etched version251.
| Version | Enclosure | Run size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyer V2 | Standard | Regular production | $1891 | Current version1 |
| Custom Acid Etched Destroyer | Acid etched graphic on bare aluminum5 | Short run of 182 | $200.00 plus actual shipping2 | Sold out5 |
The etched version was a custom enclosure with an acid etched graphic on bare aluminum, built as a short run of 1825. It was priced at $200.00 plus actual shipping, with interested players directed to email the maker for availability and a shipping quote2. That version is now sold out5.
The Custom Acid Etched Destroyer is sold out5. The standard Destroyer V2 at $189 is the current version1.
Power and setup
The Destroyer V2 operates on a standard 9V DC power supply1, with a center negative plug and a current draw of 10mA3. There is no battery connection1, so the pedal always needs an external supply on the board.
No battery connection means the Destroyer cannot run standalone without a power supply; plan a 9V DC center negative output for it13.
At 10mA the draw is modest, so it fits easily alongside other fuzz pedals on a typical 9V supply3.
Where it sits in the Black Arts lineup
Black Arts Toneworks also builds the Sarcophagus, the Rabid Mammal (currently out of production), the Fnord, the Pharaoh and the Pharaoh Supreme, among others. The Destroyer stands apart from those single-circuit pedals by pairing two circuits, the fuzz and the preamp, in one enclosure with independent switching1.
Videos
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Questions
Can you use the Ritual and Oath sides of the Destroyer separately?
Yes. Black Arts Toneworks built the Destroyer so each side works on its own: you can run the Ritual fuzz alone for a controllable wall of fuzz, run the Oath alone, or engage both at once with both footswitches. The maker's own wording is to use the Ritual or the Oath separately, or stomp both and destroy.
Does the Black Arts Destroyer take a battery?
No. The Destroyer V2 has no battery connection, according to the maker's product page, so it runs only from an external power supply. Players building a pedalboard around it should plan on a power outlet or isolated supply rather than a 9V battery.
What power supply does the Black Arts Destroyer need?
The Destroyer runs on a standard 9V DC power supply with a center negative plug, and draws about 10mA. That is low enough that it shares easily with other pedals on a typical 9V supply, though the lack of a battery connection means you always need that supply connected.
What changed in the Ritual fuzz for the Destroyer V2?
The V2 version of the Ritual fuzz circuit offers more gain, more compression and more low mids than the earlier version, according to Black Arts Toneworks. The maker also says rolling your guitar's volume back to 9 gives more bite and less compression, so the extra gain can be tamed from the guitar itself.
Sources (5)
- Destroyer, Black Arts Toneworks
- DESTROYER, Black Arts Toneworks
- Destroyer by Black Arts Toneworks, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Introducing the Black Arts DESTROYER!, Black Arts Toneworks
- Custom Acid Etched Destroyer, Black Arts Toneworks
