Nerf sacrificial dagger + sacrificum sigil.

[saccharineChampion]

One hundred percent agree, and I stand by everything you mention me saying. (And re:counterplay of other things, at least for the pathogens you can get prescanned - if somebody's out there stealth-sacrificum, there's no way to communicate what's going on, to know how to prepare, or even really let others know what's going on so they can react.)

I love ritual chalk but for this one feature. I love the different, decidedly less lamely lethal spells, such as those you listed.

I'd also think it could just be removed - if not, my thought was damaging the victim. (Heart removal still worries me a bit, but it's definitely got precedent). That, or only working on corpses.