Accursed Spirit is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Intimidate (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
Complete guide
Accursed Spirit is a classic black creature that utilizes the intimidate keyword to slip past enemy defenses. By leveraging its ghostly nature, it ensures that only specific types of defenders can stand in its way during combat.
Understanding Intimidate
Intimidate is an evasion ability that limits which creatures can legally be declared as blockers. For Accursed Spirit, which is black, this means it can only be blocked by other black creatures or by creatures that have the 'Artifact' type. If an opponent only controls non-artifact creatures of other colors, such as green or white, Accursed Spirit is effectively unblockable.
How Combat Resolves
When you move to the declare blockers step, your opponent checks the restrictions on Accursed Spirit. They must identify creatures they control that are either black or artifacts. If a creature meets neither criteria, it cannot be assigned to block Accursed Spirit. Once blockers are legally declared or skipped, damage is dealt as normal during the combat damage step.
Color and Type Matters
A common mistake is forgetting that artifact creatures can always block a creature with intimidate, regardless of their color. Even if an artifact creature is colorless, it satisfies the 'artifact creature' portion of the intimidate reminder text. Additionally, if Accursed Spirit somehow gains extra colors, the list of potential blockers expands to include creatures sharing any of those new colors.
When to Play Accursed Spirit
Accursed Spirit is most effective in aggressive black decks that want to chip away at an opponent's life total without getting bogged down in board stalls. It excels against mono-colored decks of a different color, such as a Mono-Blue or Mono-Red strategy, provided they aren't relying heavily on artifact creatures for defense.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou attack with Accursed Spirit. Your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum. Because Solemn Simulacrum is an artifact creature, it is a legal blocker for Accursed Spirit despite not being black. Your opponent may choose to block, resulting in both creatures dealing damage to each other.
Roaming ThroneIn this scenario, Roaming Throne is on the battlefield. Even if the opponent chose 'Spirit' for the Throne's ability, Roaming Throne is still an artifact creature. This means it can legally block Accursed Spirit. Intimidate does not care about sharing a creature type; it only cares about color and the artifact card type.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Accursed Spirit
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Accursed Spirit
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