Act of Treason 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
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. (It can attack andthis turn.)
Complete guide
Act of Treason is a classic red sorcery that turns your opponent's best weapons against them for a brief, impactful moment. By borrowing a creature, you can shift the momentum of the game, clearing a blocker while adding a powerful attacker to your side of the battlefield.
What Act of Treason Does
For three mana, Act of Treason allows you to target any creature on the battlefield. When the spell resolves, you gain control of that creature until the end of the current turn, it becomes untapped, and it gains haste. This means you can use the creature to attack or activate its abilities involving the tap symbol, even if it just entered the battlefield this turn under your opponent's control.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you cast Act of Treason and choose a legal target creature. Upon resolution, the control change effect begins immediately. Second, the creature is untapped; note that this happens even if the creature was already untapped. Third, the creature gains haste. You maintain control of this creature until the 'cleanup step' at the end of the turn, at which point the creature returns to the control of the player who previously controlled it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common misconception is that you gain control of the Auras or Equipment attached to the stolen creature. You do not. While the Equipment remains attached to the creature, the opponent still controls the Equipment and can pay the equip cost to move it to one of their own creatures during their turn. Additionally, you cannot keep the creature permanently just because you untapped it; the control effect has a specific expiration at the end of the turn.
When to Play It
Act of Treason is best used when your opponent has a single powerful blocker preventing you from winning the game. It is also an excellent tool when paired with 'sacrifice' outlets. If you sacrifice the creature to another effect before the turn ends, it will go to your opponent's graveyard, but they will never get it back on their side of the battlefield.
Interaction examples
If your opponent has a large creature standing in your way, you cast Act of Treason targeting it. You now control that creature, it untaps, and it can attack alongside your other creatures. Your opponent now has one fewer blocker, and you have one more attacker.
Jeska's WillYou use Act of Treason to take control of an opponent's creature that happens to be their Commander. Because you now control a commander, when you cast Jeska's Will, you are eligible to choose both modes instead of just one, providing you with massive mana and card advantage.
Wheel of FortuneAfter casting Wheel of Fortune to refresh everyone's hands, you might find your opponent has drawn into a powerful creature and played it. You can immediately use Act of Treason to take that creature and use it against them before they ever get a chance to attack with it themselves.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Act of Treason
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Act of Treason can target any creature, even one that's untapped or one you already control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Gaining control of a creature doesn't cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ink-Treader Nephilim + Act of Treason + Cloudshift + Natural Affinity
- 1Cast Natural Affinity by paying
causing all lands into 2/2 creatures until end of turn. - 2Cast Act of Treason by paying
, targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim. - 3Ink-Treader Nephilim triggers, copying Act of Treason for each creatures, gaining control of creatures until end of turn.
- 4Cast Cloudshift by paying
, targeting Ink-Treader Nephilim. - 5Ink-Treader Nephilim triggers, copying Cloudshift for each creature.
- 6The Cloudshift copies resolve, exiling all creatures you control and returning them to the battlefield under your control.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Act of Treason
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.