Agate Instigator 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
Offspring(You may pay an additional
Complete guide
Agate Instigator is a low-cost Lizard Rogue that punishes your opponents every time you expand your board. By utilizing the new Offspring mechanic, you can double your impact and turn every subsequent creature entry into a barrage of damage.
Understanding Offspring
Offspring is an optional additional cost you pay while casting the spell. If you pay the extra {1}{R} for Agate Instigator, a triggered ability goes on the stack once the original creature enters the battlefield. When this ability resolves, you create a 1/1 token copy of Agate Instigator. This token possesses the same 'ping' ability as the original, meaning you now have two sources of damage for every creature that follows.
Resolving the Damage Trigger
The core ability triggers whenever another creature you control enters the battlefield. Note that the original Agate Instigator does not trigger for itself. However, if you paid the Offspring cost, the 1/1 token copy is considered 'another creature' relative to the original. This means when the token enters, the original Agate Instigator will deal 1 damage to each opponent. Once both are on the field, every new creature you play will trigger both lizards, dealing a total of 2 damage to each opponent.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that the token is 'cast'—it is not. The token is created by a triggered ability, so effects that care about casting spells won't see the token. Additionally, you can only pay the Offspring cost once per spell; you cannot pay it multiple times to create a swarm of lizards. Finally, if Agate Instigator is countered, the Offspring ability never triggers, and you won't get the token.
Strategic Timing
Agate Instigator is most effective in decks that generate multiple creatures in a single turn. Since it hits 'each opponent,' it is particularly potent in multiplayer formats like Commander. To maximize value, play Agate Instigator early with its Offspring cost so that every utility creature or token generator played later in the game contributes to lowering your opponents' life totals.
Interaction examples
Agate InstigatorYou cast Agate Instigator and pay the additional {1}{R} for Offspring. The original Agate Instigator enters the battlefield. This puts the Offspring trigger on the stack. When the trigger resolves, a 1/1 token copy of Agate Instigator enters. Because the token is 'another creature' entering under your control, the original Agate Instigator's ability triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
Ornithopter of ParadiseWith an Agate Instigator and its 1/1 Offspring token already on the battlefield, you cast Ornithopter of Paradise. When Ornithopter of Paradise enters, both Agate Instigator permanents see it. Each one triggers separately, dealing 1 damage to each opponent for a total of 2 damage.
Professional Face-BreakerYou have Agate Instigator on the field and cast Professional Face-Breaker. When Professional Face-Breaker enters, Agate Instigator deals 1 damage to your opponent. Later, if you attack and deal damage, Professional Face-Breaker creates a Treasure. Note that creating the Treasure does not trigger the Instigator, as the Treasure is not a creature, but the initial entry of the Face-Breaker provided that crucial guaranteed damage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Agate Instigator
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You can pay an offspring cost only once as you cast a spell with offspring. You can't try to pay it multiple times to get more token copies.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell is countered, the offspring ability will not trigger, and no token will be created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell resolves but the creature with offspring leaves the battlefield before the offspring ability resolves, you'll still create a token copy of it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else, except it's a 1/1 (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its types, color, or so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
In the rare case where the original creature is copying something else when the offspring ability resolves, the token enters as whatever that creature copied, except it's a 1/1.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Many creatures with offspring abilities have other abilities that refer to them as "this creature" rather than referring to them by name. This difference is for clarity purposes and does not change the function of any of these abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Any "enters" abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters. Any "as [this creature] enters" or "[this creature] enters with" abilities of the copied creature will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
The token created by the offspring ability isn't "cast", so abilities that trigger when a creature spell is cast won't trigger for the copy.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
In the rare case where the creature doesn't have the offspring ability when it enters, the ability won't trigger even if you paid the offspring cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Storm Herd + Agate Instigator
- 1Cast Storm Herd by paying
, creating a number of 1/1 Pegasus creature tokens equal to your life total. - 2When the Pegasi enter, Agate Instigator triggers that many times, dealing that much damage to each opponent.
The Locust God + Curiosity + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Curiosity triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Niv-Mizzet, Visionary + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3When the Insect enters the battlefield, Agate Instigator triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Niv-Mizzet triggers, causing you to draw that many cards.
- 5The Locust God triggers for each card drawn this way.
- 6Resolve a trigger, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
The Locust God + Ophidian Eye + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Ophidian Eye triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Tandem Lookout + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Agate Instigator triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Snake Umbra + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Keen Sense + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Keen Sense triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Red Terror + Animation Module + Phyrexian Altar + Agate Instigator
- 1Cause a creature to enter the battlefield under your control.
- 2Agate Instigator triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 3The Red Terror triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself.
- 4Animation Module triggers, causing you to pay
to create a 1/1 Servo artifact creature token. - 5When the Servo enters, Agate Instigator triggers.
- 6Holding priority, activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Servo, adding .
- 7Resolve the Agate Instigator triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
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