Ainok Survivalist 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
Megamorph(You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for
. Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.) When this creature is turned face up, destroy target artifact or enchantment an opponent controls.
Complete guide
Ainok Survivalist is a versatile Dog Shaman that provides both a solid board presence and essential utility. By utilizing the megamorph mechanic, this creature can catch opponents off guard by destroying their most important permanents while growing stronger in the process.
What It Does
Ainok Survivalist can be cast normally for two mana, but its true potential lies in its megamorph ability. You can cast it face down as a colorless 2/2 creature for three mana. When you pay its megamorph cost of {1}{G} to turn it face up, it gains a +1/+1 counter and triggers an ability to destroy a target artifact or enchantment controlled by an opponent.
How Megamorph Resolves
Turning a creature face up via megamorph is a special action. First, you announce you are turning it face up and pay the megamorph cost. Because this is a special action, it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to. Immediately as it turns face up, the +1/+1 counter is placed on it. Finally, the triggered ability to destroy an artifact or enchantment is put onto the stack, and players may respond to that trigger before it resolves.
Common Mistakes
A common error is thinking the +1/+1 counter is granted regardless of how the card is flipped. If Ainok Survivalist is turned face up by a different effect rather than its megamorph cost, it will not receive the counter. Additionally, remember that the destruction ability only targets permanents your opponents control; you cannot use it to destroy your own artifacts or enchantments.
When to Play It
This card is best used as a reactive tool. Casting it face down early allows you to hold up two mana to threaten an opponent's key equipment or enchantments. Since turning it face up doesn't use the stack, your opponent cannot respond to the creature becoming a 3/2, though they can respond to the destruction trigger once it is placed on the stack.
Interaction examples
You cast Ainok Survivalist face down for {3}. On your opponent's turn, they play a powerful artifact. You pay {1}{G} to turn the Survivalist face up. It becomes a 3/2 creature (due to the +1/+1 counter) and you target their artifact for destruction.
Llanowar ElvesOn turn one, you play Llanowar Elves. On turn two, you use the mana from the Elves and two lands to cast Ainok Survivalist face down. This setup allows you to have the megamorph cost ready as early as turn three while still having mana for other spells.
Birds of ParadiseIf you are playing multiple colors, Birds of Paradise ensures you have the {G} required for the megamorph cost. Even if you don't have a Forest, the Birds can provide the green mana needed to flip the Survivalist and trigger its destruction ability.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ainok Survivalist
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Turning a face-down creature with megamorph face up and putting a +1/+1 counter on it is a special action. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a face-down creature with megamorph is turned face up some other way (for example, if you manifest a card with megamorph and then pay its mana cost to turn it face up), you won't put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Megamorph is a variant of the morph ability. You can find more information on morph on cards with morph from the Khans of Tarkir set.
Card named in this ruling
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Yedora, Grave Gardener + Ainok Survivalist + Ashnod's Altar
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Ainok Survivalist, adding
. - 2Ainok Survivalist dies, triggering Yedora, returning Ainok Survivalist to the battlefield face down as a Forest land with no other types or abilities.
- 3Activate Ainok Survivalist by tapping it, adding .
- 4Activate Ainok Survivalist's megamorph ability by paying
, turning it face up with a +1/+1 counter on it. - 5Ainok Survivalist triggers, destroying target artifact or enchantment an opponent controls.
- 6Repeat.
Yedora, Grave Gardener + Phyrexian Altar + Ainok Survivalist
- 1Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Ainok Survivalist, adding .
- 2When Ainok Survivalist dies, Yedora triggers, returning Ainok Survivalist from your graveyard to the battlefield face down as a Forest land.
- 3Activate Ainok Survivalist by tapping it, adding .
- 4Activate Ainok Survivalist's megamorph ability by paying , turning it face up.
- 5Ainok Surivialist triggers, destroying target artifact and/or enchantment an opponent controls.
- 6Repeat.
- 7You may also repeat this loop whenever an artifact and/or enchantment enters the battlefield under an opponent's control.
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Meta decks with Ainok Survivalist
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.