Ancient Stone Idol 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
Flash This spell costsless to cast for each attacking creature. Trample When this creature dies, create a 6/12 colorless Construct artifact creature token with trample.
Complete guide
Ancient Stone Idol is a massive Artifact Creature that can swing the tides of combat in an instant. With the ability to appear unexpectedly and leave a powerful legacy behind, it is a formidable inclusion in any deck looking to exploit large-scale attacks.
A Colossal Discount
Ancient Stone Idol features a cost-reduction ability that counts every attacking creature on the battlefield, not just those coming your way. Whether you are the one attacking or you are being attacked by an opponent, each creature currently declared as an attacker reduces the cost by {1}. In a busy combat phase, this {10} mana Golem can frequently be cast for zero mana.
Flash and Resolution
Because this spell has Flash, you can cast it during the declare attackers or declare blockers steps. Once you announce the spell, you determine the total cost by counting the attacking creatures. This cost is locked in before you pay. Even if an attacking creature is sacrificed for mana to help pay the cost, the discount remains the same because the calculation happened previously.
Common Pitfalls
Players often forget that the cost reduction applies to their own attacking creatures as well. Additionally, remember that the token generation is a triggered ability that happens when Ancient Stone Idol dies. If the Idol is exiled instead of being put into the graveyard, you will not receive the 6/12 Construct token.
Strategic Timing
The best time to play Ancient Stone Idol is usually after your opponent has committed all their creatures to an attack. You can surprise them by casting a massive blocker for very little mana, potentially destroying one of their attackers and ensuring you have a 6/12 token ready to go if the Idol eventually falls.
Interaction examples
Kozilek, Butcher of TruthWhen an opponent attacks with Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, the Annihilator 4 ability triggers. While Kozilek is an attacking creature, Ancient Stone Idol costs {9} to cast. You can flash in the Idol to block the massive Eldrazi. If the Idol dies during combat, its triggered ability will put a 6/12 Construct token onto the battlefield, ensuring you still have a powerful defender even after the Annihilator sacrifice.
Summon: BahamutAncient Stone Idol has a high mana value of 10. If you control the Idol when the IV chapter of Summon: Bahamut resolves, the 'Mega Flare' will include the Idol's 10 mana value in the total damage dealt to each opponent. If the Idol dies later, the 6/12 Construct token it leaves behind has a mana value of 0, so try to keep the original Idol on the board until the Saga finishes!
ConstructAncient Stone Idol is a 12/12 with Trample. When it moves from the battlefield to the graveyard (dies), its ability triggers to create a 6/12 colorless Construct artifact creature token. This token also has Trample, maintaining your offensive pressure even after your opponent uses a destruction spell on your primary threat.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ancient Stone Idol
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Ancient Stone Idol's cost is reduced for each attacking creature, not just creatures attacking you. It even counts your attacking creatures.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If there are enough attacking creatures, Ancient Stone Idol's cost can be reduced to
.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The total cost to cast a spell is locked in before you pay that cost. For example, if you control five attacking creatures, including one you can sacrifice to add
, Ancient Stone Idol costs 
to cast. Then you can sacrifice the creature when you activate mana abilities just before paying the cost, and it still costs only to cast.No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Nim Deathmantle + Ashnod's Altar + Ancient Stone Idol
- 1Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Ancient Stone Idol, adding .
- 2When Ancient Stone Idol dies, it and Nim Deathmantle trigger,
- 3Resolve the Ancient Stone Idol trigger, creating a creature token.
- 4Holding priority, activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing a creature token, adding .
- 5Resolve the Nim Deathmantle trigger, causing you to pay
to return Ancient Stone Idol from your graveyard to the battlefield and attach Nim Deathmantle to it. - 6Repeat.
Nim Deathmantle + Krark-Clan Ironworks + Ancient Stone Idol
- 1Activate Krark-Clan Ironworks by sacrificing Ancient Stone Idol, adding .
- 2Ancient Stone Idol dies, triggering itself and Nim Deathmantle.
- 3Resolve the Ancient Stone Idol trigger, creating a 6/12 Construct artifact creature token.
- 4Activate Krark-Clan Ironworks by sacrificing the Construct, adding .
- 5Resolve the Nim Deathmantle trigger from step 2, causing you to pay to return Ancient Stone Idol from your graveyard to the battlefield, and attach Nim Deathmantle to it.
- 6Repeat.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Ancient Stone Idol
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.