Arcane Teachings 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

Enchant creature (Target a creature as you cast this. This card enters attached to that creature.) Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has ": This creature deals 1 damage to any target."

Complete guide

Arcane Teachings is a versatile Aura that can turn any creature into a formidable combatant and a source of repeatable damage. By granting both a power and toughness boost along with a new activated ability, it ensures your creatures are never idle on the battlefield.

What It Does

Arcane Teachings is an Aura that attaches to a creature and grants it two distinct benefits. First, it provides a +2/+2 stat boost, making the creature harder to kill and more dangerous in combat. Second, it gives the creature an activated ability: by tapping the creature, you can deal 1 damage to any target, which includes players, planeswalkers, or other creatures.

How It Resolves

When you cast Arcane Teachings, you must choose a legal creature to target. If the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield attached to that creature. The stat bonus and the new tap ability are available immediately, though the creature must have been under your control since the beginning of your turn to use the tap ability unless it has Haste.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that the damage is dealt by the creature, not the enchantment itself. If the creature has other abilities like Deathtouch or Lifelink, those will apply to the 1 damage dealt. Additionally, if the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, Arcane Teachings is put into the graveyard as a state-based action.

When to Play It

This card is best used in a defensive shell or a deck that needs to pick off small utility creatures. Since it allows you to deal damage without entering combat, it is perfect for finishing off opponents at low life or controlling the board against small tokens.

Interaction examples

Enhancing a Blocker

If you attach Arcane Teachings to a 1/1 creature, it becomes a 3/3. You can use it to block a 2/2 creature and, before damage is dealt or after surviving combat, tap it to deal 1 damage to another target.

Synergy with ETB Effects

Impact Tremors

With Impact Tremors on the board, casting a creature and then enchanting it with Arcane Teachings allows you to layer your damage. Impact Tremors deals 1 damage to each opponent when the creature enters, and Arcane Teachings lets that creature tap to deal another point of damage later.

Recurring the Aura

Underworld Breach

If Arcane Teachings is in your graveyard while Underworld Breach is active, you can cast it using its Escape cost. This allows you to re-apply the +2/+2 buff and the pinging ability to a new creature even if the previous one was destroyed.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.