Aziza, Mage Tower Captain 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
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may tap three untapped creatures you control. If you do, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Complete guide
Aziza, Mage Tower Captain is a powerful Boros commander who turns your creature board into a magical amplifier. By rallying your troops, she allows you to duplicate any instant or sorcery you cast without spending additional mana. This ability bridges the gap between spell-slinging strategies and creature-heavy decks.
Understanding the Recruitment
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Aziza's triggered ability goes on the stack. As it resolves, you get a choice: you may tap three untapped creatures you control. If you do, you create a copy of the spell you just cast. Note that Aziza herself can be one of the three creatures tapped to fuel this ability, as long as she is untapped when the trigger resolves.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you cast your spell and pay its costs. Aziza's ability triggers and sits on the stack above your spell. When the ability resolves, you decide whether to tap three creatures. If you pay this cost, the copy is created directly on the stack. This copy will resolve before the original spell does. Because the copy is created on the stack rather than cast from your hand, it does not trigger 'whenever you cast' abilities again.
Copying Specifics and Targets
When you copy a spell, the copy inherits all choices made during casting, such as the value of X or chosen modes. However, you are permitted to choose new targets for the copy. If the original spell required you to divide damage or counters among targets, you can change the targets, but you must keep the same distribution of values as the original.
Common Mistakes
A common error is trying to use the same three creatures to copy two different spells at the same time. Since tapping the creatures is part of the resolution of the trigger, those creatures become tapped and cannot be used for another Aziza trigger unless they are untapped by another effect. Additionally, remember that mana spent on the original spell's 'Converge' or similar costs does not carry over to the copy; the copy counts as having zero mana spent on its casting.
Interaction examples
Esper SentinelIf you cast a protection spell like 'Shelter' targeting your Esper Sentinel, Aziza triggers. By tapping Aziza, Esper Sentinel, and another creature, you create a copy of 'Shelter.' You can choose to keep the copy's target on Esper Sentinel (giving it a second instance of protection or a different color) or pick a new target entirely. Both the copy and the original will provide card draw when they resolve.
Professional Face-BreakerSuppose you use Professional Face-Breaker to exile a burn spell from the top of your library. When you cast that spell, Aziza's ability triggers. Even if the creatures you tap have summoning sickness—like a Treasure token turned into a creature or a newly played Professional Face-Breaker—they can still be tapped to pay for Aziza's cost. This allows you to double the impact of spells played from exile.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Aziza, Mage Tower Captain
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy has the same value of X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell with a converge ability is copied, no mana was spent to cast the copy, so the number of colors of mana spent to cast the spell will be zero. The number of colors spent to cast the original spell is not copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the spell that's copied is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can't choose different ones.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Any choices made when the spell resolves won't have been made yet when it's copied. Any such choices will be made separately when the copy resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Aziza's ability and the copy it creates both resolve before the spell that caused the ability to trigger. They resolve even if the spell is countered before the copy is created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied spell divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can't be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
The copy is created on the stack, so it's not "cast." Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
You can't choose to pay any additional costs for a copied spell. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Aziza, Mage Tower Captain
