Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 1

Birgi’s first ability uses the stack and can be responded to. It isn’t a mana ability.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 2

You must still attack with a creature you control to activate its boast ability.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 3

The cards exiled by Harnfel’s activated ability are exiled face up.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 4

You may play those cards that turn even if Harnfel leaves the battlefield or another player gains control of it.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 5

There is a single triangle icon in the top left corner of the front face. There is a double triangle icon in the top left corner of the back face.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 6

To determine whether it is legal to play a modal double-faced card, consider only the characteristics of the face you’re playing and ignore the other face’s characteristics.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 7

If an effect allows you to play a specific modal double-faced card, you may cast it as a spell or play it as a land, as determined by which face you choose to play. If an effect allows you to cast (rather than “play”) a specific modal double-faced card, you can’t play it as a land.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty — ruling 8

If an effect allows you to play a land or cast a spell from among a group of cards, you may play or cast a modal double-faced card with any face that fits the criteria of that effect.

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty 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 a spell, add . Until end of turn, you don't lose this mana as steps and phases end. Creatures you control can boast twice during each of your turns rather than once. Discard a card: Exile the top two cards of your library. You may play those cards this turn.

Complete guide

Birgi, God of Storytelling is a versatile modal double-faced card that serves as both a powerful mana engine and a source of card advantage. Whether you are fueling a storm of spells or utilizing her horn to dig through your library, she provides incredible utility for red decks.

The Power of Storytelling

Birgi, God of Storytelling features two distinct faces. The front face is a creature that generates one red mana whenever you cast a spell; importantly, this mana does not vanish as steps and phases end, allowing you to bank it for later in the turn. The back face, Harnfel, Horn of Bounty, is an artifact that lets you discard a card to exile the top two cards of your library, giving you the chance to play them until the end of the turn.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When playing Birgi, her mana-generating ability is a triggered ability, not a mana ability. This means when you cast a spell, the ability goes on the stack and can be responded to by opponents before the mana is added to your pool. If you are using Harnfel, Horn of Bounty, you pay the cost by discarding a card. The two cards are then exiled face up. You may play them (casting spells or playing lands) by following all normal timing rules and paying their respective costs. If you exile two lands, you can still only play one unless another effect allows for extra land plays.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Birgi's mana generation is a triggered ability that uses the stack. Additionally, players often forget that the cards exiled by Harnfel must follow standard timing rules; for instance, you cannot cast a sorcery exiled this way during an opponent's turn. Also, remember that the card you discard to activate Harnfel is not considered one of the 'exiled cards' you can play, even if it is moved to exile by another effect later.

Strategic Timing

Play Birgi, God of Storytelling when you have a hand full of low-cost spells to maximize the mana refund she provides. Harnfel, Horn of Bounty is better suited for the late game when you have excess lands or redundant cards in hand that you can trade for fresh options from the top of your deck. In Commander, remember that her color identity is red for both faces.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Story

Roaming Throne

With Birgi on the battlefield, you cast Roaming Throne and choose 'God' as the creature type. The next time you cast a spell, Birgi's ability triggers. Because Roaming Throne sees a triggered ability of a 'God' triggering, it triggers an additional time. You will add two red mana instead of one for every spell you cast.

Value Through the Horn

Solemn Simulacrum

You have Harnfel, Horn of Bounty on the battlefield and a Solemn Simulacrum in hand that you don't need. You discard the Simulacrum to activate Harnfel's ability, exiling the top two cards of your library. If those cards are playable, you can cast them this turn. Note that you cannot play the discarded Solemn Simulacrum from the graveyard; it was simply the fuel for the ability.

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

How it works : Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Birgi’s first ability uses the stack and can be responded to. It isn’t a mana ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
You must still attack with a creature you control to activate its boast ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
The cards exiled by Harnfel’s activated ability are exiled face up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
You may play those cards that turn even if Harnfel leaves the battlefield or another player gains control of it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
There is a single triangle icon in the top left corner of the front face. There is a double triangle icon in the top left corner of the back face.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
To determine whether it is legal to play a modal double-faced card, consider only the characteristics of the face you’re playing and ignore the other face’s characteristics.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to play a specific modal double-faced card, you may cast it as a spell or play it as a land, as determined by which face you choose to play. If an effect allows you to cast (rather than “play”) a specific modal double-faced card, you can’t play it as a land.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to play a land or cast a spell from among a group of cards, you may play or cast a modal double-faced card with any face that fits the criteria of that effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a modal double-faced card is based on the characteristics of the face that’s being considered. On the stack and battlefield, consider whichever face is up. In all other zones, consider only the front face. This is different than how the mana value of a transforming double-faced card is determined.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
A modal double-faced card can’t be transformed or be put onto the battlefield transformed. Ignore any instruction to transform a modal double-faced card or to put one onto the battlefield transformed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect puts a double-faced card onto the battlefield, it enters with its front face up. If that front face can’t be put onto the battlefield, it doesn’t enter the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name, the name of either face may be chosen. If that effect or a linked ability refers to a spell with the chosen name being cast and/or a land with the chosen name being played, it considers only the chosen name, not the other face’s name.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#13February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
In the Commander variant, a double-faced card’s color identity is determined by the mana costs and mana symbols in the rules text of both faces combined. If either face has a color indicator or basic land type, those are also considered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#14February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Playing the cards exiled with Harnfel follows the normal rules for playing those cards. You must pay their costs, if any, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if one of the cards is a creature card, you can cast that card by paying its mana cost only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#15February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Unless an effect allows you to play additional lands that turn, you can play land cards exiled with Harnfel only if you haven’t played a land yet that turn. In most cases, if you exile two land cards with Harnfel, you won’t be able to play both.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#16February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Any cards exiled with Harnfel that you don’t play remain exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#17February 5, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
The card you discard to activate the ability isn’t part of “those cards” and can’t be played, even if it somehow ends up in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.