Black Waltz No. 3 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
Flying, deathtouch Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Black Waltz No. 3 deals 2 damage to each opponent.
Complete guide
Black Waltz No. 3 is a menacing Legendary Wizard that combines evasion and lethality with a potent burn effect. As you cast noncreature spells, this flyer punishes all opponents simultaneously, making it a dangerous threat in any spell-heavy deck. Its combination of flying and deathtouch ensures it is as effective in combat as it is during your main phase.
Punishing Every Cast
The core of Black Waltz No. 3 is its triggered ability. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell—which includes artifacts, enchantments, sorceries, instants, and planeswalkers—the Waltz deals 2 damage to each opponent. Because this is a triggered ability, it doesn't matter if your spell is successfully cast and resolved; the damage happens simply because you initiated the casting process.
Resolution Order
When you cast a noncreature spell, the triggered ability goes on the stack on top of that spell. This means the 2 damage to each opponent will resolve before the spell that triggered it. If an opponent counters your spell, the damage from Black Waltz No. 3 has already been placed on the stack and will still resolve independently.
Combat Prowess
Beyond its burn potential, Black Waltz No. 3 is a formidable blocker and attacker. Deathtouch means any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it, and Flying ensures it can bypass ground-based defenses. This makes it difficult for opponents to attack into you while the Waltz is standing guard.
Strategic Timing
To maximize this card, focus on low-cost noncreature spells to trigger the damage multiple times in a single turn. Since the ability affects all opponents, it is particularly effective in multiplayer formats like Commander, where a single instant can result in a significant life total swing across the table.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you cast Solemn Simulacrum, Black Waltz No. 3 will not trigger. This is because Solemn Simulacrum has the 'Creature' type. The Waltz only cares about 'noncreature' spells, so the Golem enters the battlefield without any extra damage being dealt to your opponents.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Wizard' chosen as the creature type, Black Waltz No. 3 becomes twice as deadly. When you cast a noncreature spell, the Waltz's ability triggers, and Roaming Throne causes it to trigger an additional time. Each opponent will take 4 damage (two instances of 2 damage) before your original spell even resolves.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Black Waltz No. 3
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Black Waltz No. 3's last ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered or otherwise leaves the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Black Waltz No. 3
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.