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Rules guide · Creature

Coiling StalkerHow it works & interactions with other cards

By the ManaCount desk· 5 min read· Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty· February 18, 2022
Carte Magic Coiling Stalker

Coiling Stalker 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.

01

Official card text

Ninjutsu {1}{G} ({1}{G}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control that doesn't have a +1/+1 counter on it.

How it works : Coiling Stalker

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

  1. #1· Wizards of the Coast

    The target of Coiling Stalker's triggered ability will become an illegal target if a +1/+1 counter is placed on it before the triggered ability resolves.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  2. #2· Wizards of the Coast

    The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  3. #3· Wizards of the Coast

    As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja card stays revealed and isn't put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won't enter the battlefield at all.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  4. #4· Wizards of the Coast

    The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature's controller chooses which player or planeswalker it's attacking.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  5. #5· Wizards of the Coast

    Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  6. #6· Wizards of the Coast

    The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. In most cases (see below), if you wait until the combatdamage step or end of combat step, it will be after combat damage has been dealt, so the Ninja won't deal combat damage.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  7. #7· Wizards of the Coast

    If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  8. #8· Wizards of the Coast

    Puff of smoke not included.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

02

Popular combos

Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.

Thousand-Faced Shadow
+Great Whale
+Coiling Stalker
#1

Thousand-Faced Shadow + Great Whale + Coiling Stalker

Infinite combat damage to one opponentInfinite creature tokensInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTB
  1. 1Declare Great Whale and Coiling Stalker as attackers.
  2. 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least {3}{G}{U}{U}.
  3. 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying {2}{U}{U} and returning Coiling Stalker from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  4. 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Great Whale that is tapped and attacking.
  5. 5When the Great Whale token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
  6. 6Activate Coiling Stalker's ninjutsu ability by paying {1}{G} and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Coiling Stalker onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  7. 7Repeat from step 2.
  8. 8Deal combat damage using the Great Whale tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Satoru Umezawa
+Great Whale
+Coiling Stalker
#2

Satoru Umezawa + Great Whale + Coiling Stalker

Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite mana lands you control can produceInfinite untap of lands you control
  1. 1Declare Coiling Stalker as an attacker.
  2. 2When it isn't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least {3}{B}{G}{U}.
  3. 3Activate Great Whale's ninjutsu ability by paying {2}{U}{B} and returning Coiling Stalker from the battlefield to your hand, putting Great Whale onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  4. 4When Great Whale enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
  5. 5Activate Coiling Stalker's ninjutsu ability by paying {1}{G} and returning Great Whale from the battlefield to your hand, putting Coiling Stalker onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  6. 6Repeat from step 2.
  7. 7If you control up to seven lands that can tap to produce at least {4}{B}{G}{U}, this combo nets infinite mana.
Thousand-Faced Shadow
+Palinchron
+Coiling Stalker
#3

Thousand-Faced Shadow + Palinchron + Coiling Stalker

Infinite combat damage to one opponentInfinite creature tokensInfinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTB
  1. 1Declare Palinchron and Coiling Stalker as attackers.
  2. 2When they aren't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least {3}{G}{U}{U}.
  3. 3Activate Thousand-Faced Shadow's ninjutsu ability by paying {2}{U}{U} and returning Coiling Stalker from the battlefield to your hand, putting Thousand-Faced Shadow onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  4. 4When Thousand-Faced Shadow enters the battlefield, it triggers, creating a token copy of Palinchron that is tapped and attacking.
  5. 5When the Palinchron token enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
  6. 6Activate Coiling Stalker's ninjutsu ability by paying {1}{G} and returning Thousand-Faced Shadow from the battlefield to your hand, putting Coiling Stalker onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  7. 7Repeat from step 2.
  8. 8Deal combat damage using the Palinchron tokens, dealing infinite combat damage to the defending opponent.
Satoru Umezawa
+Palinchron
+Coiling Stalker
#4

Satoru Umezawa + Palinchron + Coiling Stalker

Infinite creature ETBInfinite creature LTBInfinite mana lands you control can produceInfinite untap of lands you control
  1. 1Declare Coiling Stalker as an attacker.
  2. 2When it isn't blocked, activate up to seven lands you control by tapping them, adding at least {3}{B}{G}{U}.
  3. 3Activate Palinchron's ninjutsu ability by paying {2}{U}{B} and returning Coiling Stalker from the battlefield to your hand, putting Palinchron onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  4. 4When Palinchron enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping up to seven lands.
  5. 5Activate Coiling Stalker's ninjutsu ability by paying {1}{G} and returning Palinchron from the battlefield to your hand, putting Coiling Stalker onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.
  6. 6Repeat from step 2.
  7. 7If you control up to seven lands that can tap to produce at least {4}{B}{G}{U}, this combo nets infinite mana.
03

Legal formats

historictimelessgladiatorpioneermodernlegacypaupervintagecommanderoathbreakerbrawlcompetitivebrawlpaupercommanderdueltlr
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Meta decks with Coiling Stalker

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Official source