Collar the CulpritHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Collar the Culprit is an instant-speed spell that targets a single creature. The only restriction for its target is that the creature must have a toughness of 4 or greater at the time the spell is cast and as it resolves.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you cast the spell by paying its mana cost and choosing a legal target with toughness 4 or more. Upon resolution, the game checks the target's toughness again; if it is still 4 or greater, the creature is destroyed and put into its owner's graveyard. If the creature's toughness was reduced below 4 in response, the spell fails to resolve.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that toughness is checked twice. If an opponent uses an effect to shrink their creature's toughness to 3 or less before Collar the Culprit resolves, the target becomes illegal and the spell does nothing. Additionally, remember that 'Destroy' effects are stopped by Indestructible, even if the toughness requirement is met.

When to Play It

Since it is an instant, the best time to play it is during your opponent's combat phase or at the end of their turn. It is particularly effective against creatures that have been buffed by spells or equipment, as long as those bonuses push their toughness to 4 or higher.

Interaction examples

Handling Elephant Tokens

Generous Gift

If your opponent uses Generous Gift to destroy one of your permanents, they leave behind a 3/3 Elephant token. Because this token only has 3 toughness, you cannot target it with Collar the Culprit unless you use another effect to increase that token's toughness to 4 or more first.

The Phasing Defense

Teferi's Protection

If you cast Collar the Culprit targeting a large creature and your opponent responds with Teferi's Protection, all their permanents phase out. Since phased-out permanents are treated as though they do not exist, Collar the Culprit will lose its target and fail to resolve when it tries to finish casting.