Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 1

If the top card of your library changes while you're casting a spell, playing a land, or activating an ability, you don't reveal the new top card until you finish doing so. This means that if you cast the top card of your library, you can't look at the next one until you're done paying for that spell. While the top card isn't revealed, Conspicuous Snoop doesn't have any abilities of that card.

Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 2

You must follow the normal timing permissions and restrictions of the Goblin spells you cast from your library.

Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 3

You still pay all costs for a Goblin spell you cast from your library, including additional costs. You may also pay alternative costs.

Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 4

Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keyword abilities are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.

Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 5

If an activated ability of Goblin card on top of your library references the card it's printed on by name, treat Conspicuous Snoop's instance of that ability as though it referenced Conspicuous Snoop by name instead. For instance, if Conspicuous Snoop has Brash Taunter's ability, Conspicuous Snoop fights, not Brash Taunter.

Conspicuous Snoop — ruling 6

If Conspicuous Snoop gains a set of linked activated abilities (for example, one ability that exiles a card and another that refers to the card “exiled with” the object), that link only lasts as long as Conspicuous Snoop has those abilities. If it loses the abilities and then regains them, the link is lost.

Conspicuous Snoop : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Conspicuous Snoop 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

Play with the top card of your library revealed. You may cast Goblin spells from the top of your library. As long as the top card of your library is a Goblin card, this creature has all activated abilities of that card.

Complete guide

Conspicuous Snoop is a versatile Goblin Rogue that transforms your library into an extension of your hand. By revealing the top card of your deck and borrowing the powers of fellow Goblins, it offers both card advantage and explosive combo potential. Whether you are searching for a finisher or just need more board presence, this card is a must-have for any Goblin enthusiast.

What It Does

Conspicuous Snoop provides three distinct effects. First, it requires you to play with the top card of your library revealed to all players. Second, it allows you to cast Goblin spells directly from the top of your library, provided you follow all normal timing rules and pay the required costs. Finally, as long as the top card of your library is a Goblin card, Conspicuous Snoop gains every activated ability of that card, treating itself as the source of those abilities.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When Conspicuous Snoop is on the battlefield, the top card of your library is always visible. If you decide to cast a Goblin from the top, you follow the standard casting process: announce the spell, pay the mana cost, and put it on the stack. The new top card of your library is not revealed until the casting process is completely finished. If that new card is a Goblin, Conspicuous Snoop immediately gains its activated abilities. If a borrowed ability mentions the card name, you treat it as if it says 'Conspicuous Snoop' instead.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to use the ability of the 'next' card while casting the current top card. Because the new top card is not revealed until the current spell is finished being cast, Conspicuous Snoop does not have any abilities from that new card during the payment or targeting phase of the spell. Additionally, remember that Snoop only copies activated abilities (those with a colon, like 'Cost: Effect'). It does not copy triggered abilities (starting with 'When', 'Whenever', or 'At') or static abilities like Menace or Flying.

When to Play It

Conspicuous Snoop is best played early to start generating value from the top of your deck. In a deck packed with Goblins, it ensures you rarely run out of steam. It is particularly potent when you have ways to manipulate the top of your library, allowing you to 'tutor' specific activated abilities onto Snoop exactly when you need them to surprise your opponent.

Interaction examples

Generating Mana with a Snoop

Ornithopter of Paradise

If Ornithopter of Paradise is on top of your library, Conspicuous Snoop does NOT gain the ability to tap for mana. This is because Ornithopter of Paradise is an Artifact Creature Thopter, not a Goblin. Snoop only gains abilities if the top card has the Goblin subtype.

Exiling Your Deck

Professional Face-Breaker

If Professional Face-Breaker is on top of your library, Conspicuous Snoop does NOT gain the ability to sacrifice Treasures to exile cards. Professional Face-Breaker is a Human Warrior. However, if you use Professional Face-Breaker's ability to exile a card from your library, the next card is revealed. If that new card is a Goblin, Conspicuous Snoop will immediately gain its activated abilities.

Single Card Interaction

With just Conspicuous Snoop on the battlefield, you reveal the top card of your library. If it is a Goblin card with an ability like '{1}: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn,' you may spend one mana to give Conspicuous Snoop +1/+0. You can also cast that Goblin card directly from the top of your library by paying its mana cost during your main phase.

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

How it works : Conspicuous Snoop

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If the top card of your library changes while you're casting a spell, playing a land, or activating an ability, you don't reveal the new top card until you finish doing so. This means that if you cast the top card of your library, you can't look at the next one until you're done paying for that spell. While the top card isn't revealed, Conspicuous Snoop doesn't have any abilities of that card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
You must follow the normal timing permissions and restrictions of the Goblin spells you cast from your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
You still pay all costs for a Goblin spell you cast from your library, including additional costs. You may also pay alternative costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written “[Cost]: [Effect].” Some keyword abilities are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If an activated ability of Goblin card on top of your library references the card it's printed on by name, treat Conspicuous Snoop's instance of that ability as though it referenced Conspicuous Snoop by name instead. For instance, if Conspicuous Snoop has Brash Taunter's ability, Conspicuous Snoop fights, not Brash Taunter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If Conspicuous Snoop gains a set of linked activated abilities (for example, one ability that exiles a card and another that refers to the card “exiled with” the object), that link only lasts as long as Conspicuous Snoop has those abilities. If it loses the abilities and then regains them, the link is lost.
No other card is named in this ruling.