Court HussarHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Entry Triggers

When Court Hussar enters the battlefield, two separate triggered abilities are put onto the stack. The first is a 'Look at the top three' ability that functions similarly to Anticipate, allowing you to select one card and place the others on the bottom of your library. The second is a conditional sacrifice trigger that checks if White mana ({W}) was spent to cast the spell.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, the creature enters and both abilities trigger simultaneously. You choose the order they are placed on the stack. If you put the 'sacrifice' trigger on top, you must check if White mana was spent; if not, you sacrifice it immediately. Regardless of whether it stays or is sacrificed, the 'look at the top three' ability will still resolve, ensuring you get your card selection even if the Hussar dies.

The 'Cast' Requirement

A common mistake is trying to cheat Court Hussar into play. According to official rulings, if Court Hussar enters the battlefield in any way other than being cast as a spell (such as being returned from the graveyard to the battlefield), you cannot have spent White mana to cast it. In these cases, the sacrifice trigger will always result in the creature being put into the graveyard.

Strategic Timing

You should play Court Hussar when you need to dig for specific answers while maintaining a defensive board state. Because it has vigilance, it can attack for two damage and still be available to block on your opponent's turn, provided you paid the required White mana to keep it around.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Selection

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and have chosen 'Knight' or 'Vedalken', Court Hussar's abilities trigger an additional time. You will look at the top three cards and pick one twice (totaling two cards added to your hand). Note that the sacrifice trigger also triggers twice; if you didn't spend White mana, you will have to sacrifice it twice, which effectively means it just dies once.

Land Extraction and Filtering

Solemn Simulacrum

Playing Solemn Simulacrum first ensures you have the basic Plains needed to provide White mana. Once you have your mana base set, casting Court Hussar using that White mana allows you to keep the 2/2 body on the field after you have filtered your deck for the best card in your top three.

The Sacrifice Choice

If you cast Court Hussar using only Blue mana ({2}{U}), you still get to look at the top three cards and put one into your hand. However, the second trigger will force you to sacrifice it. This is often used as a 'sorcery-speed' draw spell when you don't have access to White mana but need to find an answer immediately.