Crystalline Nautilus 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
Bestow(If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached.) When this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it. Enchanted creature gets +4/+4 and has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."
Complete guide
Crystalline Nautilus is a versatile blue enchantment from the Theros block that offers a high-risk, high-reward approach to combat. By utilizing the Bestow mechanic, you can use it as a powerful stat-boosting Aura or a formidable 4/4 creature, but its inherent fragility means a single targeted spell will shatter it.
Dual Nature of Bestow
When you cast Crystalline Nautilus, you choose between its standard mana cost and its Bestow cost. If you pay the Bestow cost, it is an Aura spell that targets a creature. If that target leaves the battlefield before the spell resolves, the Nautilus doesn't go to the graveyard; instead, it enters the battlefield as an enchantment creature. This ensures you never lose the card value entirely if your opponent responds with removal.
Fragile Existence
The Nautilus has a triggered ability that forces you to sacrifice it the moment it is targeted by any spell or ability. Crucially, this ability functions whether Crystalline Nautilus is currently a creature or an Aura. If it is enchanting a creature, the enchanted creature also gains this 'illusion-like' drawback, making it extremely easy for opponents to destroy your largest threat with a simple low-cost ability.
Resolution and Detachment
If the creature enchanted by Crystalline Nautilus leaves the battlefield, the Nautilus loses its Aura status and remains on the battlefield as a 4/4 enchantment creature. It does not go to the graveyard. Furthermore, if you bestowed it onto an opponent's creature, you maintain control of the Nautilus at all times. When that creature dies, the Nautilus stays on your side of the field as a creature.
Common Pitfalls
Players often forget that 'sacrifice it' is a triggered ability that uses the stack. If you target your own Nautilus with a spell, the sacrifice ability triggers and goes on top of your spell. The Nautilus will be sacrificed before your original spell can even resolve. Additionally, if the Nautilus is an Aura, it has two sacrifice triggers: one for being targeted itself, and one granted to the creature it enchants. Either one will result in the loss of the Nautilus.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou bestow Crystalline Nautilus onto your Solemn Simulacrum, making it a 6/6. Your opponent activates an ability that targets Solemn Simulacrum. Because the Nautilus grants the 'sacrifice' ability to the enchanted creature, you must sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum. Once the Simulacrum leaves the battlefield, Crystalline Nautilus becomes an unattached enchantment creature and stays on the battlefield.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Nautilus' and your Crystalline Nautilus is a creature, its sacrifice ability is a triggered ability of a Nautilus. If Crystalline Nautilus becomes the target of a spell, its ability triggers twice due to the Throne. While you only sacrifice it once, this interaction highlights how the sacrifice effect is a standard triggered ability that follows all normal timing rules.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Crystalline Nautilus
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Crystalline Nautilus's middle ability functions as long as Crystalline Nautilus is on the battlefield, whether it's a creature or an Aura.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
On the stack, a spell with bestow is either a creature spell or an Aura spell. It's never both, although it's an enchantment spell in either case.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Unlike other Aura spells, an Aura spell with bestow isn't countered if its target is illegal as it begins to resolve. Rather, the effect making it an Aura spell ends, it loses enchant creature, it returns to being an enchantment creature spell, and it resolves and enters the battlefield as an enchantment creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Unlike other Auras, an Aura with bestow isn't put into its owner's graveyard if it becomes unattached. Rather, the effect making it an Aura ends, it loses enchant creature, and it remains on the battlefield as an enchantment creature. It can attack (and its
abilities can be activated, if it has any) on the turn it becomes unattached if it's been under your control continuously, even as an Aura, since your most recent turn began.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent with bestow enters the battlefield by any method other than being cast, it will be an enchantment creature. You can't choose to pay the bestow cost and have it become an Aura.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Auras attached to a creature don't become tapped when the creature becomes tapped. Except in some rare cases, an Aura with bestow remains untapped when it becomes unattached and becomes a creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
You still control the Aura, even if it's enchanting a creature controlled by another player.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, the Aura stops being an Aura and remains on the battlefield. Control of that permanent doesn't change; you'll control the resulting enchantment creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Similarly, if you cast an Aura spell with bestow targeting a creature controlled by another player, and that creature is an illegal target when the spell tries to resolve, it will finish resolving as an enchantment creature spell. It will enter the battlefield under your control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Crystalline Nautilus
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.