Cunning AdvisorHow it works & interactions with other cards

Strategic Hand Disruption

Cunning Advisor has a simple but restrictive activated ability. By tapping it, you force a target opponent to discard a card from their hand. Unlike many discard effects that can be used at any time, this ability is strictly limited to your own turn and must be activated before the game moves to the declare attackers step.

Timing Your Activation

To use this ability, you must have priority during your Precombat Main Phase or the Beginning of Combat Step. Once you declare attackers, the window to use this ability closes for the rest of the turn. If your turn has multiple combat phases, official rulings clarify that you can only activate this ability before the very first combat phase's declare attackers step.

Common Misconceptions

Players often mistake this for an 'any time you could cast an instant' ability. Because it specifically says 'before attackers are declared,' you cannot use it as a trick during your opponent's turn or after you have already sent your creatures into battle. Additionally, since the ability requires tapping, Cunning Advisor must have been under your control since the start of your turn to bypass summoning sickness.

Optimal Timing

The best time to activate Cunning Advisor is usually during your Beginning of Combat Step. This forces the opponent to discard a potential combat trick or removal spell just before you commit to an attack, without giving them the opportunity to use any mana they might have intended to spend on a sorcery during your main phase.

Interaction examples

Disrupting Defensive Resources

Solemn Simulacrum

On your turn, during your Precombat Main Phase, you tap Cunning Advisor. You target an opponent who has a Solemn Simulacrum in hand. They are forced to discard it. Because the discard happened before attackers were declared, you are now free to attack without worrying about them casting the Golem later or using it as a blocker.

The Type Limitation

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Human' or 'Advisor' chosen, you might expect to get two discards. However, Roaming Throne only interacts with triggered abilities. Cunning Advisor uses an activated ability (indicated by the colon), so Roaming Throne does not cause the discard effect to happen an additional time.