Cunning Strike 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
Cunning Strike deals 2 damage to target creature and 2 damage to target player or planeswalker. Draw a card.
Complete guide
Cunning Strike is a versatile blue and red instant that allows a Mage to deal damage while replenishing their resources. It serves as both a removal tool and a way to cycle through your deck, making it a staple for Izzet-themed strategies. By targeting both a threat on the battlefield and your opponent directly, you maintain tempo and card advantage simultaneously.
Dual Targets and Resolution
Cunning Strike requires two distinct targets to be cast: one creature and one player or planeswalker. When the spell resolves, it deals 2 damage to each of these targets and then allows you to draw a card. If one of the targets becomes illegal before resolution—for example, if a creature is sacrificed in response—the spell will still resolve, dealing damage to the remaining legal target and granting you the card draw.
The Importance of Valid Targets
It is critical to remember that if both targets are illegal by the time Cunning Strike attempts to resolve, the entire spell is removed from the stack and fails to resolve. In this specific scenario, you will not deal any damage and, most importantly, you will not draw a card. You must have two valid targets to initiate the spell, so you cannot cast it if there are no creatures on the board.
When to Strike
Because Cunning Strike costs five mana, it is often best used during an opponent's end step or in response to a combat trick. Drawing a card is a mandatory part of the resolution, meaning this spell helps you dig for answers like countermagic or additional burn spells while softening your opponent's life total or removing a small utility creature.
Interaction examples
Force of WillIf you cast Cunning Strike targeting an opponent and their creature, and the opponent casts Force of Will to counter it, the entire spell is removed from the stack. You do not deal damage and you do not draw a card. However, if the opponent instead uses a spell to give their creature protection from red, Cunning Strike still resolves, deals 2 damage to the player, and you still draw your card.
Big ScoreIf you have recently cast Big Score to ramp into your fifth land and discarded a card, your hand size may be low. By casting Cunning Strike, you can eliminate a small blocker and draw a card to replace the one you used, helping you maintain the card advantage gained from your previous spells while keeping the board clear.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Cunning Strike
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t cast Cunning Strike unless you target both a creature and a player. If one target (but not both) is illegal as Cunning Strike resolves, it deals damage to the remaining legal target and you draw a card. If both targets are illegal, the spell won’t resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won’t draw a card in that case.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Cunning Strike
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.