Deviant GleeHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Deviant Glee is an Aura that attaches to a creature. It grants the enchanted creature a static +2/+1 bonus and an activated ability that costs one red mana. This activated ability allows the creature's controller to give it trample until the end of the turn, ensuring that extra damage reaches your opponent.

Resolving the Ability

Once Deviant Glee is on the battlefield, the creature gains the ability '{R}: This creature gains trample until end of turn.' Only the person who currently controls the creature can activate this. When you pay the red mana, the ability goes on the stack and, once it resolves, the creature can deal excess combat damage to the defending player or planeswalker even if it is blocked.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion is who can activate the trample ability. Even if you own and cast Deviant Glee, if an opponent takes control of your creature, they are the only ones who can pay {R} to give it trample. Additionally, remember that the +2/+1 is constant, but the trample must be paid for and activated each turn you want to use it.

When to Play It

This card is best used in aggressive decks that can generate red mana. It is particularly effective on creatures with high base power or those that already have 'whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player' triggers, as the trample helps ensure those triggers happen.

Interaction examples

Scaling Constructs

Urza's Saga

First, you use the second chapter of Urza's Saga to create a Construct artifact creature token. Then, you cast Deviant Glee on that token. The Construct's power grows based on your artifacts, and Deviant Glee adds another +2 power on top of that. If your opponent tries to block your massive Construct with a small 1/1, you can spend one red mana to give the Construct trample, pushing the majority of that damage through.

Incremental Pressure

Impact Tremors

With Impact Tremors on the battlefield, every creature you play deals 1 damage to your opponent. When you follow up by casting a creature and enchanting it with Deviant Glee, you transition from indirect damage to direct combat pressure. The +2/+1 bonus forces your opponent to find a blocker, at which point you can activate the red mana ability from Deviant Glee to trample over their defense.