Emiel the Blessed — ruling 1

When the card returns to the battlefield, it will be a new object with no connection to the card that was exiled. Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist.

Emiel the Blessed — ruling 2

If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield.

Emiel the Blessed — ruling 3

Emiel's second ability triggers whenever any creature other than itself enters the battlefield under your control, including those returned by its first ability.

Emiel the Blessed — ruling 4

You choose whether to pay for Emiel's triggered ability while it's resolving. If you do, no player may take other actions between the time you pay and the time the creature has one or two +1/+1 counters on it.

Emiel the Blessed — ruling 5

While resolving Emiel's triggered ability, you can't pay {G/W} more than once to put more counters on the creature.

Emiel the Blessed — ruling 6

If the entering creature is a Unicorn, you still have to pay {G/W} to put two +1/+1 counters on it.

Emiel the Blessed : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Emiel the Blessed 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

: Exile another target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. Whenever another creature you control enters, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it. If it's a Unicorn, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead. ( can be paid with either or .)

Complete guide

Emiel the Blessed is a versatile Legendary Unicorn that serves as a powerful engine for blink strategies and creature enhancement. It allows you to protect your creatures from harm while simultaneously boosting them with counters as they enter the battlefield.

Blinking for Value

Emiel's first ability costs three generic mana and targets another creature you control. Upon resolution, that creature is exiled and immediately returned to the battlefield under its owner's control. This process, often called 'blinking,' treats the returning creature as a brand-new object with no memory of its previous existence. This means any counters are lost, Auras are put into graveyards, and Equipment becomes unattached.

The Reward for Entry

Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control—including those returned by Emiel’s first ability—a triggered ability goes on the stack. As it resolves, you may pay one Green or White mana. If you pay, you place a +1/+1 counter on that creature. If the creature happens to be a Unicorn, it receives two +1/+1 counters instead. Note that you cannot pay this cost multiple times for the same trigger to get extra counters.

Strategic Timing and Tokens

You should use Emiel's blink ability to dodge targeted removal or to re-trigger 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities of your other creatures. However, be cautious with tokens: if you target a creature token with Emiel, it will be exiled and cease to exist, meaning it will not return to the battlefield.

Interaction examples

Ramping with the Robot

Solemn Simulacrum

With both on the field, you pay {3} to activate Emiel's ability targeting Solemn Simulacrum. The Simulacrum is exiled and returns. Two triggers now go on the stack: the Simulacrum's own ability and Emiel's second ability. You can search your library for a basic land and pay {G/W} to put a +1/+1 counter on the Simulacrum.

The Eternal Loop

Eternal Witness

If Eternal Witness enters the battlefield, you can use its ability to return a card from your graveyard to your hand. By using Emiel to blink the Witness repeatedly, you can recur multiple spells or lands from your graveyard for {3} mana each time, while also having the option to buff the Witness with Emiel's triggered ability.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Emiel the Blessed

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
When the card returns to the battlefield, it will be a new object with no connection to the card that was exiled. Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Any Equipment will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If a token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and won't return to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Emiel's second ability triggers whenever any creature other than itself enters the battlefield under your control, including those returned by its first ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
You choose whether to pay for Emiel's triggered ability while it's resolving. If you do, no player may take other actions between the time you pay and the time the creature has one or two +1/+1 counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
While resolving Emiel's triggered ability, you can't pay more than once to put more counters on the creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 23, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If the entering creature is a Unicorn, you still have to pay to put two +1/+1 counters on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.