Emissary of Grudges 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
Flying, haste As this creature enters, secretly choose an opponent. Reveal the player you chose: Choose new targets for target spell or ability if it's controlled by the chosen player and if it targets you or a permanent you control. Activate only once.
Complete guide
Emissary of Grudges is a powerful Efreet that excels at turning an opponent's aggression against them through secrecy and redirection. With flying and haste, it provides immediate pressure while holding a hidden trump card that forces enemies to second-guess their targeting decisions.
A Secret Selection
As Emissary of Grudges enters the battlefield, you must secretly choose an opponent. This is a replacement effect that doesn't use the stack, meaning it cannot be responded to. You should write the name down on a piece of paper or use another method to ensure the choice remains hidden until you are ready to reveal it for the activated ability.
Redirecting the Grudge
The core of this creature is its once-per-game ability to change targets. To activate it, you reveal your secret choice. The target spell or ability must be controlled by that specific opponent and must be targeting you or a permanent you control. You can change any number of the spell's targets, provided the new targets are legal. If the spell has multiple targets, as long as at least one target is you or your permanent, you can activate this ability to change all of them.
Common Missteps
A common mistake occurs when Emissary of Grudges enters the battlefield via a copy effect or a change of control. If a creature already on the battlefield becomes a copy of the Emissary, it skips the 'as this enters' step, meaning no opponent was chosen and the ability cannot be activated. Additionally, if the Emissary leaves the battlefield and returns, it is a new object; the old secret choice is forgotten, and you must choose a new opponent for the new instance of the creature.
Strategic Timing
Since the ability can only be used once, save it for high-impact spells like removal or game-ending burn. Because the Emissary has haste, it can immediately start attacking while its protection ability sits ready to punish any attempt to remove it or your other key permanents.
Interaction examples
Goldspan DragonIf your chosen opponent casts a removal spell targeting Goldspan Dragon, the Dragon's ability triggers, giving you a Treasure. You then activate Emissary of Grudges to change the spell's target to one of your opponent's creatures. Since Goldspan Dragon was targeted by the original spell, you already got your benefit, and now your opponent's own creature is under threat.
Etali, Primal StormSuppose your chosen opponent tries to use an ability to destroy Etali, Primal Storm. You reveal your secret choice and activate Emissary of Grudges. You can redirect that ability to a legal target controlled by that opponent (or even the opponent themselves if the ability allows it), ensuring your Elder Dinosaur survives to attack and trigger its exile-casting ability on the following turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Emissary of Grudges
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
There are several ways to secretly choose an opponent, including writing that player’s name on a piece of paper that’s kept with Emissary of Grudges.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If you have more than one Emissary of Grudges, you may choose a different opponent for each one. Be careful to keep track of which opponent is chosen for each Emissary of Grudges.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If Emissary of Grudges leaves the battlefield and returns, it’s considered a new object. You may choose a new opponent and you may activate its last ability again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you didn’t choose an opponent when Emissary of Grudges entered the battlefield, you can’t pay the cost to activate its last ability. This will usually happen because you gained control of another player’s Emissary of Grudges or because a creature already on the battlefield became a copy of Emissary of Grudges.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The activated ability of Emissary of Grudges can affect a spell or ability that has multiple targets, even if some of those targets aren’t you or permanents you control. You can choose new targets as long as at least one of those targets is you or a permanent you control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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