Ezio Auditore da Firenze 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
Menace Assassin spells you cast have freerunning. (You may cast a spell for its freerunning cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with an Assassin or commander.) Whenever Ezio deals combat damage to a player, you may pay
if that player has 10 or less life. When you do, that player loses the game.
Complete guide
Ezio Auditore da Firenze brings the legendary lethal skills of the Brotherhood to your Magic: The Gathering deck. This efficient Assassin not only facilitates the deployment of his allies but also offers a dramatic way to end the game for a weakened opponent.
Masters of Freerunning
Ezio grants every Assassin spell you cast the freerunning ability for {B}{B}. This is an alternative cost you may pay instead of the spell's normal mana cost, provided you have dealt combat damage to a player this turn with an Assassin or any commander you control. Once this condition is met by a single creature, the cost reduction is unlocked for all applicable spells for the remainder of the turn.
The Hidden Blade Resolves
Ezio’s final ability is a two-step process. First, when he deals combat damage to a player, a triggered ability checks that player's life total. If it is 10 or less, you are given the option to pay {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}. If you pay, a second 'reflexive' ability goes on the stack that says 'that player loses the game.' This second trigger is what actually defeats the player.
Common Pitfalls
Players often forget that the life total check happens during resolution, not when the damage is dealt. If Ezio deals damage and brings a player to 11 life, the ability triggers, but if you cannot lower their life to 10 or less before the ability resolves, you cannot pay the mana. Conversely, once you have paid the five-color cost, the 'lose the game' effect will happen even if the player heals above 10 life in response.
Timing Your Strike
Because the freerunning cost only requires combat damage from an Assassin or commander, Ezio himself can unlock these costs early in the game thanks to his Menace ability, which makes him difficult to block. Save your five-color mana for the late game when you can reliably trigger his executioner move.
Interaction examples
Llanowar ElvesOn turn one, you play Llanowar Elves. On turn two, you use the Elves to help cast Ezio Auditore da Firenze. On turn three, Ezio attacks. Because he has Menace, your opponent cannot block him with just one creature. If he deals combat damage, you can now cast other expensive Assassin spells in your hand for just {B}{B} for the rest of the turn.
Birds of ParadiseTo use Ezio's 'lose the game' ability, you need one mana of every color. Birds of Paradise is an excellent partner, as it can produce any color of mana required for that {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} cost. If Ezio strikes a player who is at 10 life, you can tap the Birds of Paradise and your lands to pay the cost and instantly win that combat exchange.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
When Ezio’s triggered ability resolves, it checks to see if that player has 10 or less life at that time. If they do, you may pay
. A second “reflexive” ability triggers when you pay this cost. Each player may respond to that triggered ability as normal, but it doesn’t matter what happens to the damaged player’s life total at that point; when that reflexive triggered ability resolves, that player will lose the game no matter what their life total is.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Once an Assassin creature or commander you control deals combat damage to a player in a turn, you can cast spells for their freerunning costs for the rest of that turn. It doesn’t matter what happens to that Assassin or commander after that.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze + Sorin Markov
- 1Activate Sorin's second loyalty ability by removing three loyalty counters from it, causing an opponent's life total to become 10.
- 2Deal combat damage to that opponent using Ezio.
- 3Ezio triggers, causing you to pay to have that opponent lose the game.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze + Tree of Perdition
- 1Activate Tree of Perdition by tapping it, swapping its toughness with an opponent's life total.
- 2Deal combat damage to that opponent using Ezio.
- 3Ezio triggers, causing you to pay to have that opponent lose the game.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze + Magister Sphinx
- 1Cast Magister Sphinx by paying
. - 2When Magister Sphinx enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing an opponent's life total to become 10.
- 3Deal combat damage to that opponent using Ezio.
- 4Ezio triggers, causing you to pay to have that opponent lose the game.
Legal formats
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