Felidar Guardian 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
When this creature enters, you may exile another target permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Complete guide
Felidar Guardian is a versatile Cat Beast that brings immense utility to any white-based deck by manipulating the battlefield. Its ability to briefly exile and return a permanent allows you to reuse powerful effects and protect your most valuable assets. Understanding how this 'flicker' effect resets objects is key to mastering its gameplay.
What It Does
When Felidar Guardian enters the battlefield, you have the option to exile another target permanent you control. Immediately after it is exiled, that card returns to the battlefield under its owner's control. This effectively 'resets' the permanent, causing it to enter the battlefield again as a brand-new object with no memory of its previous state.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, Felidar Guardian enters the battlefield, triggering its ability. You choose a legal target, which must be another permanent you control (you cannot target the Guardian itself). Upon resolution, the target is moved to the exile zone. If it was a token, it ceases to exist and won't return. If it is a card, it immediately returns to the battlefield. Any 'enters the battlefield' triggers for that card will then trigger.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to keep Auras or +1/+1 counters on the blinked permanent. Because the card returns as a new object, all counters are removed, Auras fall into the graveyard, and Equipment becomes unattached. Additionally, remember that you cannot target Felidar Guardian with its own ability to create an infinite loop by itself; it must target 'another' permanent.
When to Play It
Use Felidar Guardian to re-trigger powerful 'enters the battlefield' abilities or to untap a land or mana rock for extra resources. It is also an excellent tool for saving a key permanent from negative Auras or removing damage marked on a creature before the end of the turn.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumWith Solemn Simulacrum already on the battlefield, you cast Felidar Guardian. When the Guardian enters, you target the Simulacrum. The Simulacrum is exiled and returns, triggering its ability again. You search your library for a second basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, effectively doubling your ramp.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Cat' or 'Beast' chosen as the creature type, Felidar Guardian's ability will trigger twice when it enters. This allows you to exile and return two different permanents you control, or even blink the same permanent twice to get two separate enter-the-battlefield triggers from it.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Felidar Guardian
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature token is exiled this way, it will cease to exist and will not return to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
After the permanent returns to the battlefield, it will be a new object with no connection to the permanent that was exiled. It won’t have any additional abilities it may have had when it was exiled. Any +1/+1 counters on it or Auras attached to it are removed, and any Equipment will no longer be attached.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Restoration Angel + Felidar Guardian
- 1Cast Felidar Guardian by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Felidar Guardian enters, it triggers, blinking Restoration Angel.
- 3When Restoration Angel enters, it triggers, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Preston, the Vanisher + Felidar Guardian + Ephemerate
- 1Cast Ephemerate by paying its mana cost, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 2Felidar Guardian and Preston trigger.
- 3Resolve the Felidar Guardian trigger, blinking another permanent you control.
- 4Resolve the Preston trigger, creating a token copy of Felidar Guardian that is a 0/1 Illusion.
- 5When the Felidar Guardian token enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking the nontoken Felidar Guardian.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Felidar Guardian + Ephemerate
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian from the command zone by paying
and command tax, if applicable. - 2Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, exiling Felidar Guardian and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Cast Ephemerate by paying , blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 4Abdel Adrian leaves and enters the battlefield, causing Felidar Guardian to return to the battlefield from exile, and triggering Abdel Adrian and Felidar Guardian's enters-the-battlefield ability.
- 5Resolve the Abdel Adrian trigger, exiling Felidar Guardian and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 6Resolve the Felidar Guardian trigger, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 7Repeat from step 4.
Preston, the Vanisher + Felidar Guardian + Cloudshift
- 1Cast Cloudshift by paying its mana cost, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 2Felidar Guardian and Preston trigger.
- 3Resolve the Felidar Guardian trigger, blinking another permanent you control.
- 4Resolve the Preston trigger, creating a token copy of Felidar Guardian that is a 0/1 Illusion.
- 5When the Felidar Guardian token enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking the nontoken Felidar Guardian.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward + Felidar Guardian + Cloudshift
- 1Cast Abdel Adrian from the command zone by paying and command tax, if applicable.
- 2Abdel Adrian enters the battlefield, exiling Felidar Guardian and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 3Cast Cloudshift by paying , blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 4Abdel Adrian leaves and enters the battlefield, causing Felidar Guardian to return to the battlefield from exile, and triggering Abdel Adrian and Felidar Guardian's enters-the-battlefield ability.
- 5Resolve Abdel Adrian's enters-the-battlefield ability, exiling Felidar Guardian and creating a 1/1 Soldier creature token.
- 6Resolve Felidar Guardian's enters-the-battlefield ability, blinking Abdel Adrian.
- 7Repeat from step 4.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Felidar Guardian
- 1Activate Kiki-Jiki by tapping it, creating a token copy of Felidar Guardian with haste.
- 2When the Felidar Guardian token enters, it triggers, blinking Kiki-Jiki.
- 3Repeat.
Felidar Guardian + Phyrexian Metamorph
- 1Cast Phyrexian Metamorph by paying its mana cost, choosing to have it enter the battlefield as a copy of Felidar Guardian
- 2When Phyrexian Metamorph enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 3When Felidar Guardian enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking Phyrexian Metamorph. Choose to have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of Felidar Guardian.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Felidar Guardian + Icewind Stalwart
- 1Cast Felidar Guardian by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Felidar Guardian enters, it triggers, blinking Icewind Stalwart.
- 3When Icewind Stalwart enters, it triggers, blinking Felidar Guardian.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Felidar Guardian
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