Formidable Speaker 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 discard a card. If you do, search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle.,
: Untap another target permanent.
Complete guide
Formidable Speaker is a versatile Elf Druid that bridges the gap between your hand and your library while providing consistent utility on the battlefield. Not only does it help you tutor for the specific creature you need to win the game, but it also acts as a powerful engine for untapping your most important permanents.
What it Does
Formidable Speaker has two distinct roles. First, it offers a 'tutor' effect upon entering the battlefield, allowing you to trade a card in your hand for any creature card from your library. Second, once it is on the field, it provides a repeatable activated ability that can untap any other target permanent, including lands, artifacts, or other creatures.
How it Resolves Step by Step
When Formidable Speaker enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. As it resolves, you choose whether or not to discard a card. If you choose to discard, you then search your library for a creature card, reveal it to all players, and put it into your hand. Finally, you shuffle your library. For the activated ability, you pay one generic mana and tap Formidable Speaker. Upon resolution, the target permanent is untapped. Note that you cannot target Formidable Speaker with its own ability.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting that the discard happens during the resolution of the ability. You do not choose which card to discard or even if you are discarding until the ability is actually resolving. Additionally, remember that the untap ability costs mana; you cannot simply tap it for free. Lastly, since the ability specifies 'another' target permanent, you must have a valid target that isn't the Speaker itself to activate it.
When to Play it
Play Formidable Speaker when you have a dead card in hand that you want to convert into a game-ending threat. It is also highly effective in decks that rely on permanents with powerful tap abilities, allowing you to use those abilities twice in a single turn cycle.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou cast Formidable Speaker. When it enters, you discard a redundant land card from your hand. You search your library for Solemn Simulacrum and put it into your hand. Now you have a creature that can ramp your mana and draw you a card later, perfectly replacing the land you discarded.
Sakura-Tribe ElderWith both creatures on the battlefield, you can use Formidable Speaker's ability to untap a utility land or another mana producer. While Sakura-Tribe Elder usually sacrifices itself, Formidable Speaker can ensure you have the mana open to activate the Elder's ability immediately after tapping out for another spell.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Formidable Speaker
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Brigid, Clachan's Heart // Brigid, Doun's Mind + Formidable Speaker + Halo Fountain
- 1Activate Brigid by tapping it, adding
for each other creature you control - 2Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Halo Fountain.
- 3Activate Halo Fountain's second ability by paying , tapping it, untapping Brigid and untapping Formidable Speaker, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Halo Fountain.
- 5Activate Halo Fountain's first ability by paying , tapping it and untapping Formidable Speaker, creating a 1/1 Citizen creature token.
- 6If you have at least available, repeat from step 4 until you don't have available.
- 7Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Magus of the Candelabra + Gaea's Cradle
- 1Activate Gaea's Cradle by tapping it, adding at least
. - 2Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying
and tapping it, untapping Gaea's Cradle and Wirewood Lodge. - 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Magus of the Candelabra + Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
- 1Activate Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx by paying and tapping it, adding at least seven .
- 2Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Magus of the Candelabra + Evendo, Waking Haven
- 1Activate Evendo, Waking Haven by paying and tapping it, adding at least six .
- 2Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Evendo, Waking Haven and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Candelabra of Tawnos + Gaea's Cradle
- 1Activate Gaea's Cradle by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate Candelabra of Tawnos by paying and tapping it, untapping Gaea's Cradle and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Candelabra of Tawnos.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Candelabra of Tawnos + Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
- 1Activate Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx by paying and tapping it, adding at least seven
- 2Activate Candelabra of Tawnos by paying and tapping it, untapping Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Candelabra of Tawnos.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Candelabra of Tawnos + Evendo, Waking Haven
- 1Activate Evendo, Waking Haven by paying and tapping it, adding at least six .
- 2Activate Candelabra of Tawnos by paying and tapping it, untapping Evendo, Waking Haven and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Candelabra of Tawnos.
- 5Repeat.
Formidable Speaker + Wirewood Lodge + Candelabra of Tawnos + Matzalantli, the Great Door // The Core
- 1Activate The Core by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate Candelabra of Tawnos by paying and tapping it, untapping The Core and Wirewood Lodge.
- 3Activate Wirewood Lodge's second ability by paying and tapping it, untapping Formidable Speaker.
- 4Activate Formidable Speaker by paying and tapping it, untapping Candelabra of Tawnos.
- 5Repeat.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Formidable Speaker
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