Gilded AmbusherHow it works & interactions with other cards

Sacrifice for Superiority

Gilded Ambusher features a 'reflexive' triggered ability. When it attacks, you are given the option to sacrifice another nonland permanent. If you choose not to, nothing happens. However, if you do sacrifice a permanent, a second ability triggers and goes on the stack. This second part is what forces opponents to exile permanents and library cards. Because the exile effect and damage are part of this second trigger, your opponents cannot respond to your choice of what to sacrifice to stop the exile effect from hitting the stack.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, the attack trigger goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you decide whether to sacrifice a nonland permanent. If you do, the second ability triggers. Each opponent must then choose a nonland, nontoken permanent they control to exile. Simultaneously, they exile the top nonland card from their library. Finally, Gilded Ambusher calculates the total mana value of those two specific cards per opponent and deals that much damage to them. If a player has no nonland cards in their library, they only exile the permanent, and the damage is calculated based on that single card.

Common Pitfalls

Remember that you cannot sacrifice Gilded Ambusher to its own ability because the text specifies 'another' nonland permanent. Additionally, the permanent your opponent exiles must be nontoken. While you can sacrifice a token to trigger the ability, your opponent is forced to give up a 'real' card from the battlefield. If an opponent has no nonland, nontoken permanents, they still must exile a card from their library and take damage equal to its mana value.

Strategic Timing

Gilded Ambusher is best utilized in decks that generate high-value 'dies' triggers or have permanents that have already served their purpose. Because the damage is based on the mana value of the cards your opponents exile, this card scales exceptionally well in formats like Commander where opponents are likely to have high-cost spells in their decks.

Interaction examples

Double the Carnage

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield naming 'Lizard' or 'Glimmer', Gilded Ambusher's attack ability triggers twice. You may sacrifice one permanent for the first trigger to exile cards and deal damage, then sacrifice a second permanent for the second trigger to repeat the process. This can effectively clear two permanents from each opponent in a single combat phase.

Extracting Value from Death

Solemn Simulacrum

When Gilded Ambusher attacks, you can sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum. This triggers the Ambusher's exile ability and the Simulacrum's 'dies' ability simultaneously. You can stack them so you draw a card from the Simulacrum first, then resolve the Ambusher's effect to exile your opponent's permanents and deal damage based on their mana values.