Glissa, the TraitorHow it works & interactions with other cards

Lethal Combat and Precision

Glissa's first two abilities, first strike and deathtouch, work perfectly together. Because deathtouch makes any amount of damage lethal, Glissa will destroy any creature she deals damage to during the first strike combat damage step. In most cases, the opposing creature dies before it ever gets a chance to deal damage back to her, making Glissa a nearly untouchable blocker and a terrifying attacker.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When an opponent's creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, Glissa's triggered ability goes on the stack. First, the creature must actually reach the graveyard to trigger the effect. Second, you choose a target artifact card already in your graveyard. If an artifact you own and an opponent's creature die at the exact same time (such as during a board wipe), that artifact is a legal target because it is in the graveyard by the time you must choose a target for the trigger.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Glissa's recursion is a 'may' ability; you aren't forced to return a card if you don't want to. Additionally, remember that the creature must belong to an opponent, but it doesn't matter who owned it. If an opponent controlled an artifact creature you own and it dies, it will trigger Glissa, and you can even target that same artifact creature to return it to your hand.

When to Play Glissa

Glissa, the Traitor thrives in midrange or control decks that utilize 'utility' artifacts—items that can be sacrificed for value. She is best played when you have ways to force combat or use removal spells to trigger her ability repeatedly. She effectively turns every removal spell in your hand into a 'Regrowth' for your artifacts.

Interaction examples

The Infinite Golem Loop

Solemn Simulacrum

You have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield and it dies during combat while Glissa is present. If your opponent also loses a creature in that same combat, Glissa's ability triggers. Because Solemn Simulacrum is in the graveyard when the trigger is put on the stack, you can target it and return it to your hand, allowing you to cast it again for more land and card draw.

Strategic Sacrificing

Sakura-Tribe Elder

If you sacrifice Sakura-Tribe Elder to find a land, it will not trigger Glissa because the Elder is a creature you control, not one an opponent controls. However, if you use Glissa to block and kill an opponent's creature, you can then return any artifact card—like a previously used Solemn Simulacrum—back to your hand immediately.