Goring Warplow — ruling 1

A prototype card is a colorless card in every zone except the stack or the battlefield, as well as while on the stack or the battlefield if not cast as a prototyped spell. Ignore its alternative characteristics in those cases. For example, while it's in your graveyard, Blitz Automaton is a colorless creature card with mana value 7. It can't be the target of Recommission, a spell that targets an artifact or creature card with mana value 3 or less in your graveyard.

Goring Warplow — ruling 2

When cast as a prototyped spell, that spell has the mana cost, power, and toughness characteristics shown in its colored, secondary text box rather than the normal values of those characteristics. Its color and mana value are determined by that mana cost. The permanent that spell becomes as it resolves has the same characteristics. If the spell leaves the stack in any other way, or the permanent it becomes leaves the battlefield, it immediately resumes using its normal characteristics.

Goring Warplow — ruling 3

Regardless of how it was cast, a prototype card always has the same name, abilities, types, and so on. Only the mana cost, mana value, color, power, and toughness change depending on whether the card was cast as a prototyped spell.

Goring Warplow — ruling 4

The prototype ability functions in any zone that the spell could be cast from. For example, if an effect allows you to cast artifact spells from your graveyard, you could cast a prototyped Blitz Automaton from your graveyard.

Goring Warplow — ruling 5

Casting a prototyped spell isn't the same as casting it for an alternative cost, and an alternative cost may be applied to a spell cast this way. For example, if an effect allows you to cast an artifact card without paying its mana cost, you could either cast Blitz Automaton normally, or as a prototyped spell.

Goring Warplow — ruling 6

When casting a prototyped spell, use only its prototype characteristics to determine whether it's legal to cast it. For example, if Blitz Automaton is exiled with the last ability of Chandra, Dressed to Kill, you would be able to cast it for {2}{R} (because it's a red spell), even though you wouldn't be able to cast it as a colorless spell for its normal cost.

Goring Warplow — ruling 7

If an effect copies a prototyped spell, that copy (as well as the token it becomes on the battlefield) will have the same characteristics as the prototyped spell. Similarly, if an effect creates a token that's a copy of a prototyped permanent or causes another permanent to become a copy of it, the copy would have the same characteristics as the prototyped permanent.

Goring Warplow : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Goring Warplow 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

Prototype — 1/1 (You may cast this spell with different mana cost, color, and size. It keeps its abilities and types.) Deathtouch

Complete guide

Goring Warplow is a versatile Construct that highlights the innovative Prototype mechanic from the Brothers' War era. Whether you need a massive late-game blocker or a cheap early-game threat with Deathtouch, this artifact creature adapts to your current mana situation.

What it Does

Goring Warplow features the Prototype keyword, allowing you to cast it in two different modes. You can cast it for its normal cost of {6} to get a colorless 5/4 Construct, or you can pay its Prototype cost of {1}{B} to cast it as a black 1/1 creature. Regardless of how you cast it, it always retains the Deathtouch ability and its artifact creature types.

How it Resolves Step by Step

When you cast Goring Warplow, you choose which version you are casting. If you choose the Prototype cost, the spell on the stack becomes black and its mana value becomes 2. Once it resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 1/1 black creature. If it is destroyed or leaves the battlefield, it immediately reverts to its normal characteristics: a colorless card with a mana value of 7 and a power/toughness of 5/4.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake involves zone transitions. In your hand, library, or graveyard, Goring Warplow is always its non-prototyped version (colorless, mana value 7). You cannot use effects that target creatures with mana value 3 or less to return it from your graveyard to the battlefield, even if you originally cast it as a Prototype. The Prototype characteristics only apply while it is a spell on the stack or a permanent on the battlefield.

When to Play it

Use the Prototype version early in the game to establish a defensive presence, as Deathtouch makes it a lethal trade for any attacker. Save the full-cost version for the late game when you need a larger body to apply pressure. Because the Prototype version is black, it also contributes to your devotion to black, which can be strategically relevant for specific triggers.

Interaction examples

Boosting Devotion

Gray Merchant of Asphodel

If you cast Goring Warplow for its Prototype cost of {1}{B}, it is a black permanent. When Gray Merchant of Asphodel enters the battlefield afterward, the {B} in Goring Warplow's mana cost will contribute to your devotion to black, increasing the life drain effect.

Graveyard Triggers

Syr Konrad, the Grim

If Goring Warplow is on the battlefield as a 1/1 Prototype and dies, it moves to the graveyard. As soon as it leaves the battlefield, it reverts to its 5/4 colorless form. Syr Konrad, the Grim will trigger once because a creature died, dealing 1 damage to each opponent. If you then use Syr Konrad's ability to mill Goring Warplow from your library, it triggers again because it is a creature card entering the graveyard.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Goring Warplow

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
A prototype card is a colorless card in every zone except the stack or the battlefield, as well as while on the stack or the battlefield if not cast as a prototyped spell. Ignore its alternative characteristics in those cases. For example, while it's in your graveyard, Blitz Automaton is a colorless creature card with mana value 7. It can't be the target of Recommission, a spell that targets an artifact or creature card with mana value 3 or less in your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
When cast as a prototyped spell, that spell has the mana cost, power, and toughness characteristics shown in its colored, secondary text box rather than the normal values of those characteristics. Its color and mana value are determined by that mana cost. The permanent that spell becomes as it resolves has the same characteristics. If the spell leaves the stack in any other way, or the permanent it becomes leaves the battlefield, it immediately resumes using its normal characteristics.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Regardless of how it was cast, a prototype card always has the same name, abilities, types, and so on. Only the mana cost, mana value, color, power, and toughness change depending on whether the card was cast as a prototyped spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The prototype ability functions in any zone that the spell could be cast from. For example, if an effect allows you to cast artifact spells from your graveyard, you could cast a prototyped Blitz Automaton from your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a prototyped spell isn't the same as casting it for an alternative cost, and an alternative cost may be applied to a spell cast this way. For example, if an effect allows you to cast an artifact card without paying its mana cost, you could either cast Blitz Automaton normally, or as a prototyped spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
When casting a prototyped spell, use only its prototype characteristics to determine whether it's legal to cast it. For example, if Blitz Automaton is exiled with the last ability of Chandra, Dressed to Kill, you would be able to cast it for (because it's a red spell), even though you wouldn't be able to cast it as a colorless spell for its normal cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 14, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect copies a prototyped spell, that copy (as well as the token it becomes on the battlefield) will have the same characteristics as the prototyped spell. Similarly, if an effect creates a token that's a copy of a prototyped permanent or causes another permanent to become a copy of it, the copy would have the same characteristics as the prototyped permanent.
No other card is named in this ruling.