Grinning Totem 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
,
, Sacrifice this artifact: Search target opponent's library for a card and exile it. Then that player shuffles. Until the beginning of your next upkeep, you may play that card. At the beginning of your next upkeep, if you haven't played it, put it into its owner's graveyard.
Complete guide
Grinning Totem is a classic artifact that allows you to reach into your opponent's library and steal their best weapon for your own use. By sacrificing this totem, you gain temporary access to any card your opponent owns, forcing them to shuffle while you wait for the perfect moment to strike. It is a powerful tool for disruption and strategy, letting you turn your opponent's deck against them.
What It Does
When you activate Grinning Totem, you search an opponent's library for any card and exile it. Unlike many search effects, you cannot 'fail to find' a card unless their library is empty. You then have the ability to play that card from exile until the beginning of your next upkeep. If you haven't played the card by the time that upkeep begins, it is placed into its owner's graveyard.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you pay two mana, tap the totem, and sacrifice it as a cost. When the ability resolves, you search the targeted opponent's library, exile one card, and that player shuffles. The card remains in exile. You may play the card following all normal timing rules and paying all costs. If your next upkeep starts and the card is still in exile, a triggered ability puts it into the owner's graveyard.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming you can cast the exiled card for free; you must still pay the mana cost of the card you took. Another common mistake involves timing. The effect ends exactly when your next upkeep begins, meaning your last chance to play the card is typically during the end step of the player who takes their turn right before yours. You cannot wait until your upkeep to decide to play it.
When to Play It
Grinning Totem is best used when you have plenty of mana available to cast whatever you find. Because the window to play the card is limited, it is often wise to activate it on your opponent's end step so you have your full mana pool ready during your own turn to cast the stolen spell.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you exile Solemn Simulacrum with Grinning Totem, you may cast it during your main phase. When it enters the battlefield under your control, you search YOUR library for a basic land, even though the card belongs to your opponent. When it dies, you are the one who draws the card.
Commander's SphereIf you use Grinning Totem to exile an opponent's Commander's Sphere, you can cast it and put it onto your battlefield. You can then tap it for mana based on your commander's color identity or sacrifice it to draw a card. If you don't cast it by your next upkeep, it simply goes to the opponent's graveyard.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Grinning Totem
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You may choose to find any kind of card, including a land. You must exile a card (unless the opponent’s library is empty); you can’t fail to find anything.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
“Until the beginning of your next upkeep” means the effect wears off as soon as your next upkeep starts. Your last chance to play the card is usually the End step of the player who immediately precedes you.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The exiled card is played using the normal rules for timing and priority for its card type, as well as any other applicable restrictions. You’ll have to pay its mana cost. The only thing that’s different is you’re casting it from the Exile zone.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Dauthi Voidwalker + Tethmos High Priest + Lightning Greaves + Grinning Totem
- 1During the end step prior to your turn, activate Grinning Totem by paying and tapping it, causing you to search an opponent's library for an instant or sorcery card that can target a creature and exile it with the ability to cast it until your next upkeep.
- 2At the beginning of your upkeep, Grinning Totem triggers, attempting to put the instant or sorcery into its owners graveyard, but instead exiling it with a void counter due to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 3Activate Dauthi Voidwalker by tapping and sacrificing it, causing you to cast the instant or sorcery without paying its mana cost, targeting Tethmos High Priest.
- 4Tethmos High Priest triggers, returning Dauthi Voidwalker from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 5Holding priority, activate Lightning Greaves' equip ability by paying
, attaching it to Tethmos High Priest. - 6Resolve the instant or sorcery spell, causing it to do nothing as Tethmos High Priest is now an illegal target, and then exile it with a void counter on it due to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 7Activate Lightning Greaves' equip ability by paying , attaching it to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Dauthi Voidwalker + Tethmos High Priest + Lightning Greaves + Grinning Totem
- 1During the end step prior to your turn, activate Grinning Totem by paying and tapping it, causing you to search an opponent's library for an instant or sorcery card that can target a creature and exile it with the ability to cast it until your next upkeep.
- 2At the beginning of your upkeep, Grinning Totem triggers, attempting to put the instant or sorcery into its owners graveyard, but instead exiling it with a void counter due to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 3Activate Dauthi Voidwalker by tapping and sacrificing it, causing you to cast the instant or sorcery without paying its mana cost, targeting Tethmos High Priest.
- 4Tethmos High Priest triggers, returning Dauthi Voidwalker from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 5Holding priority, activate Lightning Greaves' equip ability by paying , attaching it to Tethmos High Priest.
- 6Resolve the instant or sorcery spell, causing it to do nothing as Tethmos High Priest is now an illegal target, and then exile it with a void counter on it due to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 7Activate Lightning Greaves' equip ability by paying , attaching it to Dauthi Voidwalker.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Grinning Totem
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.