Grist, the Hunger Tide — ruling 1

Grist, the Hunger Tide can be your commander as its first ability works before the game begins during deck construction.

Grist, the Hunger Tide — ruling 2

Anywhere but on the battlefield, Grist is a Legendary Planeswalker Creature — Grist Insect. Once it enters the battlefield, it is no longer a creature and is just a planeswalker. Anything that could search for or affect a creature or planeswalker card in zones other than the battlefield could affect Grist. For example, you could put it onto the battlefield with Chord of Calling, it could be countered by Essence Scatter (but not by Negate), and opponents couldn't make you discard it with Duress.

Grist, the Hunger Tide — ruling 3

If Grist is no longer on the battlefield as its first loyalty ability resolves, you will still create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token and mill a card. If an Insect card is milled this way, you won't be able to put a loyalty counter on Grist, but you will still repeat the process. More mill for the Grist, as it were.

Grist, the Hunger Tide — ruling 4

Grist's second loyalty ability doesn't require a target. If you choose to sacrifice a creature as it resolves, the reflexive triggered ability triggers and you'll choose a target creature or planeswalker to destroy. This will happen even if Grist isn't on the battlefield when the loyalty ability resolves.

Grist, the Hunger Tide — ruling 5

Count the number of creature cards in your graveyard as the third loyalty ability resolves to determine how much life each opponent loses. If Grist is in your graveyard at this time, it'll be a creature card and will contribute to the count.

Grist, the Hunger Tide : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Grist, the Hunger Tide 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

As long as Grist isn't on the battlefield, it's a 1/1 Insect creature in addition to its other types. +1: Create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token, then mill a card. If an Insect card was milled this way, put a loyalty counter on Grist and repeat this process. −2: You may sacrifice a creature. When you do, destroy target creature or planeswalker. −5: Each opponent loses life equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.

Complete guide

Grist, the Hunger Tide is one of the most unique planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering, blurring the lines between life and death. Because it counts as an Insect creature in every zone except the battlefield, it offers unprecedented flexibility for graveyard strategies and creature-based synergies. Whether you are milling your library or sacrificing your swarm, Grist is always hungry for more.

A Creature in Every Other Form

Grist's first ability is a static effect that defines its characteristics anywhere but on the battlefield. In your library, graveyard, hand, or even the command zone, Grist is a 1/1 Insect creature in addition to being a planeswalker. This means you can search for Grist with effects that look for creatures, return it to your hand with creature recursion, and even use it as your Commander. However, the moment Grist enters the battlefield, it ceases to be a creature and becomes a standard planeswalker.

The Loyalty Loop

When you activate Grist's +1 ability, you follow a specific sequence: first, create a 1/1 Insect token, then mill a card. If the milled card is an Insect, you put an additional loyalty counter on Grist and repeat the entire process. This can happen multiple times in a single turn if you keep hitting Insects. Notably, because Grist is an Insect card in the graveyard, milling a second copy of Grist will trigger the repeat effect.

Sacrifice and Destruction

Grist's -2 ability is a reflexive trigger. When the loyalty ability resolves, you choose whether or not to sacrifice a creature. Only after you sacrifice a creature does the second part of the ability—destroying a target creature or planeswalker—go onto the stack. This means your opponent cannot respond to the destruction until after you have already committed to the sacrifice.

Timing and Tactics

You should play Grist early to begin building a board presence with tokens. Because it is a creature card in your hand, it cannot be discarded by spells like Duress, but it can be countered by Essence Scatter. Its ultimate ability, the -5, checks your graveyard for creature cards upon resolution; since Grist counts as a creature in the graveyard, a dead Grist will actually increase the damage dealt by a second Grist's ultimate.

Interaction examples

The Ultimate Swarm

Insect

You activate Grist's +1 ability. You create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token and mill the top card of your library. The milled card is another Insect. You put a loyalty counter on Grist and repeat the process, creating a second token and milling again. This continues until you mill a non-Insect card.

Navigating the Stack

Tezzeret, Cruel Captain

You activate Grist's -2 ability. Upon resolution, you choose to sacrifice an Insect token. This triggers the reflexive ability. You now choose Tezzeret, Cruel Captain as the target to be destroyed. Your opponent may now respond with spells or abilities before Tezzeret is destroyed, but your token is already in the graveyard.

Graveyard Counting

The Aetherspark

You activate Grist's -5 ability. The game checks your graveyard for creature cards. Even though The Aetherspark is a Planeswalker Equipment, it is not a creature in the graveyard. However, any copies of Grist in your graveyard ARE creature cards due to its static ability. You count all creature cards, including any Grist cards, and each opponent loses that much life.

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

How it works : Grist, the Hunger Tide

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 18, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Grist, the Hunger Tide can be your commander as its first ability works before the game begins during deck construction.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 18, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Anywhere but on the battlefield, Grist is a Legendary Planeswalker Creature — Grist Insect. Once it enters the battlefield, it is no longer a creature and is just a planeswalker. Anything that could search for or affect a creature or planeswalker card in zones other than the battlefield could affect Grist. For example, you could put it onto the battlefield with Chord of Calling, it could be countered by Essence Scatter (but not by Negate), and opponents couldn't make you discard it with Duress.
Card named in this ruling
Insect
#3June 18, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If Grist is no longer on the battlefield as its first loyalty ability resolves, you will still create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token and mill a card. If an Insect card is milled this way, you won't be able to put a loyalty counter on Grist, but you will still repeat the process. More mill for the Grist, as it were.
Card named in this ruling
Insect
#4June 18, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Grist's second loyalty ability doesn't require a target. If you choose to sacrifice a creature as it resolves, the reflexive triggered ability triggers and you'll choose a target creature or planeswalker to destroy. This will happen even if Grist isn't on the battlefield when the loyalty ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 18, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Count the number of creature cards in your graveyard as the third loyalty ability resolves to determine how much life each opponent loses. If Grist is in your graveyard at this time, it'll be a creature card and will contribute to the count.
No other card is named in this ruling.