Guildsworn ProwlerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Guildsworn Prowler possesses two distinct abilities. First, it has deathtouch, meaning any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy it. Second, it features a triggered ability that lets you draw a card when it dies, provided it was not assigned as a blocker during the combat phase in which it perished.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When Guildsworn Prowler leaves the battlefield and is put into the graveyard, its triggered ability checks the state of the game immediately prior to its death. If the creature died while attacking, or was destroyed by a spell or ability outside of combat, the condition 'if it wasn't blocking' is met. The ability then goes on the stack, and when it resolves, you draw a card. If it died while assigned as a blocker, the ability does not trigger at all.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming that Guildsworn Prowler must be attacking to trigger the draw. In reality, the draw triggers as long as it wasn't blocking; this includes dying to a removal spell like 'Murder' during your opponent's main phase. However, if you block an opponent's creature and both creatures die due to combat damage, you will not get the card draw because the Prowler was a blocking creature.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized in aggressive decks that want to keep the pressure on. Because of deathtouch, your opponent will be hesitant to block it, allowing you to chip away at their life total. If they do choose to block, they lose their creature. If they use a removal spell to get rid of it, you simply replace the Prowler by drawing a card.

Interaction examples

Synergizing with Aristocrats

Blood Artist

If you control both creatures and choose to sacrifice Guildsworn Prowler to an external effect, two abilities trigger. Blood Artist triggers because a creature died, and Guildsworn Prowler triggers because it died while not blocking. You will gain 1 life, your opponent loses 1 life, and you draw a card.

Combat Trades

Ornithopter of Paradise

If your opponent attacks with Ornithopter of Paradise and you block with Guildsworn Prowler, the Prowler's deathtouch will destroy the Ornithopter. However, since the Prowler was 'blocking', its death trigger will not activate, and you will not draw a card.

Attacking into a Blocker

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you attack with Guildsworn Prowler and your opponent blocks with Ornithopter of Paradise, both creatures will likely die. Because Guildsworn Prowler was an 'attacking' creature and not a 'blocking' creature, its ability will trigger upon death, allowing you to draw a card.