Hateflayer 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
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.),
: This creature deals damage equal to its power to any target. (
Complete guide
Hateflayer is a powerhouse Elemental that turns its own untapping into a deadly weapon. By combining the Wither keyword with a unique untap ability, it can dominate the board and wither away any opposition.
Harnessing the Untap Symbol
The most striking feature of Hateflayer is the {Q} symbol in its activation cost. This is the untap symbol, the opposite of the tap symbol; it requires the creature to be tapped before you can pay the cost. Because untapping Hateflayer is a cost, it happens immediately when you activate the ability, and your opponent cannot prevent the untap by responding.
Resolution and Wither
When the ability resolves, Hateflayer deals damage equal to its current power to any target. Thanks to the Wither keyword, any damage dealt to a creature results in -1/-1 counters instead of marked damage. This applies to both the damage from its activated ability and any combat damage it deals, making it impossible for creatures to heal from its touch.
Timing and Restrictions
Like any ability with a tap or untap symbol in the cost, Hateflayer is subject to 'summoning sickness.' You cannot activate its {Q} ability unless you have controlled it since the start of your most recent turn or it has haste. Additionally, you cannot pay the cost if Hateflayer is already untapped.
Interaction examples
Etali, Primal StormIf you attack with Hateflayer, it becomes tapped during the declare attackers step. During the same combat, if you have the mana, you can pay {2}{R} and untap Hateflayer to deal 5 damage to Etali, Primal Storm. Because of Wither, Etali receives five -1/-1 counters, permanently reducing it to a 1/1 creature.
Ancient Copper DragonAfter Hateflayer attacks and deals combat damage to an opponent, it remains tapped. You can then activate its ability to target Ancient Copper Dragon. Hateflayer untaps as a cost, and upon resolution, it deals 5 damage to the Dragon in the form of -1/-1 counters. If you find another way to tap Hateflayer later in the turn, you could even activate it again!
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Hateflayer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the permanent is already untapped, you can't activate its
ability. That's because you can't pay the "Untap this permanent" cost.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The "summoning sickness" rule applies to
. If a creature with an ability hasn't been under your control since your most recent turn began, you can't activate that ability. Ignore this rule if the creature also has haste.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
When you activate an
ability, you untap the creature with that ability as a cost. The untap can't be responded to. (The actual ability can be responded to, of course.)No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Wither applies to any damage Hateflayer deals to a creature, which includes both its combat damage and damage from its activated ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Mairsil, the Pretender + Hateflayer + Tree of Perdition
- 1Activate Mairsil using Tree of Perdition's ability by tapping it, exchanging target opponent's life total with Mairsil's toughness.
- 2Activate Mairsil using Hateflayer's ability by paying
and untapping it, dealing damage equal to Mairsil's power to the opponent. - 3The opponent loses the game due to having zero or less life.
Tazri, Stalwart Survivor + Hateflayer + Biomancer's Familiar
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Tazri, Stalwart Survivor + Hateflayer + Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Tazri, Stalwart Survivor + Hateflayer + Zirda, the Dawnwaker
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Tazri, Stalwart Survivor + Hateflayer + Training Grounds
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Zirda, the Dawnwaker + Paradise Mantle + Hateflayer
- 1Tap Hateflayer using Paradise Mantle, generating .
- 2Activate Hateflayer's untap ability discounted by Zirda, dealing 5 damage to target player.
- 3Repeat for Infinite damage.
Agatha of the Vile Cauldron + Hateflayer + Cryptolith Rite
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying due to Agatha of the Vile Cauldron and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Agatha of the Vile Cauldron + Hateflayer + Paradise Mantle
- 1Activate Hateflayer by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Hateflayer by paying due to Agatha of the Vile Cauldron and untapping it, dealing damage equal to its power to any target.
- 3Repeat.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Hateflayer
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