Idris, Soul of the TARDIS 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
Vanishing 3 Imprint — When Idris enters, exile another artifact you control until Idris leaves the battlefield. Idris has all activated and triggered abilities of the exiled card and gets +X/+X, where X is the exiled card's mana value.
Complete guide
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS is a unique Human Incarnation that allows you to temporarily sacrifice an artifact to enhance her form. By imprinting a piece of technology, she gains its powers and increases her physical presence on the battlefield for a limited time.
The Power of Imprint
When Idris enters the battlefield, her Imprint ability triggers. You choose another artifact you control and exile it; this card remains in exile as long as Idris is on the battlefield. While that card is exiled, Idris gains all of its activated abilities (formatted as 'Cost: Effect') and all of its triggered abilities (indicated by 'when,' 'whenever,' or 'at'). Furthermore, she receives a power and toughness boost equal to the exiled card's mana value.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, Idris enters with three time counters due to Vanishing. Second, her Imprint ability is put on the stack. Upon resolution, you choose an artifact to exile. Idris immediately gains the relevant abilities and the +X/+X bonus. Note that if Idris leaves the battlefield before the trigger resolves, you still exile the artifact, but it returns immediately. Once Idris's final time counter is removed and she is sacrificed, the exiled artifact returns to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is assuming Idris gains static abilities, such as Ward or continuous effects that modify game rules. She only inherits activated and triggered abilities. Additionally, if you exile a card with {X} in its mana cost, X is treated as 0 for the purpose of her +X/+X bonus. Finally, remember that Idris only checks the mana value of the card while it is in exile to determine her stat boost.
Timing Your Incarnation
Since Idris has Vanishing 3, she will typically only stay on the battlefield for a few turns. Play her when you have an artifact with a powerful 'enters' or 'dies' trigger that you want to reuse, or an artifact with a high mana value to create a massive attacker for a decisive combat phase.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumWhen Idris, Soul of the TARDIS enters and exiles Solemn Simulacrum, she gains its triggered abilities. Because she just entered, her newly acquired 'When this creature enters' ability triggers immediately, letting you search for a basic land. When Idris eventually leaves the battlefield due to Vanishing, she will trigger the 'When this creature dies' ability she copied, allowing you to draw a card before the original Solemn Simulacrum returns to play.
Roaming ThroneIf Idris exiles Roaming Throne, she gets +4/+4 because its mana value is 4. However, Roaming Throne's primary abilities are static abilities ('As this creature enters,' 'This creature is the chosen type,' and the 'If... it triggers an additional time' effect). None of these use 'when,' 'whenever,' 'at,' or a colon. Therefore, Idris will not double other triggers or have a chosen creature type; she simply becomes a 7/7 creature with Vanishing.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Idris, Soul of the TARDIS
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "[Cost]: [Effect]." Some keyword abilities, like equip, are activated abilities and they have colons in their reminder text.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Triggered abilities use the word "when," "whenever," or "at." They're often written as "[Trigger condition], [effect]." Some keyword abilities, such as prowess, are triggered abilities and will have "when," "whenever," or "at" in their reminder text.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the exiled card has an
in its mana cost, the value of X is 0 when determining that card's mana value.No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Basalt Monolith + Training Grounds
- 1Activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's first ability by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's second ability by paying
, untapping it. - 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Freed from the Real + Gilded Lotus
- 1Activate Idris using Gilded Lotus's ability by tapping it, adding
. - 2Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Idris.
- 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Pemmin's Aura + Gilded Lotus
- 1Activate Idris using Gilded Lotus's ability by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Pemmin's Aura's first ability by paying , untapping Idris.
- 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Basalt Monolith + Heartstone
- 1Activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's first ability by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's second ability by paying
, untapping it. - 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Grim Monolith + Training Grounds
- 1Activate Idris using Grim Monolith's first ability by tapping it, adding .
- 2Activate Idris using Grim Monolith's second ability by paying , untapping it.
- 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Pemmin's Aura + Nyx Lotus
- 1Activate Idris using Nyx Lotus's ability by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate Pemmin's Aura's first ability by paying , untapping Idris.
- 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Freed from the Real + Nyx Lotus
- 1Activate Idris using Nyx Lotus's ability by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate Freed from the Real's second ability by paying , untapping Idris.
- 3Repeat.
Idris, Soul of the TARDIS + Lithoform Engine + Basalt Monolith + Sphinx's Disciple
- 1Activate Liquimetal Torque's second ability by tapping it, causing Sphinx's Disciple to become an artifact until end of turn.
- 2Cast Idris either from your hand or from the command zone by paying
and commander tax, if applicable. - 3When Idris enters the battlefield, its imprint ability triggers, targeting Sphinx's Disciple.
- 4Holding priority, activate Lithoform Engine's first ability by paying and tapping it, copying Idris' trigger, targeting Basalt Monolith.
- 5Resolve both Idris triggers, exiling Basalt Monolith and Sphinx's Disciple.
- 6During your next turn, activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's first ability by tapping it, adding .
- 7Activate Idris using Basalt Monolith's second ability by paying
, untapping it. - 8Sphinx's Disciple triggers, causing you to draw a card.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Idris, Soul of the TARDIS
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.