Illusionist's Gambit 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
Cast this spell only during the declare blockers step on an opponent's turn. Remove all attacking creatures from combat and untap them. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase. Each of those creatures attacks that combat if able. They can't attack you or planeswalkers you control that combat.
Complete guide
Illusionist's Gambit is a powerful blue instant that turns an opponent's aggressive charge into a tactical advantage for you. By redirecting an entire army toward your other enemies, you can survive a lethal blow and let your opponents finish each other off.
A Fog with a Twist
Illusionist's Gambit functions similarly to a 'Fog' effect because it removes all attacking creatures from combat, meaning they deal no damage to you. However, unlike a normal combat ender, it forces those same creatures to untap and prepare for a second, immediate combat phase where they must attack someone else.
Timing and Resolution
You can only cast this spell during the declare blockers step of an opponent's turn. Once it resolves, the current combat ends for those creatures immediately. An extra combat phase is inserted into the turn structure right after the current one. The creatures that were removed are forced to attack during this new phase, but the spell's effect places a restriction on them: they cannot be declared as attackers against you or your planeswalkers.
Attack Requirements and Restrictions
It is important to note that if a creature was not an attacker during the first combat phase, it is not forced to attack in the second phase. Furthermore, if a player is required to pay a cost (such as mana) to attack, they are not forced to pay it. If they choose not to pay, the requirement to attack is ignored.
When to Cast
The best time to cast this is when an opponent is swinging for lethal damage or has a massive board state. Because you must wait until the declare blockers step, you can even wait to see if your opponent uses combat tricks before you negate their entire turn and send their army elsewhere.
Interaction examples
Fierce GuardianshipIf you cast Illusionist's Gambit to save yourself, an opponent might respond with Fierce Guardianship to counter it. Since Illusionist's Gambit is a noncreature spell, it is a valid target. If the Gambit is countered, the original combat continues normally, and you will likely take damage from the attacking creatures.
Frantic SearchIf you are being attacked and don't have enough mana open, you can cast Frantic Search during the declare attackers step to draw cards and untap three lands. This provides the mana needed to cast Illusionist's Gambit once the game moves to the declare blockers step, allowing you to successfully redirect the attack.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Illusionist's Gambit
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Creatures that didn't attack during the combat phase when Illusionist's Gambit resolved aren't required to attack in the additional combat phase, although they may. Those creatures can attack you or a planeswalker you control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If, during a player's declare attackers step, a creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't attack, or hasn't been under that player's control continuously since the turn began (and doesn't have haste), then it doesn't attack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack, the player isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Illusionist's Gambit
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