Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 1

If Ingenious Infiltrator is dealt lethal combat damage at the same time a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, its ability triggers.

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 2

The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 3

As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 4

The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player or planeswalker it’s attacking.

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 5

Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 6

The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won’t normally deal combat damage.

Ingenious Infiltrator — ruling 7

If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.

Ingenious Infiltrator : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ingenious Infiltrator 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

Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.

Complete guide

Ingenious Infiltrator is a cornerstone for any Ninja-themed strategy, providing a steady stream of card advantage. By utilizing the Ninjutsu mechanic, this Vedalken Ninja sneaks onto the battlefield to replace an unblocked creature and rewards you every time your team connects with the opponent. It is a powerful engine that turns every successful strike into a deeper hand.

How Ninjutsu Works

Ninjutsu is a specialized activated ability that functions only while the creature is in your hand and you have an unblocked attacker. To use it, you pay the Ninjutsu cost (in this case, one blue and one black mana) and return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner's hand. Ingenious Infiltrator then enters the battlefield tapped and attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was originally targeting. Because it enters during the declare blockers step, it bypasses the opportunity for your opponent to block it, though it does not trigger any abilities that trigger 'whenever a creature attacks.'

Resolving the Ability Step-by-Step

First, wait until the Declare Blockers step is complete. Once your opponent has passed their chance to block a specific creature, that creature is officially 'unblocked.' Second, announce the Ninjutsu ability, reveal Ingenious Infiltrator from your hand, pay the mana cost, and return the unblocked creature to your hand as the cost. Third, the ability goes on the stack. Once it resolves, Ingenious Infiltrator enters the battlefield. Finally, when the Combat Damage step occurs, Ingenious Infiltrator deals damage, which triggers its own ability to draw a card.

Common Mistakes and Timing

A frequent error is trying to activate Ninjutsu before blockers are declared; however, a creature is only 'unblocked' after the declaration step. Additionally, remember that the Ninja enters already attacking. If the Ninja itself is dealt lethal damage at the same time another Ninja deals damage to a player, you still get the draw triggers because the ability sees the damage happening. You can even activate Ninjutsu during the end of combat step after damage has been dealt if you simply wish to return a creature to your hand for its 'enters the battlefield' effects, though the Ninja won't deal damage in that specific combat.

When to Play It

The best time to use Ingenious Infiltrator is when you have an unblocked creature with a valuable 'enters the battlefield' effect that you want to reuse. By returning that creature to your hand, you save it from potential board wipes and set yourself up to play it again later. It is most effective when you have other Ninjas on the field, as its card-draw ability applies to every Ninja you control, not just itself.

Interaction examples

Reusing Value Creatures

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Solemn Simulacrum and your opponent chooses not to block. Before combat damage, you activate Ingenious Infiltrator's Ninjutsu for {U}{B}, returning Solemn Simulacrum to your hand. The Ninja enters the battlefield. After combat, you can cast Solemn Simulacrum again to search for another basic land, effectively doubling the value of the Golem while drawing a card from the Ninja's combat damage.

Doubling the Intel

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Ninja' as it entered, it becomes a Ninja. When Ingenious Infiltrator deals combat damage to a player, its ability triggers. Roaming Throne's replacement effect causes that ability to trigger an additional time, allowing you to draw two cards for each Ninja that deals combat damage instead of one.

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

How it works : Ingenious Infiltrator

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If Ingenious Infiltrator is dealt lethal combat damage at the same time a Ninja you control deals combat damage to a player, its ability triggers.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature. The Ninja isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player or planeswalker that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player or planeswalker it’s attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. If you wait until after the declare blockers step, because all combat damage is dealt at once, the Ninja won’t normally deal combat damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 14, 2019· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.
No other card is named in this ruling.