Ink-Eyes, Servant of OniHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Ninjutsu and Combat Damage

Ink-Eyes features the Ninjutsu ability, which allows you to pay {3}{B}{B} and return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner's hand to put Ink-Eyes onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. This can be done during the declare blockers step, the combat damage step, or the end of combat step, provided the criteria are met. Her second ability triggers whenever she deals combat damage to a player, letting you target a creature card in that player's graveyard and put it directly onto the battlefield under your control.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, ensure a creature you control is unblocked during the declare blockers step. Activate Ninjutsu by paying the cost and returning that creature to your hand; Ink-Eyes enters the battlefield tapped and attacking. When the combat damage step occurs, Ink-Eyes deals 5 damage to the player. Her triggered ability goes on the stack, and you choose a target creature card in that player's graveyard. If the target is still legal when the ability resolves, that creature enters the battlefield under your control.

Regeneration and Common Pitfalls

Ink-Eyes can protect herself with her activated ability: {1}{B} to regenerate. Remember that regeneration must be activated before she would be destroyed; it creates a 'shield' that lasts until the end of the turn. A common mistake is forgetting that Ninjutsu can be used after damage is dealt but before the combat phase ends. Also, note that if a creature is destroyed during the same combat damage step that Ink-Eyes deals damage (perhaps due to first strike or simultaneous combat), that newly destroyed creature is a legal target for her reanimation ability.

Interaction examples

The Merchant's Return

Gray Merchant of Asphodel

If your opponent has a Gray Merchant of Asphodel in their graveyard, you can use Ink-Eyes's combat damage trigger to put it onto the battlefield under your control. Upon entering, the Merchant's ability triggers, counting your devotion to black—which is boosted by the {B}{B} in Ink-Eyes's mana cost—to drain life from your opponents.

Grim Synergies

Syr Konrad, the Grim

With Syr Konrad, the Grim on the battlefield, you can use his activated ability to mill cards, potentially putting creature targets into your opponent's graveyard. When Ink-Eyes deals combat damage and you return a creature from the opponent's graveyard to your battlefield, Syr Konrad triggers because a creature card has left a graveyard, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.