Inkfathom Witch 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
Fear (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.): Each unblocked creature has base power and toughness 4/1 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Inkfathom Witch is a sneaky Merfolk Wizard that can turn a board of small, evasive attackers into a sudden, lethal threat. By manipulating the base stats of creatures that have already slipped past your opponent's defenses, it forces a massive shift in the combat math.
What it Does
Inkfathom Witch has two distinct parts: the Fear keyword and an activated ability. Fear ensures that it can only be blocked by artifact creatures or black creatures. Its activated ability, costing four mana, sets the base power and toughness of every 'unblocked' creature to 4/1 until the end of the turn. This affects both your creatures and your opponents' creatures, provided they satisfy the condition of being unblocked.
Step-by-Step Resolution
To use the ability effectively, you must wait until the Declare Blockers step. Once your opponent has chosen not to block certain attackers, those creatures become 'unblocked.' If you activate the ability now, it goes on the stack and, upon resolution, changes the base power and toughness of all unblocked creatures to 4/1. Note that this only changes the 'base' values; any +1/+1 counters or continuous bonuses like 'creatures you control get +1/+1' are applied on top of the new 4/1 stats.
Common Mistakes
A common error is activating this ability before blockers are declared. A creature is not considered 'unblocked' until the Declare Blockers step has passed without a creature being assigned to block it. If you activate this during the Declare Attackers step, nothing will happen. Additionally, remember that this effect does not remove abilities; creatures keep Flying, Lifelink, or any other keywords they already possessed.
When to Play It
Inkfathom Witch is best played in aggressive decks featuring many small, hard-to-block creatures. Since it sets toughness to 1, it makes your creatures fragile, so it is best used when you are certain the damage will result in a significant advantage or a game win. It can also be used defensively if an opponent attacks you and you choose not to block their small creatures, though this is rare since it usually helps the attacker.
Interaction examples
Blood ArtistYou attack with Blood Artist, and your opponent declares no blockers. During the Declare Blockers step, you activate Inkfathom Witch's ability. Blood Artist, originally a 0/1, becomes a 4/1 creature. It will deal 4 damage during the Combat Damage step.
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou attack with Ornithopter of Paradise. Because it has Flying, your opponent cannot block it. After blockers are declared, you activate the Witch. The Ornithopter's base stats become 4/1. Even though it is an artifact creature, the 'unblocked' status is the only requirement for the Witch's ability to take effect.
Inkfathom Witch attacks. Because it has Fear, your opponent (who only controls green creatures) cannot block it. During the Declare Blockers step, you activate the Witch's own ability. It targets itself as an unblocked creature, changing its own 1/1 stats into a 4/1 for the remainder of the combat.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Inkfathom Witch
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The effect from the ability overwrites other effects that set power and/or toughness if and only if those effects existed before the ability resolved. It will not overwrite effects that modify power or toughness (whether from a static ability, counters, or a resolved spell or ability), nor will it overwrite effects that set power and toughness which come into existence after the ability resolves. Effects that switch the creature's power and toughness are always applied after any other power or toughness changing effects, including this one, regardless of the order in which they are created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
An “unblocked creature” is a creature that attacked and wasn't blocked. Creatures aren't “blocked” or “unblocked” until the declare blockers step, so activating this ability before then (or after combat ends) will have no effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Creatures stop being unblocked as the combat phase ends. However, they'll stay 4/1 until turn ends.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Inkfathom Witch doesn't cause creatures to lose their abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If Inkfathom Witch is attacking and unblocked, it can make itself 4/1.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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