Innocent Traveler // Malicious Invader 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
At the beginning of your upkeep, any opponent may sacrifice a creature of their choice. If no one does, transform this creature. Flying This creature gets +2/+0 as long as an opponent controls a Human.
Complete guide
Innocent Traveler is a flavorful double-faced card that puts your opponents in a difficult position every turn. It presents a recurring choice: someone must give up a creature, or they must face the wrath of the Malicious Invader. This guide will walk you through the mechanics of this transformation and how to maximize its impact.
The Upkeep Dilemma
At the beginning of your upkeep, Innocent Traveler's ability triggers. It asks your opponents if they would like to sacrifice a creature. If even one opponent sacrifices a creature, Innocent Traveler remains a 3/3 Human. However, if every single opponent refuses to sacrifice anything, the traveler transforms into Malicious Invader, a 3/3 Vampire with Flying.
The Resolution Process
When the ability resolves, the active player first checks turn order. Starting with the next opponent in order, each person decides whether to sacrifice and chooses which creature they will lose. Subsequent opponents make their choices with full knowledge of what the previous players decided. Once everyone has made their choice, all selected creatures are sacrificed simultaneously. The transformation only occurs if the total number of creatures sacrificed during this specific resolution is zero.
Strategic Timing and Common Pitfalls
Remember that this is an 'intervening if' style check that happens only upon resolution. If an opponent has no creatures to sacrifice, they cannot choose to sacrifice one, which may force the transformation against their will. Additionally, transforming into Malicious Invader gives the creature +2/+0 if any opponent controls a Human, turning it into a 5/3 flier that can end games quickly.
When to Deploy the Traveler
Innocent Traveler is most effective when your opponents are low on resources or rely on a single, powerful creature. Because it triggers every upkeep, it acts as a persistent tax. Even if they sacrifice a creature to stop the transformation once, they must continue to do so every turn to keep the 5/3 Flying threat off the board.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou begin your upkeep with Innocent Traveler on the battlefield. Your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum. During resolution, the opponent decides to sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to prevent your creature from transforming. Because a creature was sacrificed, Innocent Traveler remains on its front face. The opponent then triggers the death ability of Solemn Simulacrum to draw a card.
Roaming ThroneYou control Roaming Throne with 'Human' chosen as the creature type. At the start of your upkeep, Innocent Traveler triggers twice. The first ability resolves; if no one sacrifices a creature, Innocent Traveler transforms into Malicious Invader. When the second ability resolves, it checks the state of the permanent. Since it is now a Vampire, the ability effectively does nothing even if no one sacrifices a creature, as it cannot transform again if it is already on its back face.
If your opponents choose not to sacrifice a creature, Innocent Traveler transforms into Malicious Invader. If any opponent controls even a single Human token or creature, Malicious Invader's static ability applies immediately, granting it +2/+0. This makes it a 5/3 Flying creature as long as that Human remains on the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Innocent Traveler // Malicious Invader
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
When Innocent Traveler's ability resolves, the next opponent in turn order chooses whether they want to sacrifice a creature at all and which creature to sacrifice if so, then each other opponent in turn order does the same, knowing the choices made before them. Then all the chosen creatures are sacrificed at the same time. If no creatures are sacrificed this way, Innocent Traveler is transformed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Innocent Traveler // Malicious Invader
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