Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 1

As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 2

A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 3

Prickle Faeries’s ability will check as each opponent’s upkeep begins whether that player has two or fewer cards in hand. If they have three or more, the ability won’t trigger at all. If the ability does trigger, it will check the opponent’s hand again as it tries to resolve. If the opponent has three or more cards in hand at that time, the ability won’t resolve, and Prickle Faeries won’t deal damage to them.

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 4

Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 5

If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 6

A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 7

Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it.

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries — ruling 8

A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries 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

(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it's defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.) When this Siege enters, target opponent discards two cards. Flying At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if that player has two or fewer cards in hand, this creature deals 2 damage to them.

How it works : Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Prickle Faeries’s ability will check as each opponent’s upkeep begins whether that player has two or fewer cards in hand. If they have three or more, the ability won’t trigger at all. If the ability does trigger, it will check the opponent’s hand again as it tries to resolve. If the opponent has three or more cards in hand at that time, the ability won’t resolve, and Prickle Faeries won’t deal damage to them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#13April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#14April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#15April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#16April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#17April 14, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat.
No other card is named in this ruling.