Invasion of Innistrad // Deluge of the Dead 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.) Flash When this Siege enters, target creature an opponent controls gets -13/-13 until end of turn. When this enchantment enters, create two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens.: Exile target card from a graveyard. If it was a creature card, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Complete guide
Invasion of Innistrad // Deluge of the Dead is a versatile Battle – Siege that brings instant-speed removal to the table. Once your creatures overcome the defense of the Siege, it transforms into a powerful enchantment that can generate an endless army of the undead.
What it Does
This card starts as a Siege with Flash, meaning you can cast it during an opponent's turn. When it enters, it functions as a removal spell, giving a creature -13/-13. As a Siege, you choose an opponent to protect it. You can attack the Siege or deal damage to it with spells to remove its 5 defense counters. When the last counter is removed, you exile the card and cast the back face, Deluge of the Dead, without paying its mana cost.
How it Resolves Step by Step
First, cast Invasion of Innistrad at any time you could cast an instant. As it enters, you choose an opponent to protect it and choose a target creature that opponent controls; that creature gets -13/-13. Once the Siege is on the battlefield, you can declare attackers against it. When damage is dealt to the Siege, remove that many defense counters. When the last counter is removed, a triggered ability puts the card into exile and lets you cast the back face. When Deluge of the Dead enters, you create two 2/2 black Zombie tokens. You can then use its activated ability to exile cards from graveyards to make more Zombies.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting that you cannot block for your own Siege. Only the protector (your opponent) can assign blockers to defend it. Additionally, if the Siege is destroyed by a spell like 'Destroy target enchantment,' it goes to the graveyard and does not transform. Transformation only occurs when the last defense counter is removed through damage or specific effects.
When to Play it
Use the Flash keyword to your advantage. You can cast this during an opponent's combat phase to kill their largest attacker. Once transformed, Deluge of the Dead is excellent for grinding out long games. If you have extra mana and cards like Phyrexian Arena to keep your hand full, you can use the enchantment to manage your opponent's graveyard while building a massive board of Zombie tokens.
Interaction examples
Zombie
Black Market ConnectionsIf your opponent creates a 3/2 Shapeshifter token with Black Market Connections, you can cast Invasion of Innistrad during their turn. The -13/-13 effect will immediately destroy their token. Later, after you defeat the Siege, you can use Deluge of the Dead to exile that Shapeshifter from their graveyard to create your own 2/2 Zombie token.
Phyrexian ArenaWith Phyrexian Arena providing an extra card each turn, you are more likely to have the lands needed to activate Deluge of the Dead's ability. For 2B, you can exile a creature card from any graveyard to create a 2/2 Zombie token. This allows you to convert the extra resources from the Arena into a physical presence on the battlefield every single turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Invasion of Innistrad // Deluge of the Dead
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· 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.
- #2· 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.
- #3· 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.
- #4· 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.
- #5· 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.
- #6· 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.
- #7· 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.
- #8· 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.
- #9· 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.
- #10· 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.
- #11· 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.
- #12· 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.
- #13· 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.
- #14· 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.
- #15· 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.
- #16· 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.
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Meta decks with Invasion of Innistrad // Deluge of the Dead
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