Kangee's Lieutenant 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
Flying Whenever this creature attacks, attacking creatures with flying get +1/+1 until end of turn. Encore(
Complete guide
Kangee's Lieutenant is a versatile Bird Soldier that serves as both a powerful aggressive flyer and a late-game graveyard resource. By utilizing the Encore mechanic, it can turn a quiet battlefield into a coordinated aerial assault across the entire table.
A Commander for the Skies
Kangee's Lieutenant has a triggered ability that triggers whenever it attacks, providing a +1/+1 buff to all attacking creatures with flying until end of turn. This includes the Lieutenant itself. Because the buff only applies to creatures with flying at the moment the ability resolves, it is crucial to ensure your other attackers have flying before the stack clears.
Executing the Encore
Encore is a keyword that functions while the card is in your graveyard. When you pay the Encore cost as a sorcery, you exile the card and create a token copy for each opponent you have. These tokens gain haste and must attack their designated opponent if able. The tokens are temporary and are sacrificed at the beginning of the next end step, but their impact is significant as each token generates its own attack trigger.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you pay the mana and exile Kangee's Lieutenant from your graveyard. Once the ability resolves, tokens enter the battlefield under your control, each assigned to a different opponent. When you move to the declare attackers step, these tokens must be declared as attackers against those specific players. As they attack, each token's triggered ability goes on the stack. As each resolves, your flying attackers get an incremental +1/+1 bonus for each trigger.
Common Mistakes
A common error is trying to give a creature flying after the Lieutenant's ability has already resolved to get the bonus; this does not work. Additionally, players often forget that the tokens must attack the specific opponent they were created for; you cannot send all Encore tokens at a single player unless an effect prevents them from attacking their designated target. Finally, remember that if a token is somehow controlled by another player when the end step begins, you cannot sacrifice it, and it will remain on the battlefield.
Interaction examples
With Kangee's Lieutenant on the battlefield, you declare it as an attacker. Its ability triggers and goes on the stack. When it resolves, the Lieutenant checks itself, sees it has flying, and gives itself +1/+1, effectively attacking as a 2/2 flyer.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Bird' or 'Soldier' chosen, Kangee's Lieutenant's attack ability triggers twice. Each instance of the ability will give your attacking flyers +1/+1, resulting in a total of +2/+2 for the turn.
CopyIn a three-player game (you and two opponents), you exile Kangee's Lieutenant from your graveyard using Encore. You create two Copy tokens. Both tokens attack separate opponents. Each token triggers its ability; when both resolve, all your attacking flyers get +2/+2. At the next end step, you sacrifice both tokens.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Kangee's Lieutenant
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect stops a token from attacking a specific player, that token can attack any player, planeswalker, or battle, or not attack at all. If the effect stops the token from attacking a specific player unless a cost is paid, you don't have to pay that cost unless you want to attack that player.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Exiling the card with encore is a cost to activate the ability. Once you announce that you're activating it, no player may take actions until you've finished. They can't try to remove the card from your graveyard to stop you from paying the cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Opponents who have left the game aren't counted when determining how many tokens to create.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The tokens copy only what's on the original card. Effects that modified that creature when it was previously on the battlefield won't be copied.
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Only attacking creatures that have flying as Kangee's Lieutenant's second ability resolves will get +1/+1. Giving a creature flying or making it lose flying after that point won't change that bonus, if any.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If one of the tokens can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, you aren't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If one of the tokens somehow is under another player's control as the delayed triggered ability resolves, you can't sacrifice that token. It remains on the battlefield indefinitely, even if you regain control of it later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
Each token must attack the appropriate player if able.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Kangee's Lieutenant
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