Legolas's Quick Reflexes 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
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.) Untap target creature. Until end of turn, it gains reach, hexproof, and "Whenever this creature becomes tapped, it deals damage equal to its power to up to one target creature."
Complete guide
Legolas's Quick Reflexes is a high-speed defensive and offensive tool from the Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set. This green instant provides a massive range of utility, protecting your creature from removal while turning its own movement into a lethal weapon. With the power of split second, this spell ensures your elf or warrior reacts before your opponents can even blink.
Unpacking Split Second
The most significant feature of this spell is split second. While Legolas's Quick Reflexes is on the stack, players cannot cast other spells or activate any abilities that aren't mana abilities. This means your opponent cannot respond with a counterspell or a removal spell of their own. Note that this does not stop triggered abilities from triggering or special actions like turning a face-down creature face up.
Resolution Step-by-Step
First, you choose a target creature to receive the buffs. Upon resolution, that creature untaps immediately, which can serve as a surprise blocker. It then gains reach and hexproof until the end of the turn. Finally, it gains a triggered ability: whenever it becomes tapped—whether by attacking, using an ability, or an opponent's effect—it deals damage equal to its power to up to one target creature.
Common Mistakes
One common error is forgetting that split second only applies while the spell is on the stack. Once Legolas's Quick Reflexes resolves and leaves the stack, players can resume casting spells as normal. Additionally, remember that the damage-dealing ability is a triggered ability; it goes on the stack after the creature becomes tapped, and it can be responded to even though the original spell had split second.
When to Play It
This card is best used as a 'combat trick' to blow out an opponent's attack or to protect a key combo piece. Because it grants hexproof, it can fizzle an opponent's targeted removal spell. Furthermore, because it untaps the creature, you can use it after your creature has already attacked to set up a defensive block or to trigger the damage ability a second time.
Interaction examples
Worldly TutorSuppose your opponent casts Worldly Tutor to find a creature. You can cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes in response. Because of split second, your opponent cannot cast any more spells to react to your trick. Your spell will resolve first, untapping your creature and granting it protection, then Worldly Tutor will resolve afterwards.
Heroic InterventionIf you cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes to untap your creature and use its new triggered ability to deal damage, your opponent might try to save their creatures with Heroic Intervention. While they cannot cast it while your spell is on the stack, they *can* cast it after your spell has resolved but before the 'Whenever this creature becomes tapped' trigger resolves, as split second is no longer in effect.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Legolas's Quick Reflexes
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Players still get priority while a spell with split second is on the stack; their options are just limited to mana abilities and certain special actions.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Players may turn face-down creatures face up while a spell with split second is on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Split second doesn't stop triggered abilities from triggering, such as that of Chalice of the Void. If one does, its controller puts it on the stack and chooses targets for it, if any. Those abilities will resolve as normal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a spell with split second won't affect spells and abilities that are already on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the resolution of a triggered ability involves casting a spell, that spell can't be cast if a spell with split second is on the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
After a spell with split second resolves (or otherwise leaves the stack), players may again cast spells and activate abilities before the next object on the stack resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Bruce Banner // The Incredible Hulk + Legolas's Quick Reflexes
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying
, targeting The Incredible Hulk. - 2Declare The Incredible Hulk as an attacker, tapping him in the process.
- 3The Incredible Hulk triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4The Incredible Hulk triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it and then untapping it and causing you to gain an additional combat phase after this one.
- 5Repeat from step 2 each combat phase.
Brash Taunter + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Seeker of Skybreak
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Seeker of Skybreak.
- 2Activate Seeker of Skybreak by tapping it, targeting itself.
- 3Seeker of Skybreak triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to Brash Taunter.
- 4Brash Taunter triggers, dealing that much damage to any target.
- 5Resolve the Seeker of Skybreak ability from step 2, untapping it.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Cacophodon + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Enduring Vitality
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Cacophodon.
- 2Activate Cacophodon by tapping it.
- 3Cacophodon triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4Cacophodon triggers, untapping itself.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Cacophodon + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Cryptolith Rite
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Cacophodon.
- 2Activate Cacophodon by tapping it.
- 3Cacophodon triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4Cacophodon triggers, untapping itself.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Cacophodon + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Viridian Longbow
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Cacophodon.
- 2Activate Cacophodon by tapping it.
- 3Cacophodon triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4Cacophodon triggers, untapping itself.
- 5Resolve the Cacophodon ability from step 2.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Cacophodon + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Inga and Esika
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Cacophodon.
- 2Activate Cacophodon by tapping it.
- 3Cacophodon triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4Cacophodon triggers, untapping itself.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Cacophodon + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Elven Chorus
- 1Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting Cacophodon.
- 2Activate Cacophodon by tapping it.
- 3Cacophodon triggers, dealing damage equal to its power to itself.
- 4Cacophodon triggers, untapping itself.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Earthcraft + Legolas's Quick Reflexes + Stuffy Doll
- 1Earthbend a basic land you control.
- 2Cast Legolas's Quick Reflexes by paying , targeting the earthbent land.
- 3Activate Earthcraft by tapping the earthbent land, targeting the earthbent land.
- 4The land triggers, causing it to deal damage equal to its power to Stuffy Doll.
- 5Stuffy Doll triggers, dealing that much damage to the named player
- 6Resolve the Earthcraft trigger, untapping the earthbent land.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Legolas's Quick Reflexes
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.