Lorthos, the TidemakerHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Mechanics of the Tide

Lorthos, the Tidemaker features an attack trigger that requires a mana investment of {8}. You choose your targets—up to eight permanents on the battlefield—when the ability is put onto the stack. However, you only decide whether to pay the {8} mana when the ability resolves. If you pay, the chosen permanents are tapped and will not untap during their controllers' next untap steps.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, Lorthos is declared as an attacker, triggering the ability. You then choose up to eight target permanents; these can be lands, creatures, or any other permanent, even if they are already tapped. Upon resolution, you choose to pay {8}. If you do, the targets tap. If a permanent is already tapped, it simply stays tapped and the 'does not untap' effect still applies to it during the next untap step.

Targeting and Timing

A common mistake is assuming you can only target the defending player's permanents. In reality, you can target any permanents on the field, including your own or those belonging to a different opponent in multiplayer games. Note that if a permanent is untapped when its controller's untap step begins (perhaps via a separate untap effect), Lorthos's effect is used up and won't apply to a later turn.

When to Play Lorthos

Lorthos is a finisher that thrives when you have significant mana acceleration. Because the ability costs {8} on top of his {8} mana casting cost, he is best utilized in decks that can protect him until the combat phase. Once he swings, he can remove all blockers or shut down an opponent's mana base entirely.

Interaction examples

Summoning the Tide

Map to Lorthos's TempleThought Monitor

If you have Map to Lorthos's Temple on the field, you can check off the 'Diving Gear' objective by casting Thought Monitor. Once all three objectives are met, the Map is sacrificed to create a Lorthos, the Tidemaker token, allowing you to bypass his high mana cost.

Locking the Board

Lorthos, the TidemakerHullbreaker Horror

When Lorthos, the Tidemaker attacks, you pay {8} to tap eight of your opponent's lands. Even if they have a Hullbreaker Horror on the field to threaten a block, Lorthos can target the Horror itself, tapping it and ensuring it won't untap next turn, leaving the opponent vulnerable.

Persistent Tides

Lorthos, the Tidemaker

If you target an opponent's creature with Lorthos and that creature changes control before the opponent's next untap step, the effect follows the card. The creature will now refuse to untap during its new controller's next untap step.