Magik, Illyana Rasputin // Darkchild, Demon UncagedHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Faces of Magik

Magik starts as a Mutant Sorcerer Hero who provides one extra card per turn via exile. To transform her into Darkchild, Demon Uncaged, you must sacrifice two or more permanents during your turn. Once transformed, her upkeep trigger changes from exiling a single card to exiling cards until you hit a nonland card, allowing you to play every land flipped along the way plus the nonland card.

Navigating the Upkeep

During your upkeep, the exile trigger goes on the stack. For Darkchild, you exile cards one by one; if you hit three lands and then a sorcery, all four cards are available to play. Note that you must still follow normal timing rules and pay all costs for these cards. If you don't play them by the end of your turn, they remain in exile indefinitely.

Strategic Transformation

The transformation check happens at the beginning of your end step. It only checks if you have sacrificed two permanents at any point during that specific turn. You don't have to sacrifice them simultaneously. If the condition is met, the 'may' ability triggers, giving you the choice to transform her into her more aggressive Demon form.

Survival and Costs

Darkchild has a built-in protection mechanism. By paying 4 life, she gains indestructible until end of turn but becomes tapped. This is an activated ability that can be used at instant speed to dodge board wipes or targeted destruction, though it removes her as a potential blocker for the rest of the round.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Magic

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Mutant' or 'Sorcerer', Magik's upkeep ability triggers twice. In her front form, you exile and may play two cards. In her Darkchild form, you would exile until you hit a nonland card, twice, potentially netting a huge amount of land cards to play.

The Sacrifice Chain

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have a way to sacrifice permanents, such as a sacrifice outlet, you can sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum and its resulting land (if it's a permanent you control) to meet Magik's end step requirement. Since two permanents were sacrificed, Magik's ability triggers at the end step, allowing her to transform into Darkchild.