Martial Impetus 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
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and is goaded. (It attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.) Whenever enchanted creature attacks, each other creature that's attacking one of your opponents gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Martial Impetus is a versatile Aura that serves two purposes: forcing your opponent's best creature into combat and rewarding anyone who swings at your enemies. It turns a potential blocker into a political tool that buffs your own board or the boards of your temporary allies. By goading a creature, you ensure it stays away from your life total while creating chaos across the table.
How Goading Works
When you attach Martial Impetus to a creature, that creature becomes goaded. This means its controller must attack with it during each combat if able. Furthermore, the creature must attack a player other than you if there is at least one other player available to attack. If it cannot attack another player—perhaps because all other opponents have protection or the game is down to a 1v1—it must still attack you or a planeswalker if able.
The Martial Buff Trigger
Martial Impetus has a triggered ability that occurs whenever the enchanted creature attacks. Unlike many Auras, this benefit applies to 'each other creature that's attacking one of your opponents.' This includes your own attacking creatures and even creatures controlled by other opponents, as long as they are all attacking someone other than you. The +1/+1 bonus lasts until the end of the turn, potentially turning a standard combat into a lethal one.
Navigating Restrictions and Costs
Goading does not force a player to pay mana to attack. If a player is required to pay a cost for a creature to attack, they can simply choose not to pay it, which fulfills the 'if able' requirement of goad. Additionally, if the creature is tapped or affected by a 'summoning sickness' equivalent, it cannot attack, and the goad requirement is ignored for that combat phase.
Common Misconceptions
A common mistake is thinking the creature loses the goaded status after one attack. The creature remains goaded as long as Martial Impetus is attached to it. Also, remember that the +1/+1 buff from the attack trigger does not apply to the enchanted creature itself; the text specifies 'each other creature.' The enchanted creature only receives the static +1/+1 bonus granted by the first line of the Aura.
Interaction examples
Ghostly PrisonIf you enchant an opponent's creature with Martial Impetus while you also control Ghostly Prison, the goaded creature must attack an opponent other than you. If that creature's controller wants to attack you, they would have to pay {2}. However, because goad forces them to attack someone else 'if able,' they must attack your other opponents first to satisfy the requirement without paying mana. If you are the only opponent left, they can choose not to pay the {2} tax, and the creature will not attack at all.
Smothering TitheIn a multiplayer game, you can enchant a creature controlled by Opponent A. When Opponent A attacks Opponent B with that creature, the Martial Impetus trigger goes on the stack. All other creatures attacking Opponent B get +1/+1. While this doesn't directly interact with Smothering Tithe's mechanics, it pressures Opponent B's life total, making them less likely to pay the {2} for your Tithe triggers as they scramble to cast blockers or defensive spells to survive the buffed onslaught.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Martial Impetus
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the creature doesn't meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than the controller of the spell or ability that goaded it if able. If the creature can't attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack a planeswalker an opponent controls, a battle an opponent controls, or a player who goaded it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If, during a player's declare attackers step, a creature that player controls that's been goaded is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't attack, or hasn't been under that player's control continuously since the turn began (and doesn't have haste), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack a player, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack that player.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Attacking with a goaded creature doesn't cause it to stop being goaded. If there is an additional combat phase that turn, or if another player gains control of it before it stops being goaded, it must attack again if able.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents that hasn't goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, the creature must attack an opponent (rather than a planeswalker or battle), but you choose which opponent it attacks.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Being goaded isn't an ability the creature has. Once it's been goaded, it must attack as detailed above even if it loses all abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Martial Impetus
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