Misleading Signpost 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
Flash When this artifact enters during the declare attackers step, you may reselect which player or permanent target attacking creature is attacking. (It can't attack its controller or their permanents.): Add
.
Complete guide
Misleading Signpost is a versatile blue artifact that serves as both mana acceleration and a powerful defensive tool. By using its Flash ability during combat, you can literally rewrite the battlefield and send an opponent's strongest attacker elsewhere. This card allows you to manipulate the flow of the game while setting up your own resources for future turns.
What It Does
Misleading Signpost is a three-mana artifact with Flash that provides one blue mana when tapped. Its unique utility comes from its triggered ability: if it enters the battlefield during the declare attackers step, you can change the target of one attacking creature. This redirection can force a creature to attack a different player or even a planeswalker or battle they weren't originally targeting.
How It Resolves Step by Step
First, wait for your opponent to move to the declare attackers step and declare their attackers. In response, cast Misleading Signpost. When it enters the battlefield, its ability triggers, allowing you to choose one attacking creature. You then reselect who or what that creature is attacking. Because this effect reselects the target rather than declaring a new attack, it ignores all costs or restrictions that usually apply when choosing attackers, such as 'must attack' or 'cannot attack' effects.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is thinking this triggers 'attacked' abilities. Reselecting a target does not count as a new declaration of an attack, so 'whenever this creature attacks' abilities will not trigger again. Additionally, if you cast this outside of the declare attackers step—such as during your main phase to use it like an Arcane Signet—the redirection ability will not trigger at all. Finally, remember that you cannot force a creature to attack its own controller or its controller's permanents.
When to Play It
Misleading Signpost is best used as a political tool in multiplayer games or as a defensive measure in 1v1 play. By holding up three mana, you represent both a counterspell and a potential redirection. If an opponent swings for lethal damage at you, dropping this artifact can save your life and potentially eliminate a different threat on the board by redirecting that damage to a different player's planeswalker.
Interaction examples
Arcane SignetIf you need mana immediately, you can cast Misleading Signpost during your own turn. While you lose the ability to redirect an attacker, the artifact functions similarly to an Arcane Signet, providing a blue mana source that remains on the battlefield for the rest of the game.
Swiftfoot BootsIf an opponent attacks you with a creature equipped with Swiftfoot Boots, the creature has hexproof. However, Misleading Signpost's ability says to 'reselect which player or permanent target attacking creature is attacking.' Because the ability targets the creature, it will be countered if the creature has hexproof. You must ensure the target is legal for the ability to resolve.
During an opponent's declare attackers step, they target you with a massive creature. You cast Misleading Signpost. The artifact enters, and you choose that attacking creature. You reselect the target to be a different opponent. The creature is now attacking that player instead, even if there were effects that would normally prevent it from doing so.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Misleading Signpost
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You may cast Misleading Signpost outside of a declare attackers step. If Misleading Signpost enters the battlefield outside of a declare attackers step, its ability simply doesn't trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Reselecting which player or permanent a creature is attacking ignores all requirements, restrictions, and costs associated with attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Reselecting which player or permanent a creature is attacking doesn't cause "whenever this creature attacks" abilities to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you reselect which player or permanent an attacking creature is attacking, that creature is still considered to have attacked the player or permanent as declared, but it is now attacking the new player or permanent.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If an ability targets something controlled by the "defending player" of an attacking creature and the defending player for that creature changes before that ability resolves, the ability won't resolve because its target has become illegal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Misleading Signpost
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.