Mukotai SoulripperHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Mukotai Soulripper is a 2-mana black Vehicle with a base power and toughness of 2/4. Like all Vehicles, it requires its Crew 2 ability to be activated to become a creature. Its standout feature is a triggered ability that occurs whenever it attacks, allowing you to sacrifice another creature or artifact to grant it a permanent +1/+1 counter and menace until the end of the turn.

Resolving the Attack Trigger

When you declare Mukotai Soulripper as an attacker, its triggered ability goes on the stack. As it resolves, you choose whether or not to sacrifice another artifact or creature. This is a choice made during resolution, not upon targeting. If you choose to sacrifice a permanent, the Soulripper receives a +1/+1 counter immediately and gains the menace keyword, meaning it can only be blocked by two or more creatures this combat.

Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that you must sacrifice 'another' permanent; the Soulripper cannot sacrifice itself to its own ability. Also, remember that the +1/+1 counters stay on the Soulripper even when it stops being a creature at the end of the turn. These counters will modify its power and toughness every time it is crewed in future turns, allowing it to scale into a massive threat.

Interaction examples

Powering Up with Sol Ring

Sol Ring

If you have a Sol Ring that you no longer need for mana, you can attack with Mukotai Soulripper and sacrifice the Sol Ring to the attack trigger. Mukotai Soulripper will gain a +1/+1 counter, becoming a 3/5, and will have menace for that combat.

Efficient Sacrificing with Arcane Signet

Arcane Signet

During your combat phase, after Mukotai Soulripper has been crewed and declared as an attacker, you can sacrifice Arcane Signet. This triggers the Soulripper's ability, placing a +1/+1 counter on it and making it harder to block. This is particularly useful in the late game when you have excess mana sources and need to push through damage.

Crewing and Attacking Solo

If you control Mukotai Soulripper and a creature with power 2, you can tap that creature to activate the Crew 2 ability. Once the Soulripper is a creature, you declare it as an attacker. If you have no other permanents to sacrifice, the trigger still goes on the stack, but you simply decline to sacrifice anything, and it remains a 2/4 without menace.