Murkfiend LiegeHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Buffs and Dynamic Untapping

Murkfiend Liege provides two separate static abilities that grant +1/+1 to other green creatures and other blue creatures you control. If a creature is both green and blue, these abilities stack, granting a total of +2/+2. Beyond the power boost, it modifies the untap step rules. During every other player's untap step, all green and blue creatures you control untap simultaneously with that player's permanents. This is mandatory and does not allow you to choose to keep a creature tapped.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, the stat-boosting abilities are static and always active as long as Murkfiend Liege is on the battlefield; they do not use the stack. Second, the untap effect occurs during the Beginning Phase of each other player's turn. As the active player untaps their permanents, you simultaneously untap all your green and/or blue creatures. Because this happens during the untap step, no player receives priority to cast spells or activate abilities until the process is complete and the game moves to the upkeep.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that multiple Murkfiend Lieges will allow you to untap your creatures multiple times per turn to bypass certain restrictions. However, because creatures simply untap once during the untap step, additional copies of the Liege are redundant for the untap effect. Additionally, remember that Murkfiend Liege does not buff itself; it only grants bonuses to 'other' creatures. Finally, note that effects which prevent untapping specifically during *your* untap step are ignored by this card's ability during an opponent's turn.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized in decks with heavy creature-based strategies or creatures with powerful tap abilities. By untapping your board on every opponent's turn, you can attack freely during your turn while still having blockers available to defend. It is also excellent in multiplayer games like Commander, where you can benefit from the untap effect multiple times before your next turn begins.

Interaction examples

Colorless Interaction

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control both Murkfiend Liege and Solemn Simulacrum, the Simulacrum will not receive a +1/+1 bonus because it is a colorless artifact creature. Furthermore, it will not untap during other players' untap steps because it is neither green nor blue.

Type Synergy and Static Effects

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Horror', it will not cause Murkfiend Liege's abilities to happen twice. This is because Murkfiend Liege's abilities are static abilities and a replacement effect for the untap step, not triggered abilities. Roaming Throne only interacts with abilities that start with 'when', 'whenever', or 'at'.

Solo Performance

If you control a green and blue creature like a 2/2 Llanowar Elves that has been magically turned blue, Murkfiend Liege will give it +2/+2, making it a 4/4. During your opponent's untap step, that creature will untap, allowing you to use its mana-generating tap ability on their turn even if you used it on your own.