Noxious Gearhulk 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
Menace When this creature enters, you may destroy another target creature. If a creature is destroyed this way, you gain life equal to its toughness.
Complete guide
Noxious Gearhulk is a formidable black artifact creature that brings both destruction and survival to the battlefield. As one of Kaladesh's powerful constructs, it offers a high-impact 'enters' ability that can swing the momentum of any game in your favor.
Mechanical Breakdown
Noxious Gearhulk features Menace, meaning it requires at least two blockers to be legally blocked. Its primary strength lies in its triggered ability: when it enters the battlefield, you may target another creature to destroy it. If that creature is successfully destroyed, you gain life equal to that creature's toughness as it last existed on the battlefield.
Step-by-Step Resolution
When Noxious Gearhulk enters, its ability is put onto the stack and you choose a legal target. Upon resolution, the game checks if the target is still legal. If the creature is destroyed, the game looks back at its toughness at the moment it was still on the battlefield. Even if the creature is moved to a zone other than the graveyard (such as the command zone in Commander), you still gain the life, provided the destruction event actually occurred.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is assuming you gain life if the target is not destroyed. If the target has Indestructible or is shielded by a regeneration effect, it is not destroyed, and no life is gained. Additionally, you cannot target the Noxious Gearhulk itself with its own ability, as the text specifies 'another target creature'.
Strategic Implementation
This card is best used to stabilize against aggressive decks. By removing a high-toughness threat, you not only eliminate a blocker or attacker but also receive a significant life total buffer. Because it is a creature, it can be easily blinked or reanimated to repeat this effect multiple times.
Interaction examples
Syr Konrad, the GrimWith Syr Konrad, the Grim on the battlefield, you cast Noxious Gearhulk. When the Gearhulk enters, you target an opponent's creature. When that creature is destroyed and put into the graveyard, Syr Konrad's ability triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent, while the Gearhulk gains you life based on the fallen creature's toughness.
Gray Merchant of AsphodelIf you have Noxious Gearhulk on the battlefield, its two black mana symbols contribute to your devotion. When you later play Gray Merchant of Asphodel, the Gearhulk helps maximize the life drain effect. This pair creates a massive life total swing through both the Gearhulk's targeted destruction and the Merchant's group drain.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Noxious Gearhulk
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the target creature has indestructible, it isn't destroyed this way and you won't gain life. If it is destroyed but put into a zone other than a graveyard, you'll gain life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Use the toughness of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how much life to gain.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Outrider en-Kor + Task Force + Noxious Gearhulk
- 1Pay
to activate Outrider en-Kor, targeting Task Force. - 2Task Force triggers, giving itself +0/+3 untill end of turn.
- 3Repeat steps 1-2 untill Task Force has infinite toughness.
- 4Cast Noxious Gearhulk, destroying Task Force and gaining life equal to its toughness.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Noxious Gearhulk
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.