Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 1

The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 2

As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature to its owner’s hand. The Ninja card stays revealed and isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 3

The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player, planeswalker, or battle that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player, planeswalker, or battle it’s attacking.

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 4

Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 5

The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. In most cases (see below), if you wait until the combat damage step or end of combat step, it will be after combat damage has been dealt, so the Ninja won’t deal combat damage.

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 6

If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.

Orochi Soul-Reaver — ruling 7

Your opponents can’t look at the card they own that you manifested.

Orochi Soul-Reaver : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Orochi Soul-Reaver 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

Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token and manifest the top card of that player's library. (Put it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it's a creature card.)

How it works : Orochi Soul-Reaver

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated only after blockers have been declared. Before then, attacking creatures are neither blocked nor unblocked.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
As you activate a ninjutsu ability, you reveal the Ninja card in your hand and return the attacking creature to its owner’s hand. The Ninja card stays revealed and isn’t put onto the battlefield until the ability resolves. If it leaves your hand before then, it won’t enter the battlefield at all.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
The creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield attacking the same player, planeswalker, or battle that the returned creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, when a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, that creature’s controller chooses which player, planeswalker, or battle it’s attacking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers step, combat damage step, or end of combat step. In most cases (see below), if you wait until the combat damage step or end of combat step, it will be after combat damage has been dealt, so the Ninja won’t deal combat damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7April 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Your opponents can’t look at the card they own that you manifested.
Card named in this ruling
Manifest