Ox 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.
Complete guide
The Ox token is a humble but sturdy creature typically generated through spells that replace a more dangerous threat with something more manageable. While it lacks special abilities, its 4/4 stats make it a significant presence on the battlefield for both blocking and attacking. You will most often see this token appear when a player uses Contraband Livestock to deal with a powerful creature.
Understanding the Ox
An Ox is a 4/4 green creature token. It does not have any keywords or abilities, meaning it functions solely through its power and toughness. As a token, it exists only on the battlefield and will cease to exist if it is moved to any other zone, such as your hand or graveyard. It is considered a 'Creature — Ox' and is green regardless of the colors of the spell that created it.
Resolution and Creation
The Ox is created during the resolution of a spell like Contraband Livestock. First, the original target creature is exiled. Then, the player who cast the spell rolls a d20. If the result is between 1 and 9, the controller of the exiled creature creates the 4/4 green Ox token. This token enters the battlefield with summoning sickness, meaning it cannot attack or use tap abilities unless it has been under its controller's control since the start of their most recent turn.
Strategy and Timing
Because the Ox is a 4/4, it is often a 'consolation prize' for an opponent whose creature you have exiled. You should play removal like Contraband Livestock when the target creature is significantly more dangerous than a vanilla 4/4, such as a creature with Trample or Toxic. If you are the one receiving the Ox, use it as a robust blocker to stabilize your life total against smaller aggressive creatures.
Common Mistakes
A common error is forgetting that the Ox token is green. Even if you use a white spell to create it, the token itself is green, which matters for protection effects or cards that care about color. Additionally, remember that the Ox token does not have 'Toxic' or other abilities from the cards previously on the field; it is a completely new permanent with its own characteristics.
Interaction examples
Contraband LivestockIf your opponent attacks with a Tyrranax Rex, you can cast Contraband Livestock. The Tyrranax Rex is exiled. You then roll a d20; if you roll a 5, your opponent creates a 4/4 green Ox token. While the Ox is still a threat, it lacks the Toxic 4, Trample, and Haste of the original Dinosaur, effectively saving you from losing the game to poison counters.
Birds of ParadiseCasting Contraband Livestock on a Birds of Paradise is usually risky. If you roll a 1-9, you have replaced a 0/1 flyer with a 4/4 Ox. The opponent loses their mana acceleration but gains a much stronger attacker. This demonstrates why the d20 roll outcome is vital when choosing your targets.
If you control an Ox token and your opponent attacks with a Blightbelly Rat, you can block. The Ox's 4 toughness easily survives the Rat's 1 power. However, because the Rat has Toxic 1, you would only receive a poison counter if the Rat dealt combat damage to you directly. By blocking with the Ox, you prevent the poison counter entirely.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ox
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Ox.
Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) Skrelv can't block. {W/P}, {T}: Choose a color. Another target creature you control gains toxic 1 and hexproof from that color until end of turn. It can't be blocked by creatures of that color this turn. ({W/P} can be paid with either {W} or 2 life.)
You gain X life. Create X 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature tokens with toxic 1 and "This token can't block." If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures. (Players dealt combat damage by a creature with toxic 1 also get a poison counter.)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 1 life and create a 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature token with toxic 1 and "This token can't block." Corrupted — As long as an opponent has three or more poison counters, creatures you control with toxic have lifelink.
Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) {T}, Pay 2 life: Add one mana of any color.
Trample Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
As Deadpool enters, you may exchange his text box and another creature's. At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 3 life. {3}, Sacrifice this creature: Each other player draws a card.
Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) Whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell, target opponent gets a poison counter.
Toxic 1 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get a poison counter.) When this creature dies, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
{T}: Add {C}. {T}: Add one mana of any color. Activate only if this land entered this turn. {3}, {T}: Create a 1/1 colorless Phyrexian Mite artifact creature token with toxic 1 and "This token can't block." (Players dealt combat damage by it also get a poison counter.)
This spell can't be countered. Trample, ward {4}, haste Toxic 4 (Players dealt combat damage by this creature also get four poison counters.)
Menace Paradox — Whenever you cast a spell from anywhere other than your hand, this creature deals 3 damage to any target. Then put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. When this creature dies, it deals damage equal to its power to each opponent.
Whenever Roxanne enters or attacks, create a tapped colorless artifact token named Meteorite with "When this token enters, it deals 2 damage to any target" and "{T}: Add one mana of any color." Whenever you tap an artifact token for mana, add one mana of any type that artifact token produced.
Related cards and tokens
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Meta decks with Ox
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.