Provoke the TrollsHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Functionality

Provoke the Trolls allows you to target any single object or player: a creature, a planeswalker, a battle, or a player. The spell always attempts to deal 3 damage. The secondary effect—a +5/+0 power boost—only occurs if the target is a creature and that creature actually receives damage from the spell.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you choose a target as you cast the spell. Upon resolution, Provoke the Trolls deals 3 damage to that target. If the target is a creature, the game checks if damage was successfully dealt; if it was, that creature gains +5/+0 until the end of the current turn. If the creature has a shield counter or protection that prevents the damage, the power bonus will not be applied.

Strategic Timing

Because it is an instant, you can use Provoke the Trolls during the declare blockers step to surprise your opponent. You can target your own unblocked creature to push for 8 additional damage (3 damage dealt minus the 5 power gained), or use it to finish off an opponent's creature that survived combat.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is targeting a creature with 3 or less toughness that you want to buff. Unless the creature has Indestructible or high toughness, the 3 damage will likely destroy it before you can utilize the +5/+0 bonus. Also, remember that if the target becomes illegal before the spell resolves, the entire spell fails and no damage is dealt.

Interaction examples

The Redirect Risk

Deflecting Swat

If you cast Provoke the Trolls targeting your own creature to win the game, your opponent can cast Deflecting Swat to change the target. If they change the target to one of their own creatures, they will take the 3 damage but receive the +5/+0 buff, potentially turning your own win condition into a lethal counter-attack.

Managing the Board State

Chaos Warp

If you target a creature with Provoke the Trolls and an opponent responds with Chaos Warp to shuffle that creature away, Provoke the Trolls will have no legal target upon resolution. The spell will be removed from the stack without dealing damage, meaning no player or permanent is affected.

Survival and Strength

If you control a creature with 4 toughness, you can cast Provoke the Trolls targeting it. The creature takes 3 damage, leaving it with 1 toughness remaining, and then receives +5/+0. This is an effective way to trade a bit of health for a massive increase in damage potential during your attack phase.