Puppeteer Clique — ruling 1

When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it's a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 2

If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player's persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player's persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 3

If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature's existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 4

If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 5

The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 6

If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they'll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.

Puppeteer Clique — ruling 7

If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can't return to the battlefield.

Puppeteer Clique : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Puppeteer Clique 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

Flying When this creature enters, put target creature card from an opponent's graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains haste. At the beginning of your next end step, exile it. Persist (When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)

Complete guide

Puppeteer Clique is a versatile Faerie Wizard that combines the power of reanimation with the resilience of the Persist mechanic. This creature allows you to temporarily borrow your opponent's best fallen threats to turn the tide of battle. By mastering its timing and triggers, you can maximize its value before it finally leaves the battlefield.

Stealing the Dead

When Puppeteer Clique enters the battlefield, you choose a creature card in an opponent's graveyard. That creature is put directly onto the battlefield under your control and gains haste, allowing it to attack or use activated abilities immediately. However, this reanimation is temporary: at the beginning of your next end step, the borrowed creature must be exiled.

The Persistence of Faeries

The Persist keyword is what makes this card truly dangerous. If Puppeteer Clique dies and had no -1/-1 counters on it, it returns to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter. This counts as a new 'enters' event, triggering its ability again and allowing you to steal a second creature from an opponent. Note that if it dies a second time while carrying that -1/-1 counter, Persist will not trigger unless the counter is somehow removed.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, Puppeteer Clique enters the battlefield, and its triggered ability is placed on the stack targeting a creature in an opponent's graveyard. Once it resolves, the creature enters your side with haste. At the beginning of your next end step, a delayed triggered ability triggers to exile that creature. If Puppeteer Clique dies at any point without a -1/-1 counter, the Persist ability triggers, returning it to the battlefield as a new object, which starts the stealing process all over again.

Strategic Timing

Because the exile clause happens at the beginning of the next end step, you can use flash effects or sacrifice outlets to trigger Persist during an opponent's turn. This allows you to block with their own creature and still have the Clique return to trigger again. Remember that Persist uses 'last known information' to check for counters, so if a card like Solemn Simulacrum is what you are stealing, make sure you utilize its death trigger effectively.

Interaction examples

Generating Extra Land and Cards

Solemn Simulacrum

If you use Puppeteer Clique to reanimate an opponent's Solemn Simulacrum, you get to search for a basic land immediately. Since the Simulacrum gains haste, you can attack with it. When the end step arrives and the Simulacrum is exiled, you do not get the 'dies' trigger to draw a card, because exile is not dying. However, if you block or sacrifice it before the end step, it will die, and you will get to draw a card.

Doubling the Harvest

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and have chosen 'Faerie' or 'Wizard', Puppeteer Clique's enters-the-battlefield ability will trigger twice. This allows you to target two different creatures in your opponents' graveyards. Both will enter the battlefield under your control, gain haste, and both will be exiled at the start of your next end step. If the Clique dies, Persist will also trigger twice due to the Throne, though only the first instance to resolve will return the Clique to the battlefield.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Puppeteer Clique

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
When a permanent with persist returns to the battlefield, it's a new object with no memory of or connection to its previous existence.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple creatures with persist are put into the graveyard at the same time (due to combat damage or a spell that destroys all creatures, for example), the active player (the player whose turn it is) puts all of their persist triggers on the stack in any order, then each other player in turn order does the same. The last trigger put on the stack is the first one that resolves. That means that in a two-player game, the nonactive player's persist creatures will return to the battlefield first, then the active player's persist creatures do the same. The creatures return to the battlefield one at a time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with persist that has +1/+1 counters on it receives enough -1/-1 counters to cause it to be destroyed by lethal damage or put into its owner's graveyard for having 0 or less toughness, persist won't trigger and the card won't return to the battlefield. That's because persist checks the creature's existence just before it leaves the battlefield, and it still has all those counters on it at that point.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature with persist stops being a creature, persist will still work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
The persist ability triggers when the permanent is put into a graveyard. Its last known information (that is, how the creature last existed on the battlefield) is used to determine whether it had a -1/-1 counter on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent has multiple instances of persist, they'll each trigger separately, but the redundant instances will have no effect. If one instance returns the card to the battlefield, the next to resolve will do nothing.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 7, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
If a token with no -1/-1 counters on it has persist, the ability will trigger when the token is put into the graveyard. However, the token will cease to exist and can't return to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.