Quicksilver AmuletHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Quicksilver Amulet features an activated ability that costs four mana and requires you to tap the artifact. Upon resolution, you have the option to take any creature card from your hand and put it directly onto the battlefield. This is an 'onto the battlefield' effect, not a casting action, meaning the creature cannot be countered by spells that target cast spells, and you ignore all mana requirements of the card itself.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you pay the four generic mana and tap Quicksilver Amulet to put the ability on the stack. Both players have a chance to respond. If the ability resolves, you choose a creature card from your hand. You then place that card onto the battlefield. Because the choice of which creature to put out happens during resolution, your opponent cannot wait to see which creature you pick before deciding whether to counter the Amulet's ability.

Common Mistakes

A common error is trying to pay 'X' costs for creatures put into play this way; however, any 'X' in a creature's mana cost is treated as zero. Additionally, because you are not 'casting' the creature, 'when you cast' triggers will not fire. However, 'enters the battlefield' abilities will function normally. Also, remember that putting a creature down is optional; you can choose to put nothing onto the battlefield even after the ability resolves.

When to Play It

Since the Amulet's ability does not have timing restrictions like a sorcery, you should often wait until the end of your opponent's turn or during their combat phase to use it. This keeps your mana open for other plays and allows you to surprise your opponent with a blocker or a fresh threat right before your turn starts.

Interaction examples

Standard Deployment

With Quicksilver Amulet on the battlefield, you pay four mana and tap it during your opponent's end step. You choose a creature card from your hand and place it onto the battlefield. It is now ready to attack on your next turn.

Triggering Enters Effects

Solemn Simulacrum

You activate Quicksilver Amulet and choose Solemn Simulacrum from your hand. As the Simulacrum enters the battlefield, its ability triggers, allowing you to search for a basic land. Even though you didn't cast the Golem, its 'enters' ability works perfectly.

Mana Fixing for Activation

Commander's Sphere

If you are one mana short of the four required to activate Quicksilver Amulet, you can tap Commander's Sphere for mana. This provides the necessary resource to activate the Amulet and bring a creature into play immediately.