Raph & Mikey, TroublemakersHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unpacking the Attack Trigger

When Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers attack, a triggered ability is placed on the stack. You do not choose a creature from your hand; instead, you reveal cards from the top of your library one by one until you hit a creature card. That creature is immediately put onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. You then take all other revealed non-creature cards and place them on the bottom of your library in a random order.

Choosing Targets and Timing

A unique aspect of this ability is that the new creature does not have to attack the same target as Raph & Mikey. You can choose to have the new creature attack the same player, a different player, a planeswalker, or even a battle. Because the creature enters 'attacking,' it bypasses the normal declaration step, meaning it can enter the battlefield even if a cost would normally be required to attack with it.

Common Timing Pitfalls

The most common mistake involves 'whenever this creature attacks' abilities. Because the creature brought in by Raph & Mikey was never 'declared' as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step, any of its own abilities that trigger on attacking will not fire. However, 'enters the battlefield' triggers will function normally, making creatures with powerful ETB effects the ideal targets for this duo.

When to Unleash the Troublemakers

Due to their high mana cost of 7, you should aim to play Raph & Mikey when you have a library stocked with high-impact creatures. Since they have Haste, you can catch opponents off guard. It is often best to save them for a turn where you can maximize the Trample damage or when you need to fish for a specific utility creature to swing the game in your favor.

Interaction examples

The Behemoth's Arrival

Craterhoof Behemoth

You attack with Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers. Their ability triggers and you reveal Craterhoof Behemoth. The Behemoth enters the battlefield tapped and attacking. Because it entered the battlefield, its ability triggers, giving all your creatures (including Raph & Mikey) +X/+X and trample based on your current creature count. This happens mid-combat before blockers are declared.

The Missing Primal Storm

Etali, Primal Storm

When Raph & Mikey, Troublemakers attack, you reveal Etali, Primal Storm and put it onto the battlefield attacking. However, Etali's ability to exile cards and cast spells triggers 'whenever Etali attacks.' Since Etali was put onto the battlefield already attacking, it was never declared as an attacker this turn, so its ability does not trigger.