Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 1

The initiative is a designation a player can have. A player with the initiative designation is said to “have the initiative.” The initiative carries two inherent rules. First, whenever a player takes the initiative, and at the beginning of the upkeep of the player with the initiative, that player ventures into Undercity. Second, whenever one or more creatures a player controls deal combat damage to the player who has the initiative, the first player takes the initiative. Also, some abilities will refer to having the initiative and provide other benefits.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 2

There is no initiative in a game until an effect instructs a player to take the initiative. Once a player is instructed to do this, they have the initiative until another player takes the initiative.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 3

Only one player can have the initiative at a time. As one player takes the initiative, any other player that had the initiative ceases to have it.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 4

A player who currently has the initiative may take the initiative again. This causes that player to venture into Undercity again, but does not cause them to have multiple initiative designations.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 5

If the player with the initiative leaves the game, the active player takes the initiative at the same time that player leaves the game. If the active player is leaving the game or if there is no active player, the next player in turn order takes the initiative.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 6

In a Two-Headed Giant game, if both players on a team deal combat damage to the player that has the initiative at the same time, the player with the initiative will choose the order of the triggered abilities. Then, as those abilities resolve, one team member takes the initiative (and ventures into Undercity) and then the other team member does the same. The last player to take the initiative keeps it until the initiative changes again.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 7

You cannot venture into Undercity unless instructed to do so, either because you have the initiative at the beginning of your upkeep or because you take the initiative. Notably, if you aren’t in a dungeon and an effect instructs you to venture into the dungeon (not venture into Undercity), you can’t start Undercity.

Ravenloft Adventurer — ruling 8

Similarly, when instructed to venture into Undercity, you can’t start a dungeon that isn’t Undercity.

Ravenloft Adventurer : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ravenloft Adventurer 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

When this creature enters, you take the initiative. If a creature an opponent controls would die, instead exile it and put a hit counter on it. Whenever this creature attacks, if you've completed a dungeon, defending player loses 1 life for each card they own in exile with a hit counter on it.

Complete guide

Ravenloft Adventurer is a powerhouse from the Battle for Baldur's Gate set, combining the powerful Initiative mechanic with a deadly exile-based clock. This Human Rogue Assassin ensures your opponents' creatures never reach the graveyard, fueling a life-loss ability that punishes them for every fallen soldier. By venturing through the Undercity, you can secure the game while keeping your opponent's board in check.

Understanding the Initiative

When Ravenloft Adventurer enters the battlefield, you 'take the initiative.' This means you immediately venture into the Undercity dungeon. If you are not in a dungeon, you enter the first room, Secret Entrance. If you are already in a dungeon, you move to the next room. You also venture into the Undercity at the start of your upkeep as long as you maintain the initiative designation. If an opponent deals combat damage to you, they take the initiative away!

Exile and Hit Counters

The Adventurer possesses a replacement effect that changes how your opponents' creatures leave the battlefield. If an opponent's creature would die, it is instead moved to the exile zone with a hit counter placed on it. Because this is a replacement effect, 'death' triggers do not occur because the creature never actually hits the graveyard. This is particularly effective at shutting down recursion strategies and aristocrat-style decks.

The Finisher: Dungeon Completion

The final ability triggers whenever Ravenloft Adventurer attacks, but it only functions if you have 'completed a dungeon.' This means you must have reached the final room of any dungeon (like the Undercity or Lost Mine of Phandelver) and moved the marker off the card. Once this condition is met, the defending player loses 1 life for every card they own in exile with a hit counter. Note that these counters remain on the cards even if Ravenloft Adventurer leaves the battlefield.

Strategic Timing

Play Ravenloft Adventurer when you are prepared to defend the initiative or when you need to prevent specific 'dies' triggers from an opponent. Since the life loss only triggers upon completion of a dungeon, prioritize advancing through the Undercity quickly using its own upkeep triggers. It is best to wait to attack with the Adventurer until the exile pile is sufficiently large to maximize life loss.

Interaction examples

Denying Death Triggers

Ravenloft Adventurer

Solemn Simulacrum

If your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum and it is destroyed while you control Ravenloft Adventurer, the Simulacrum is exiled with a hit counter. Because the replacement effect prevents the creature from ever entering the graveyard, the Simulacrum's 'when this creature dies' ability will not trigger, and your opponent will not draw a card.

Doubling the Dungeon Progress

Ravenloft Adventurer

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Human', 'Rogue', or 'Assassin' chosen, Ravenloft Adventurer's enter-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. You will take the initiative, venture into the Undercity, and then venture again immediately. Additionally, once you have completed a dungeon, the Throne will cause the attack trigger to fire twice, doubling the life loss for the defending player.

Maintaining the Initiative

Ravenloft Adventurer

After playing Ravenloft Adventurer and entering the Secret Entrance to find a basic land, you pass the turn. On your next upkeep, because you still have the initiative, you venture into the next room (Forge or Lost Well). If you finish the Undercity later, every subsequent attack with the Adventurer will check how many creatures you have exiled with hit counters throughout the game.

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

How it works : Ravenloft Adventurer

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
The initiative is a designation a player can have. A player with the initiative designation is said to “have the initiative.” The initiative carries two inherent rules. First, whenever a player takes the initiative, and at the beginning of the upkeep of the player with the initiative, that player ventures into Undercity. Second, whenever one or more creatures a player controls deal combat damage to the player who has the initiative, the first player takes the initiative. Also, some abilities will refer to having the initiative and provide other benefits.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
There is no initiative in a game until an effect instructs a player to take the initiative. Once a player is instructed to do this, they have the initiative until another player takes the initiative.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Only one player can have the initiative at a time. As one player takes the initiative, any other player that had the initiative ceases to have it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
A player who currently has the initiative may take the initiative again. This causes that player to venture into Undercity again, but does not cause them to have multiple initiative designations.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If the player with the initiative leaves the game, the active player takes the initiative at the same time that player leaves the game. If the active player is leaving the game or if there is no active player, the next player in turn order takes the initiative.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
In a Two-Headed Giant game, if both players on a team deal combat damage to the player that has the initiative at the same time, the player with the initiative will choose the order of the triggered abilities. Then, as those abilities resolve, one team member takes the initiative (and ventures into Undercity) and then the other team member does the same. The last player to take the initiative keeps it until the initiative changes again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
You cannot venture into Undercity unless instructed to do so, either because you have the initiative at the beginning of your upkeep or because you take the initiative. Notably, if you aren’t in a dungeon and an effect instructs you to venture into the dungeon (not venture into Undercity), you can’t start Undercity.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
Similarly, when instructed to venture into Undercity, you can’t start a dungeon that isn’t Undercity.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If you aren’t in a dungeon when instructed to venture into Undercity, you will put Undercity into the command zone and move your venture marker to Secret Entrance (the first room).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10June 10, 2022· Wizards of the Coast
If you’re already in a dungeon when instructed to venture into Undercity, you move to the next room of that dungeon. If you are already in the last room, you will complete that dungeon and start Undercity. This is true whether you’re already in Undercity or any other dungeon.
No other card is named in this ruling.