Referee Squad 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
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays foror one mana of that creature's color.) Vigilance When this creature enters, tap target creature an opponent controls and put a stun counter on it. (If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)
Complete guide
Referee Squad is a versatile Homunculus that provides both board presence and tempo control. By utilizing the Convoke mechanic, you can deploy this creature early to stall your opponent's most dangerous threat.
Utilizing Convoke
Convoke allows you to tap untapped creatures you control to pay for Referee Squad's mana cost. Each creature you tap pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color. You can even tap creatures that have just entered the battlefield and have summoning sickness, as convoke does not use the tap symbol. Note that you must calculate the total cost of the spell first, including any cost increases or reductions, before tapping creatures for convoke.
The Stun Counter Mechanic
When Referee Squad enters the battlefield, you tap a target creature an opponent controls and place a stun counter on it. If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, usually during the untap step, one stun counter is removed instead of the creature untapping. This effectively keeps the target out of combat for an extra turn cycle.
Timing and Targeting
The enters-the-battlefield ability is mandatory, but you must choose a target creature an opponent controls. You can target a creature that is already tapped; the ability will still resolve and place a stun counter on it. If there are no creatures controlled by opponents, the ability simply fails to find a target and does nothing.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield. When casting Referee Squad, you can tap Solemn Simulacrum to pay for {1} of the {2}{U} cost. You then only need to pay {1}{U} using your lands. Because Solemn Simulacrum is a colorless artifact creature, it can only pay for the generic portion of the cost.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield and 'Homunculus' chosen as the creature type, Referee Squad's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers an additional time. You can target the same creature twice to put two stun counters on it, keeping it tapped for two future untap steps, or target two different creatures to tap them both and stun them.
If your opponent has a large blocker, you cast Referee Squad. Its ability triggers, tapping that blocker and adding a stun counter. Because Referee Squad has Vigilance, it can then attack on your next turn while remaining untapped to block, while your opponent's creature remains sidelined by the stun counter.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Referee Squad
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
You can tap any untapped creature you control to convoke a spell, even one you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping an untapped creature that's attacking or blocking to convoke a spell won't cause that creature to stop attacking or blocking.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for
or one mana of your choice of any of that creature's colors.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature you control has a mana ability with
in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Because convoke isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Referee Squad's enters-the-battlefield ability can target a creature that's already tapped.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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