Repel Intruders — ruling 1

This spell cares about what mana was spent to pay its total cost, not just what mana was spent to pay the hybrid mana symbol in its cost.

Repel Intruders — ruling 2

This spell checks on resolution to see if any mana of the appropriate colors were spent to pay its cost. It doesn’t matter how much mana of that color was spent; the effect isn’t multiplied.

Repel Intruders — ruling 3

If this spell is copied, the copy will not have had any colors of mana paid for it, no matter what colors were spent on the original spell.

Repel Intruders — ruling 4

You choose whether or not to target a creature spell before you decide whether or not to spend {U} on Repel Intruders. You may target a creature spell and then not spend {U} to cast Repel Intruders; if you do, Repel Intruders simply won’t affect that creature spell. Similarly, if you don’t target a creature spell but then you spend {U} to cast Repel Intruders, that part of Repel Intruders has no effect.

Repel Intruders — ruling 5

If you choose to target a creature spell, Repel Intruders has a target. If that target becomes illegal by the time Repel Intruders resolves, the entire spell won’t resolve. You won’t get any tokens.

Repel Intruders : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Repel Intruders 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

Create two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature tokens if was spent to cast this spell. Counter up to one target creature spell if was spent to cast this spell. (Do both if was spent.)

Complete guide

Repel Intruders is a versatile hybrid instant that rewards you for the specific colors of mana used to cast it. Whether you need to build a defensive board or stop a threat from hitting the table, this spell adapts to your current resources.

What It Does

Repel Intruders has two distinct effects based on whether white or blue mana was used during its casting. If white mana was spent, you create two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature tokens; if blue mana was spent, you may counter up to one target creature spell. If you spend both white and blue mana, you get both effects simultaneously.

How It Resolves

First, the spell checks its targets upon casting. If you wish to counter a spell, you must target it as you cast Repel Intruders. Upon resolution, the game checks what mana was actually spent to pay the total cost. Note that if you targeted a creature spell and that spell is no longer a legal target when Repel Intruders tries to resolve, the entire spell fails and you will not even receive your Kithkin tokens.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error involves copying the spell. If Repel Intruders is copied by an effect, the copy was not 'cast' and therefore no mana was spent to pay for it; the copy will do nothing. Additionally, spending multiple mana of the same color does not increase the effect; spending three white mana still only creates two tokens.

When to Play It

This card is best used as a reactive tool during your opponent's turn. Because it can produce two blockers (Kithkin Soldier) while simultaneously removing a threat from the stack, it is a powerful 'two-for-one' play in tempo and control decks that can afford the flexible mana cost.

Interaction examples

The Hybrid Flexibility

Kithkin Soldier

If you cast Repel Intruders using four white mana, only the first part of the ability triggers. You will create two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature tokens. The countering effect is ignored because no blue mana was spent.

Countering and Creating

You cast Repel Intruders targeting an opponent's creature spell, spending three blue mana and one white mana. When it resolves, the target creature spell is countered and you create two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier tokens because both colors were spent.

Interaction with Target Legality

Fierce Guardianship

If you target a creature spell with Repel Intruders and spend {W}{U}, but your opponent uses another spell to remove that creature spell from the stack first, Repel Intruders will be countered by the game rules upon resolution. You will not get the Kithkin Soldier tokens because the spell's only target became illegal.

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

How it works : Repel Intruders

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 8, 2016· Wizards of the Coast
This spell cares about what mana was spent to pay its total cost, not just what mana was spent to pay the hybrid mana symbol in its cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 8, 2016· Wizards of the Coast
This spell checks on resolution to see if any mana of the appropriate colors were spent to pay its cost. It doesn’t matter how much mana of that color was spent; the effect isn’t multiplied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 8, 2016· Wizards of the Coast
If this spell is copied, the copy will not have had any colors of mana paid for it, no matter what colors were spent on the original spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
You choose whether or not to target a creature spell before you decide whether or not to spend on Repel Intruders. You may target a creature spell and then not spend to cast Repel Intruders; if you do, Repel Intruders simply won’t affect that creature spell. Similarly, if you don’t target a creature spell but then you spend to cast Repel Intruders, that part of Repel Intruders has no effect.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5May 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose to target a creature spell, Repel Intruders has a target. If that target becomes illegal by the time Repel Intruders resolves, the entire spell won’t resolve. You won’t get any tokens.
No other card is named in this ruling.