Revered Unicorn 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
Cumulative upkeep(At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.) When this creature leaves the battlefield, you gain life equal to the number of age counters on it.
Complete guide
Revered Unicorn is a classic creature that rewards you for its time spent on the battlefield. While it requires a growing investment to keep around, its departure provides a soothing boost to your life total. Understanding the timing of its age counters is key to maximizing its value.
Understanding Cumulative Upkeep
Cumulative upkeep is a keyword that triggers at the start of your upkeep phase. You must first place an age counter on Revered Unicorn, then you face a choice: pay {1} for each age counter currently on it, or sacrifice it. This means the cost increases every turn it remains under your control.
Resolving the Trigger Step-by-Step
When your upkeep begins, the cumulative upkeep ability goes on the stack. First, you add an age counter to the Unicorn. Next, you decide whether to pay the total cost. If you have two counters, you must pay {2} or sacrifice it. If you choose to sacrifice it (or cannot pay), the Unicorn leaves the battlefield, and its second ability triggers based on the counters it had at the moment it left.
Leaving the Battlefield
The life gain ability is not restricted to the cumulative upkeep sacrifice. If Revered Unicorn is destroyed by a spell, exiled, or returned to your hand, you still gain life equal to the number of age counters on it. Even if you choose not to pay the upkeep cost on the very first turn, the Unicorn will have one age counter on it when it is sacrificed, ensuring you gain at least 1 life.
When to Play It
Revered Unicorn serves as an early-game blocker that eventually offsets the damage you have taken. It is best used when you have spare mana to keep it alive for a few turns, building up a larger life-gain payoff for when it finally leaves the fray.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you have Ornithopter of Paradise, you can tap it to add mana to help pay for the Unicorn's cumulative upkeep. If the Unicorn has two age counters, you can use the mana from the Ornithopter to pay half of the {2} required, helping you keep the Unicorn on the battlefield longer to accumulate even more counters.
Esper SentinelIn a scenario where an opponent casts a noncreature spell, you might need your mana to pay for the tax from Esper Sentinel. If you choose to spend your mana there instead of paying for Revered Unicorn's upkeep, the Unicorn is sacrificed. You will gain life equal to the age counters it had, potentially helping you survive until your next turn despite losing a blocker.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Revered Unicorn
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Revered Unicorn’s leaves-the-battlefield ability triggers no matter how it leaves the battlefield, not just when you don’t pay its cumulative upkeep.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose not to pay Revered Unicorn’s cumulative upkeep, it will still get an age counter before being sacrificed, which impacts the amount of life you gain.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Revered Unicorn
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