Rionya, Fire Dancer 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
At the beginning of combat on your turn, create X tokens that are copies of another target creature you control, where X is one plus the number of instant and sorcery spells you've cast this turn. They gain haste. Exile them at the beginning of the next end step.
Complete guide
Rionya, Fire Dancer is a powerful legendary wizard that rewards you for casting multiple spells in a single turn. By generating temporary copies of your best creatures, she can overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers during the combat phase. This guide explains how to maximize her spell-slinging potential and navigate her unique copy ability.
Explosive Combat Steps
Rionya's ability triggers at the beginning of combat on your turn. It counts every instant and sorcery spell you have already cast that turn, then adds one to that total. For each count, you create a token copy of another target creature you control. These tokens gain haste, allowing them to attack immediately, but they are exiled at the beginning of the next end step.
Resolution and Timing
The value of X is determined only when the ability resolves. This means if you have Rionya's trigger on the stack, you can cast additional instant spells in response to increase the number of tokens you will receive. Note that the tokens copy the base characteristics of the target creature; they do not copy counters, equipment, or temporary power buffs like Giant Growth.
Copying Complex Permanents
When Rionya copies a creature, the tokens enter the battlefield with all 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities. If the target is itself a token, the new tokens will have the characteristics defined by the effect that created the original token. If you target a creature that is currently copying something else, your new tokens will also be copies of that specific object.
Strategic Implementation
To get the most out of Rionya, pair her with creatures that have powerful triggers when they enter or leave the battlefield. Since the tokens are exiled at the end of the turn, you don't get 'dies' triggers from the exile effect, but you do benefit from any impact they have during your turn's combat and main phases.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you cast one sorcery during your main phase and then move to combat, Rionya triggers. Since you cast one spell, X is two (1+1). You create two tokens of Solemn Simulacrum. Both tokens enter the battlefield, triggering their ability twice, allowing you to find two basic lands. At the end of the turn, they are exiled.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human' or 'Wizard', Rionya's ability triggers an additional time. If you cast zero spells, the first trigger creates one token (0+1) of another creature. The second trigger then creates another token. If you choose to copy Roaming Throne itself (naming 'Human'), subsequent triggers from Rionya in later turns will trigger even more times.
CopyIf you already have a token created by another effect (represented by a Copy token) and target it with Rionya, the new tokens will be identical to that original token. They will inherit the same name, types, and abilities that the original token was given when it was created.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Rionya, Fire Dancer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature is itself a token, the tokens created by Rionya copy the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created it.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature has
in its mana cost, X is 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the tokens enter the battlefield. Any "As [this creature] enters the battlefield" or "[This creature] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the copied creature will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The tokens copy exactly what is printed on the creature and nothing else (unless that creature is a token or is copying something else; see below). They don't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and/or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The triggered ability counts all instants and sorceries that were cast before it resolves. If you cast instant spells in response to the ability, those spells will count.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature is copying something else, the tokens enter the battlefield as whatever that creature is copying.
Card named in this ruling
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Combat Celebrant
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one token copy of Combat Celebrant with haste.
- 2Declare the Combat Celebrant token as an attacker, choosing to exert it as it attacks.
- 3The Combat Celebrant token triggers, untapping all other creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4Repeat each combat phase.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Terror of the Peaks
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating a number of token copies of Terror the Peaks equal to the number of instants and sorceries you've cast this turn plus one.
- 2The Terror of the Peaks token(s) enter the battlefield, triggering the nontoken Terror of the Peaks once for each token, and each Terror of the Peaks token for each other token created.
- 3Resolve all Terror of the Peaks triggers, dealing 5 damage to any target for each trigger.
Breath of Fury + Rionya, Fire Dancer
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one creature token.
- 2Deal combat damage using the creature that has Breath of Fury attached. Breath of Fury triggers, causing you to sacrifice the creature it is attached to, then attach Breath of Fury to a creature token, then causing you to untap all creatures you control and to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 3Repeat each combat phase.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Port Razer
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one token copy of Port Razer with haste.
- 2Declare a Port Razer token as an attacker.
- 3When the Port Razer token deals combat damage, it triggers, causing you to untap all creatures you control and to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4Repeat.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Bloodthirster
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one token copy of Bloodthirster with haste.
- 2Deal combat damage with the Bloodthirster token.
- 3The Bloodthirster token triggers, causing you to untap it and to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4Repeat.
Aurelia, the Warleader + Rionya, Fire Dancer
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one token copy of Aurelia.
- 2Put all but one Aurelia into your graveyard due to the legend rule, ensuring the remaining Aurelia has not attacked this turn.
- 3Declare the remaining Aurelia as an attacker.
- 4Aurelia triggers, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 5Repeat each combat phase.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Godo, Bandit Warlord
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating a token copy of Godo with haste.
- 2Put the nontoken Godo into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
- 3The token Godo enters the battlefield, causing you to search your library for an Equipment card and put it onto the battlefield.
- 4Declare the token Godo as an attacker, attacking an opponent unable to block and kill it.
- 5Godo triggers, untapping it and all Samurai you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 6Repeat each combat phase.
Rionya, Fire Dancer + Scourge of the Throne
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Rionya triggers, creating at least one token copy of Scourge of the Throne with haste.
- 2Declare a Scourge of the Throne token as an attacker, attacking the opponent with the most life or an opponent that is tied for the most life.
- 3The Scourge of the Throne token's first and second abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first trigger, giving the token +1/+1 until end of turn.
- 5Resolve the second trigger, causing you to untap all attacking creatures and to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 6Repeat each combat phase.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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