Serpentine BasiliskHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Delayed Death Touch

Unlike creatures with Deathtouch that destroy victims instantly, Serpentine Basilisk has a triggered ability. When it deals combat damage to another creature, a 'mark' is effectively placed on that creature. The actual destruction doesn't happen until the End of Combat step, which occurs after damage has been dealt but before the main phase begins.

Hidden Ambush with Morph

You can cast Serpentine Basilisk face down for {3} as a colorless 2/2 creature. Turning it face up by paying its Morph cost of {1}{G}{G} is a special action that does not use the stack. This means your opponent cannot respond to you turning it face up; they can only respond to the triggered ability that occurs after combat damage is dealt.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that the Basilisk must deal combat damage for the ability to trigger. If the Basilisk is blocked by a creature with First Strike that kills it before it can strike back, the ability never triggers. Additionally, if the Basilisk deals non-combat damage (via a fight spell, for example), the destruction ability will not activate.

When to Play It

Serpentine Basilisk is most effective when your opponent has a high-toughness creature they believe can safely block a 2/2. By attacking with it face down and flipping it face up after blockers are declared, you guarantee the destruction of their best defender, even if the Basilisk also perishes in the trade.

Interaction examples

Crushing the Solemn Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with a face-down Serpentine Basilisk. Your opponent blocks with Solemn Simulacrum. Before damage, you pay {1}{G}{G} to turn the Basilisk face up. Both creatures deal 2 damage to each other. During the End of Combat step, the Basilisk's triggered ability resolves, destroying the Solemn Simulacrum. The opponent then gets to draw a card from the Golem's death trigger.

Trading with Value

Eternal Witness

If an opponent attacks you with an Eternal Witness, you can block with Serpentine Basilisk. Even if the Witness was boosted by a spell to have high toughness, as long as the Basilisk deals at least 1 combat damage to it, the Witness will be destroyed at the end of the combat phase.

Morph Mind Games

Morph

Using a Morph reminder card, you cast Serpentine Basilisk face down. Because it is a 2/2, your opponent might not block, fearing a different Morph creature. If they don't block, the Basilisk deals 2 combat damage to the player, but its destruction ability does not trigger because it didn't hit a creature.