Sinister GnarlbarkHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Blight

Sinister Gnarlbark features a triggered ability that occurs at the start of your end step. This ability is mandatory; you must draw a card and you must 'blight 1.' Blighting 1 is a keyword action that requires you to place a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control. Note that if Sinister Gnarlbark is the only creature you control when the ability resolves, you must place the counter on it.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, the end step begins and the ability triggers and goes on the stack. Second, players may respond with instants or activated abilities. Third, as the ability resolves, you perform the actions in order: you draw a card first, then you choose a creature you control to receive a -1/-1 counter. You do not choose the target for the blight until the ability is actually resolving, meaning your opponent cannot 'fizzle' the ability by killing a creature in response unless they remove all your creatures.

Strategic Timing

Because the blight effect happens at the end step, Sinister Gnarlbark is best played when you have 'expendable' creatures or creatures with high toughness. It is also an excellent tool for triggering 'death triggers' on your own creatures by slowly lowering their toughness to zero. Remember that -1/-1 counters remain on the creature indefinitely unless removed by other effects.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Harvest

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield and chose 'Treefolk' or 'Warlock' as its type, Sinister Gnarlbark's end step ability triggers twice. You will draw two cards in total, but you must also blight 1 twice, placing two -1/-1 counters among creatures you control.

Cycling the Sad Robot

Solemn Simulacrum

You can use the blight mechanic to your advantage by targeting Solemn Simulacrum. If the Simulacrum has already taken damage or has been weakened, the -1/-1 counter from Sinister Gnarlbark can reduce its toughness to 0. When it dies, you trigger its ability to draw an additional card, resulting in two cards drawn during a single end step.

The Last Tree Standing

If you control no other creatures, Sinister Gnarlbark must target itself for the blight effect. Since it typically has a toughness of 3, it can sustain its own ability for three turns before the third -1/-1 counter reduces its toughness to 0, causing it to die due to state-based actions.