Skirk Fire Marshal — ruling 1

You may tap any untapped permanents you control with the appropriate creature type (including this creature) to pay the cost of the ability, including creatures that haven't been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.

Skirk Fire Marshal : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Skirk Fire Marshal 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

Protection from red Tap five untapped Goblins you control: This creature deals 10 damage to each creature and each player.

Complete guide

Skirk Fire Marshal is a high-impact Goblin that turns a small army into a devastating explosion. By tapping a group of Goblins, you can deal a massive 10 damage to everyone and everything on the battlefield. Because it has protection from red, this creature is uniquely positioned to survive its own chaotic outburst.

The Mechanics of the Blast

The ability of Skirk Fire Marshal requires you to tap five untapped Goblins you control as a cost. This cost can include Skirk Fire Marshal itself, as its ability does not use the tap symbol. Because the cost is paid by tapping Goblins rather than using a tap ability, you can even tap Goblins that were played this turn and are still suffering from summoning sickness.

How the Ability Resolves

Once the cost is paid, the ability is put onto the stack. When it resolves, it deals 10 damage to every creature on the battlefield and every player. Skirk Fire Marshal survives this because it has protection from red, meaning all damage that would be dealt to it by a red source—including its own ability—is prevented.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that the damage hits the activator as well as the opponent. If you have 10 or less life, activating this ability will result in a loss or a draw unless you have a way to prevent the damage to yourself. Additionally, remember that protection from red only protects the Marshal; your other Goblins will almost certainly perish in the blast unless they also have protection or high toughness.

When to Activate

This ability is best used as a finisher when your opponent's life total is 10 or lower, or as a board wipe when you are facing a superior army. Since it functions at instant speed, you can activate it in response to an opponent's spell or during their end step to clear the way for a lethal attack on your next turn.

Interaction examples

Surviving the Firestorm

Solemn Simulacrum

You control Skirk Fire Marshal, four other Goblins, and a Solemn Simulacrum. You tap the five Goblins to activate the ability. Upon resolution, Skirk Fire Marshal deals 10 damage to itself, you, your opponent, and the Solemn Simulacrum. The Marshal survives due to protection from red, but the Solemn Simulacrum is dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. You then get to draw a card from the Simulacrum's death trigger.

Strategic Goblin Recruitment

Roaming Throne

If you cast Roaming Throne and choose 'Goblin', it becomes a Goblin in addition to its other types. You can now tap Roaming Throne as one of the five Goblins required for Skirk Fire Marshal's ability. Note that Roaming Throne's triggered ability doubling effect does not apply here because Skirk Fire Marshal's explosion is an activated ability, not a triggered ability.

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

How it works : Skirk Fire Marshal

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 4, 2004· Wizards of the Coast
You may tap any untapped permanents you control with the appropriate creature type (including this creature) to pay the cost of the ability, including creatures that haven't been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.