Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 1

Sméagol, Helpful Guide doesn't need to have been on the battlefield when the creature died. For example, if a creature dies under your control during combat on your turn and you cast Sméagol, Helpful Guide during your second main phase, its first ability will trigger at the beginning of your end step.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 2

Sméagol, Helpful Guide's first ability will trigger only once during your end step, no matter how many creatures died under your control this turn. However, if no creatures have died under your control so far this turn as your end step begins, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to cause a creature to die under your control during the end step in time to have the ability trigger.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 3

As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 4

The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 5

If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 6

The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 7

Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide — ruling 8

Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.

Sméagol, Helpful Guide : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Sméagol, Helpful Guide 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 your end step, if a creature died under your control this turn, the Ring tempts you. Whenever the Ring tempts you, target opponent reveals cards from the top of their library until they reveal a land card. Put that card onto the battlefield tapped under your control and the rest into their graveyard.

How it works : Sméagol, Helpful Guide

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Sméagol, Helpful Guide doesn't need to have been on the battlefield when the creature died. For example, if a creature dies under your control during combat on your turn and you cast Sméagol, Helpful Guide during your second main phase, its first ability will trigger at the beginning of your end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Sméagol, Helpful Guide's first ability will trigger only once during your end step, no matter how many creatures died under your control this turn. However, if no creatures have died under your control so far this turn as your end step begins, the ability won't trigger at all. It's not possible to cause a creature to die under your control during the end step in time to have the ability trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
As the Ring tempts you, you get an emblem named The Ring if you don't have one. Then your emblem gains its next ability and you choose a creature you control to become (or remain) your Ring-bearer.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The Ring can tempt you even if you don't control a creature. In this case, abilities that trigger "whenever the Ring tempts you" will still trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If the creature you choose as your Ring-bearer was already your Ring-bearer, that still counts as choosing that creature as your Ring-bearer for the purpose of abilities that trigger "whenever you choose a creature as your Ring-bearer" or abilities that care about which creature was chosen as your Ring-bearer.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The Ring gains its abilities in order from top to bottom. Once it gains an ability, it has that ability for the rest of the game.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Each time the Ring tempts you, you must choose a creature if you control one.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Each player can have only one emblem named The Ring and only one Ring-bearer at a time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that cause the Ring to tempt you may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. The Ring won't tempt you.
No other card is named in this ruling.