Snake Umbra 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
Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, you may draw a card." Umbra armor (If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura.)
Complete guide
Snake Umbra is a versatile green Aura that offers both card advantage and a powerful layer of protection for your most important creatures. By granting the Umbra armor keyword, it ensures your threats stick around even in the face of lethal combat or destructive spells.
A Life-Saving Shield
The core of Snake Umbra is Umbra armor, formerly known as totem armor. If the enchanted creature would be destroyed by lethal damage or a 'destroy' effect, the Aura is destroyed instead. This effect is mandatory; you cannot choose to let the creature die to save the Aura. Note that this only protects against destruction—it will not save a creature from being sacrificed, having zero toughness, or the 'legend rule'.
Drawing from the Source
Unlike many Auras, Snake Umbra grants the triggered ability directly to the creature. This means the controller of the creature is the one who draws the card, even if another player owns the Aura. The ability triggers on any damage dealt to an opponent, including non-combat damage, and allows you to draw a card for each instance of damage dealt to an opponent.
Combat and Resolution
When a creature with Snake Umbra deals damage, the ability goes on the stack. If the creature is also about to be destroyed (perhaps by a trade in combat), Umbra armor applies first as a replacement effect. The creature survives, all damage is removed from it, and Snake Umbra is put into the graveyard. Importantly, this is not regeneration; the creature remains untapped and stays in combat if it was attacking or blocking.
When to Play It
Play Snake Umbra when you have a creature that can reliably connect with an opponent's life total. It is particularly effective on creatures with Trample or Evasion, as it punishes opponents for not blocking while providing a safety net if they try to use removal spells to stop the damage.
Interaction examples
Garruk's UprisingIf you control Garruk's Uprising and enchant a 3/3 creature with Snake Umbra, the creature becomes a 4/4 with trample. When it attacks and is blocked by a 1/1, it deals 1 damage to the creature and 3 trample damage to the opponent. Because it dealt damage to an opponent, the ability granted by Snake Umbra triggers, allowing you to draw a card.
You have a creature enchanted with Snake Umbra and your opponent casts a spell that destroys all creatures. Instead of your creature being destroyed, Umbra armor replaces the destruction. Snake Umbra is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, while your creature remains on the battlefield perfectly healthy.
Sylvan LibraryDuring your draw step, Sylvan Library allows you to draw extra cards. If you then attack with a creature enchanted by Snake Umbra and deal damage, you draw another card. Since this card was drawn during the combat phase and not the draw step, it is not affected by Sylvan Library's requirement to pay life or put cards back.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Snake Umbra
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Some printings of this card refer to the ability "totem armor". This ability's name has been replaced with "umbra armor". This change does not affect the gameplay function of this card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Umbra armor has no effect if the enchanted creature is put into a graveyard for any other reason, such as if it's sacrificed, if the "legend rule" applies to it, or if its toughness is 0 or less.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature enchanted with an Aura that has umbra armor has indestructible, lethal damage and effects that try to destroy it simply have no effect. Umbra armor won't do anything because it won't have to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Umbra armor's effect is mandatory. If the enchanted creature would be destroyed, you must remove all damage from it (if it has any) and destroy the Aura that has umbra armor instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Umbra armor's effect is applied no matter why the enchanted creature would be destroyed: because it's been dealt lethal damage, or because it's being affected by an effect that says to "destroy" it (such as Breathe Your Last). In either case, all damage is removed from the creature and the Aura is destroyed instead.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature you control is enchanted with multiple Auras that have umbra armor, and the enchanted creature would be destroyed, one of those Auras is destroyed instead—but only one of them. You choose which one because you control the enchanted creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature enchanted with an Aura that has umbra armor would be destroyed by multiple state-based actions at the same time (most likely because a creature with deathtouch has dealt damage to that creature greater than or equal to its toughness), umbra armor's effect will replace all of them and save the creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability would destroy both an Aura with umbra armor and the creature it's enchanting at the same time, umbra armor's effect will save the enchanted creature from being destroyed. Instead, the spell or ability will destroy the Aura in two different ways at the same time, but the result is the same as destroying it once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Umbra armor's effect is not regeneration. Specifically, if umbra armor's effect is applied, the enchanted creature does not become tapped and is not removed from combat as a result. Effects that say the enchanted creature can't be regenerated won't prevent umbra armor's effect from being applied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability says that it would "destroy" a creature enchanted with an Aura that has umbra armor, that spell or ability is what causes the Aura to be destroyed instead. Umbra armor doesn't destroy the Aura; rather, it changes the effects of the spell or ability. On the other hand, if a spell or ability deals lethal damage to a creature enchanted with an Aura that has umbra armor, the game rules regarding lethal damage cause the Aura to be destroyed, not that spell or ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
The ability triggers when the enchanted creature deals any damage, not just combat damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
Snake Umbra grants the triggered ability to the creature. It triggers whenever the enchanted creature deals damage to an opponent of its controller (who is not necessarily an opponent of the Aura's controller). In other words, if your Snake Umbra winds up enchanting your opponent's creature, that opponent will draw a card whenever that creature damages you.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Niv-Mizzet, Parun + Snake Umbra
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Niv-Mizzet's first ability triggers, dealing 1 damage to any opponent.
- 3Niv-Mizzet triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Magmakin Artillerist + Snake Umbra
- 1During the next cleanup step, discard cards down to your maximum hand size.
- 2Magmakin Artillerist triggers, dealing 1 damage to each opponent for each card discarded this way.
- 3Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4As you are still in the cleanup step, once the stack is empty and priority has been passed by all players, you will discard down to your maximum hand size again.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind + Snake Umbra
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Niv-Mizzet triggers, dealing 1 damage to any opponent.
- 3Niv-Mizzet triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Witty Roastmaster + Snake Umbra
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Witty Roastmaster, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Snake Umbra + Molten Gatekeeper
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Molten Gatekeeper, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Purphoros, God of the Forge + Snake Umbra
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Purphoros, dealing 2 damage to each opponent.
- 4Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
The Locust God + Snake Umbra + Agate Instigator
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3The Insect enters the battlefield, triggering Agate Instigator, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
- 4Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Human Torch, Johnny Storm + Snake Umbra
- 1Draw a card.
- 2Human Torch triggers, dealing 1 damage.
- 3Snake Umbra triggers, causing you to draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Snake Umbra
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.