Somberwald Stag 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
When this creature enters, you may have it fight target creature you don't control.
Complete guide
Somberwald Stag is a powerful utility creature that brings immediate impact to the board by acting as a piece of removal. As a 4/5 Elk, it has the size to take down many mid-sized threats while remaining on the battlefield to pressure your opponent. Leveraging the fight mechanic allows Green decks to interact with the opponent's creatures without needing to splash other colors.
Natural Selection: How Fight Works
When Somberwald Stag enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. You must choose a target creature you don't control at this time. When the ability resolves, you make the final decision whether or not to have the creatures fight. If you choose to fight, Somberwald Stag deals damage equal to its power to the target, and the target deals damage equal to its power to the Stag simultaneously.
Resolving the Trigger
The resolution of the ability depends on both creatures being present. If the target creature leaves the battlefield or becomes illegal (such as gaining protection or hexproof) before the ability resolves, the entire ability fails and no damage is dealt. If Somberwald Stag leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, the fight does not happen because a creature that is no longer on the battlefield cannot deal or receive damage.
Strategic Timing and Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is forgetting that the 'may' choice happens upon resolution. You don't have to decide if they fight until the ability is actually resolving. This is beneficial if your opponent pumps their creature in response to the trigger; you can simply decline the fight so your Stag survives. Remember, fighting is not combat; abilities like First Strike or Double Strike do not apply, but Deathtouch and Lifelink do.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou cast Somberwald Stag and target an opponent's Solemn Simulacrum. Upon resolution, you choose to fight. The Stag deals 4 damage to the Golem, and the Golem deals 2 damage to the Stag. The Solemn Simulacrum is destroyed, and its owner draws a card, while your 4/5 Stag survives with 2 damage marked on it for the turn.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Elk' chosen as the creature type, Somberwald Stag's enters-the-battlefield ability triggers twice. You can target two different creatures (or the same one twice). As each trigger resolves, you can choose to fight. Note that if the Stag takes lethal damage during the first fight, it won't be around to deal damage in the second fight.
When Somberwald Stag enters an empty board on the opponent's side, its ability simply won't have a legal target. The ability is removed from the stack, and the Stag remains a 4/5 creature ready for combat on your next turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Somberwald Stag
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You choose the target of the triggered ability as it goes on the stack, but you choose whether or not to fight as that ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted creature is an illegal target when Somberwald Stag’s ability tries to resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve. If Somberwald Stag is no longer on the battlefield, the targeted creature won’t deal or be dealt damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Somberwald Stag
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.