Star Athlete — ruling 1

If the target permanent is an illegal target as Star Athlete's second ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will be dealt damage, and no permanents will be sacked . . . er, sacrificed.

Star Athlete — ruling 2

If you choose to pay the blitz cost rather than the mana cost, you're still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its blitz cost only if you could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty.

Star Athlete — ruling 3

If you pay the blitz cost to cast a creature spell, that permanent will be sacrificed only if it's still on the battlefield when that triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is.

Star Athlete — ruling 4

You don't have to attack with the creature with blitz unless another ability says you do.

Star Athlete — ruling 5

If a creature enters as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose blitz cost was paid, the copy won't have haste, won't be sacrificed, and its controller won't draw a card when it dies.

Star Athlete — ruling 6

If the creature was cast using its blitz ability, the triggered ability that lets its controller draw a card triggers when it dies for any reason, not just when you sacrifice it during the end step.

Star Athlete : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Star Athlete 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

Menace Whenever this creature attacks, choose up to one target nonland permanent. Its controller may sacrifice it. If they don't, this creature deals 5 damage to that player. Blitz (If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "When this creature dies, draw a card." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.)

How it works : Star Athlete

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If the target permanent is an illegal target as Star Athlete's second ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. No player will be dealt damage, and no permanents will be sacked . . . er, sacrificed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose to pay the blitz cost rather than the mana cost, you're still casting the spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to and countered. You can cast a creature spell for its blitz cost only if you could cast that creature spell. Most of the time, this means during your main phase when the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you pay the blitz cost to cast a creature spell, that permanent will be sacrificed only if it's still on the battlefield when that triggered ability resolves. If it dies or goes to another zone before then, it will stay where it is.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
You don't have to attack with the creature with blitz unless another ability says you do.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature enters as a copy of or becomes a copy of a creature whose blitz cost was paid, the copy won't have haste, won't be sacrificed, and its controller won't draw a card when it dies.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6September 20, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If the creature was cast using its blitz ability, the triggered ability that lets its controller draw a card triggers when it dies for any reason, not just when you sacrifice it during the end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.