Stinging Licid 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
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: This creature loses this ability and becomes an Aura enchantment with enchant creature. Attach it to target creature. You may pay
Complete guide
Stinging Licid is a unique blue creature that blurs the lines between creature and enchantment, offering a persistent way to punish opponents for using their units. By attaching itself as an Aura, it turns every tap ability or attack into a direct strike against its controller. Understanding how to navigate its transformation is key to mastering this classic utility piece.
Metamorphosis into an Aura
Stinging Licid has an activated ability that costs {1}{U} and requires tapping it. When this ability resolves, the Licid stops being a creature and becomes an Aura enchantment with 'enchant creature,' attaching itself to a target. While it is an Aura, it gains a triggered ability that deals 2 damage to the enchanted creature's controller whenever that creature becomes tapped.
Ending the Effect
While Stinging Licid is an Aura, its controller can pay {U} at any time they have priority to end the transformation. This is a special action that does not use the stack and cannot be responded to. Once the cost is paid, the Licid immediately stops being an Aura and reverts to its creature form, causing it to unattach and fall off the creature it was enchanting.
Timing and Targeting
One common mistake is forgetting that the Licid must be a creature to activate its transformation ability. If the Licid is already an Aura, you cannot 'reattach' it to a new target without first paying {U} to turn it back into a creature. Additionally, if the target creature leaves the battlefield or gains hexproof while the activation is on the stack, the Licid stays on the battlefield as a creature and does not become an Aura.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf your opponent controls Ornithopter of Paradise, you can activate Stinging Licid to attach it to the Thopter. Later, when the opponent taps Ornithopter of Paradise to add mana, the Licid's ability triggers, dealing 2 damage to that opponent. This creates a recurring tax for every mana they produce with that creature.
Foundry InspectorSuppose Stinging Licid is enchanting an opponent's Foundry Inspector. If the opponent casts a spell to destroy target enchantment, you can pay {U} as a special action. Stinging Licid immediately becomes a creature and is no longer a legal target for the enchantment destruction spell. The spell will fail to resolve, and your Licid survives as a creature on the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Stinging Licid
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Paying the cost to end the effect is a special action and can't be responded to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell that can target enchantments but not creatures (such as Clear) is cast targeting the Licid after it has become an enchantment, but the Licid's controller pays the cost, the Licid will no longer be an enchantment. This will result in the spell failing to resolve for having no legal targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Stinging Licid
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.