Stoneforge Acolyte — ruling 1

To activate a cohort ability, the Ally with that ability must have been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. Informally, it can’t have “summoning sickness.” However, the other Ally you tap can be one that just came under your control. (Note that tapping the second Ally doesn’t use {T} [the tap symbol].)

Stoneforge Acolyte : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Stoneforge Acolyte 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

Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal an Equipment card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Complete guide

Stoneforge Acolyte is a specialized one-drop from Battle for Zendikar that excels in dedicated Equipment and Ally strategies. By utilizing the Cohort mechanic, this Kor Artificer can dig deep into your library to find the right tool for the job. It provides consistent card advantage if you have enough friends to help out.

How Cohort Works

The Cohort ability represents a cooperative effort between two creatures. To activate it, you must pay a cost of tapping Stoneforge Acolyte itself (using the tap symbol) and tapping another untapped Ally you control. While the Acolyte must have been under your control since the start of your turn to use the tap symbol, the second Ally can have 'summoning sickness' and be tapped the same turn it enters the battlefield.

Resolving the Ability

Once the ability is activated and resolves, you look at the top four cards of your library. You have the option to reveal one Equipment card from those four and put it into your hand. The remaining cards, including any Equipment you chose not to take, are put on the bottom of your library in any order. If you find no Equipment in the top four, all four cards simply go to the bottom.

Strategic Timing

Because this ability requires tapping two creatures, it is often best used during your opponent's end step. This keeps your creatures available as blockers during their turn while allowing you to untap them immediately for your own turn. However, if you are looking for a specific defensive tool, activating it during the main phase may be necessary to find and cast an Equipment before combat.

Interaction examples

Finding a Tool

If you control Stoneforge Acolyte and another Ally, you can tap both to look at the top four cards of your library. If you see a card like Plate Armor, you can reveal it and add it to your hand to buff your creatures later.

Interaction with Non-Ally Creatures

Ornithopter of Paradise

You cannot use Ornithopter of Paradise to pay the second part of the Cohort cost. The ability specifically requires you to tap an 'untapped Ally.' Since Ornithopter of Paradise is a Thopter and not an Ally, it cannot assist the Acolyte.

Missing the Type Requirement

Esper Sentinel

Even though Esper Sentinel is a powerful Human Soldier and an Artifact, it lacks the Ally creature type. If you activate Stoneforge Acolyte's ability, you can search for the Sentinel only if it were an Equipment; however, since it is a creature, you cannot put it into your hand with this ability.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Stoneforge Acolyte

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 22, 2016· Wizards of the Coast
To activate a cohort ability, the Ally with that ability must have been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. Informally, it can’t have “summoning sickness.” However, the other Ally you tap can be one that just came under your control. (Note that tapping the second Ally doesn’t use [the tap symbol].)
No other card is named in this ruling.