Sweettooth WitchHow it works & interactions with other cards

Cooking Up a Storm

Sweettooth Witch has two distinct parts. First, it features an 'enters-the-battlefield' triggered ability that creates a Food token. Second, it possesses an activated ability that allows you to pay two mana and sacrifice a Food to make a target player lose 2 life. Importantly, 'Food' is an artifact type, meaning you can sacrifice any artifact with the Food subtype, whether it is a token or a non-token card.

Resolving the Abilities

When Sweettooth Witch enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. Once it resolves, you create a Food token. To use its second ability, you must pay two mana and sacrifice a Food as a cost. This happens immediately, and the ability then goes on the stack. The loss of life occurs only when that ability resolves. Remember, you cannot sacrifice the same Food token to gain life and to trigger the Witch's ability simultaneously; one sacrifice can only pay one cost.

Strategic Timing

Because the Witch's second ability does not require it to tap, you can use it the same turn it enters the battlefield, provided you have the mana. It is an excellent 'mana sink' for the late game. If your opponent is at low health, you can sacrifice multiple Food tokens in a single turn to bypass their blockers and end the game directly.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that 'Food' is not a creature type. Even if a creature has the Food type, it remains an artifact type for rules purposes. Additionally, note that the Witch's ability causes loss of life, which is not the same as damage. This means it cannot be prevented by effects that only stop damage.

Interaction examples

Double Portions

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Human' or 'Warlock' chosen, Sweettooth Witch's first ability will trigger twice when it enters. You will create two Food tokens instead of one, giving you more ammunition for the Witch's activated ability later.

The Price of Admission

Food

If you have a Food token and Sweettooth Witch in play, you must choose how to use that token. You can either pay two mana and tap it to gain 3 life, or pay two mana to the Witch's ability to make an opponent lose 2 life. You cannot do both with a single token because sacrificing the token is a cost for both abilities.

Efficient Sequencing

Solemn Simulacrum

You play Solemn Simulacrum to ramp into your fourth land, then play Sweettooth Witch on the following turn. While Solemn Simulacrum provides defense, the Witch uses the Food token it created to pressure the opponent's life total, showing how the Witch can turn a defensive board state into an offensive clock.