Tarrian's Soulcleaver 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

Equipped creature has vigilance. Whenever another artifact or creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature. Equip

Complete guide

Tarrian's Soulcleaver is a powerful legendary Equipment that turns the death of your permanents into permanent strength for your champion. By rewarding you whenever artifacts or creatures leave the battlefield, it creates a formidable threat that grows throughout the game.

Endless Growth

Tarrian's Soulcleaver provides the equipped creature with vigilance, allowing it to attack without tapping. Its core strength lies in its triggered ability: every time another artifact or creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, the equipped creature receives a +1/+1 counter. Note that this includes your opponents' permanents as well as your own, and it counts tokens since they briefly touch the graveyard before disappearing.

Resolution and Timing

When an artifact or creature is destroyed or sacrificed, the Soulcleaver's ability triggers and goes on the stack. The ability checks if the Soulcleaver is still attached to a creature as it resolves. If the equipped creature leaves the battlefield in the same event as other permanents (such as a board wipe), the Soulcleaver will trigger, but it will not have a creature to put counters on unless you manage to move it or the creature remains.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that this card triggers on artifacts, not just creatures. If an artifact creature dies, it only triggers the Soulcleaver once, as it is a single permanent hitting the graveyard. Also, remember that this ability only triggers if the permanent actually reaches the graveyard; if an effect like Rest in Peace is active and exiles the permanents instead, the Soulcleaver will not trigger.

Strategic Implementation

This Equipment is most effective in decks that frequently sacrifice their own assets for value. Because the equip cost is only two mana, you can easily move it to a new threat if your current creature is dealt with. It excels in aggressive strategies where you expect creatures to trade in combat frequently.

Interaction examples

Artifact Value

Sol Ring

Suppose you control a creature equipped with Tarrian's Soulcleaver. If an opponent plays a spell to destroy your Sol Ring, it is put into the graveyard. This triggers the Soulcleaver, and you put a +1/+1 counter on your equipped creature.

Mana Rock Sacrifice

Arcane Signet

If you use a spell that requires you to sacrifice an artifact as a cost and you choose Arcane Signet, the Signet is put into the graveyard. Tarrian's Soulcleaver sees this event and places a +1/+1 counter on the equipped creature, turning your utility mana into raw power.

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