Tenacious Underdog 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
Blitz—, Pay 2 life. (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.) You may cast this card from your graveyard using its blitz ability.
Complete guide
Tenacious Underdog is a versatile Human Warrior from New Capenna that refuses to stay down. By utilizing its Blitz ability, you can turn your graveyard into a recurring source of pressure and card advantage.
Understanding Blitz
Blitz is an alternative cost that changes how the creature enters and leaves the battlefield. When you cast Tenacious Underdog for its Blitz cost of {2}{B}{B} and 2 life, it gains haste and a triggered ability: 'When this creature dies, draw a card.' However, this speed comes at a price, as you must sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you choose to cast the spell from your hand or graveyard by paying the Blitz cost and 2 life. The spell goes on the stack and can be countered like any other creature spell. Once it resolves, it enters the battlefield with haste. At the beginning of the next end step, a delayed triggered ability goes on the stack to sacrifice it. When it dies—whether from that sacrifice, combat, or a removal spell—the 'draw a card' ability triggers and resolves.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking a copy of a Blitzed Tenacious Underdog shares its traits; if a creature enters as a copy of it, the copy will not have haste, will not be sacrificed, and won't draw you a card. Also, remember that Blitzing from the graveyard is still casting a spell. This means it can be countered by spells like Essence Scatter, and you can only do it during your main phase when the stack is empty.
When to Play It
Tenacious Underdog is best used as a recurring threat in the mid-to-late game. If you have excess mana, you can cast it every turn from your graveyard to chip away at your opponent's life total while replacing itself in your hand upon death. It is particularly effective in sacrifice-themed decks where dying is a benefit rather than a drawback.
Interaction examples
Blood ArtistWith Blood Artist on the battlefield, you cast Tenacious Underdog from your graveyard for its Blitz cost. You attack for 3 damage. At the end step, Tenacious Underdog is sacrificed. Both the Underdog's draw trigger and Blood Artist's drain trigger go on the stack. You draw a card, your opponent loses 1 life, and you gain 1 life.
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou use Ornithopter of Paradise to produce the black mana required for the Blitz cost early. If Tenacious Underdog is in your graveyard, the mana from Ornithopter of Paradise helps you pay the {2}{B}{B} more easily, allowing you to repeatedly attack and draw cards without depleting the actual cards in your hand.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Tenacious Underdog
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· 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.
- #2· 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.
- #3· 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.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature enters the battlefield 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.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
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.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Tenacious Underdog
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.