Tenured Oilcaster 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
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) This creature gets +3/+0 as long as an opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard. Whenever this creature attacks or blocks, each player mills a card.
Complete guide
Tenured Oilcaster is a formidable Phyrexian Wizard that excels at applying pressure while simultaneously filling every player's graveyard. This card utilizes the Menace keyword to slip past defenses while growing significantly stronger as the game progresses and graveyards fill up.
Mechanics and Power Boost
Tenured Oilcaster has a static ability that grants it +3/+0 as long as any one opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard. Note that this is not a triggered ability; as soon as an opponent's graveyard hits that eight-card threshold, the power increase applies immediately. Additionally, its Menace keyword ensures that your opponent must commit at least two creatures to block it, making its high-power attacks difficult to manage.
Resolving the Triggered Ability
When Tenured Oilcaster is declared as an attacker or a blocker, its triggered ability goes on the stack. When this ability resolves, each player mills one card (puts the top card of their library into their graveyard). This happens before combat damage is dealt, meaning if the milled card is the eighth card in an opponent's graveyard, the +3/+0 bonus will apply before damage calculation.
Common Strategic Mistakes
A common mistake is assuming the +3/+0 bonus requires every opponent to have eight cards in their graveyard in multiplayer games. In reality, the bonus applies if at least one opponent meets the criteria. Another mistake is forgetting that you also mill a card; be careful if your own library is low or if you are facing an opponent who benefits from having cards in their own graveyard.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Phyrexian' or 'Wizard' as it entered, Tenured Oilcaster's ability will trigger an additional time. When Tenured Oilcaster attacks, each player will mill two cards total (one for each trigger), helping you reach that eight-card threshold twice as fast.
Solemn SimulacrumIf your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum, they cannot block Tenured Oilcaster with it alone because of Menace. They would need a second creature to legally declare a block. If they do block with two creatures, Tenured Oilcaster's ability triggers, milling each player one card before any creatures deal damage or die.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Tenured Oilcaster
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Tenured Oilcaster's second ability will apply if any opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard, not necessarily all of them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Tenured Oilcaster
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.