Terashi's CryHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Terashi's Cry targets up to three creatures and taps them. As an Arcane spell, it carries the subtype that allows other Spirit or Arcane-related abilities to trigger, and it can be the base for Splice onto Arcane effects. Because it says 'up to three,' you can choose zero, one, two, or three targets when you cast it.

Resolution Step by Step

First, you cast the spell and choose your targets; these targets must be legal creatures currently on the battlefield. When the spell resolves, the chosen creatures that are still legal targets become tapped. If a target is already tapped, the spell still resolves, but that specific creature simply remains tapped.

Common Mistakes

A common error is forgetting that this is a Sorcery, meaning you cannot normally cast it during your opponent's turn to stop their attackers. You must use it during your main phase. Additionally, if all chosen targets become illegal before the spell resolves (for example, if they are sacrificed or gain Protection from White), the entire spell will fail to resolve.

When to Play It

The best time to cast Terashi's Cry is during your Precombat Main Phase. By tapping your opponent's best blockers before you declare attackers, you ensure your creatures can deal damage directly to the opponent or a planeswalker without being blocked.

Interaction examples

Clearing the Path

If your opponent has three large blockers standing in your way, you cast Terashi's Cry targeting all three. Once it resolves, they are tapped and unable to block, allowing your smaller creatures to attack freely.

The Sorcery Timing Limitation

Wrath of God

If you are facing a swarm of creatures, you might be tempted to tap them down. However, since Terashi's Cry is a sorcery, it cannot stop a Haste creature from attacking you on the opponent's turn. In such cases, using Wrath of God on your own turn to destroy them all is often a more effective use of your mana.

Graveyard Interactions

Sevinne's Reclamation

While Sevinne's Reclamation can return permanents with mana value 3 or less, Terashi's Cry has a mana value of 4 and is a sorcery, not a permanent. Therefore, you cannot use Sevinne's Reclamation to bring Terashi's Cry back to the battlefield; you must rely on other methods to recur your Arcane spells.