The Fifth Doctor 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
Peaceful Coexistence — At the beginning of your end step, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control that didn't attack or enter this turn. Untap those creatures.
Complete guide
The Fifth Doctor is a powerful engine for decks that prioritize defense or activated abilities. By rewarding creatures that stay home during the turn, he provides both growth and a second chance to use tap abilities. Let's look at how he turns patience into a tactical advantage.
What It Does
The Fifth Doctor features a triggered ability called Peaceful Coexistence that triggers at the beginning of your end step. It looks for creatures you control that meet two specific criteria: they must not have attacked during the current turn, and they must not have entered the battlefield during the current turn. For every creature that qualifies, you put a +1/+1 counter on it and then untap it.
How It Resolves Step by Step
When you reach your end step, the ability triggers and goes on the stack. Upon resolution, the game checks the history of the turn. First, it identifies which creatures did not attack. Second, it identifies which creatures were already on the battlefield before the turn began. If a creature satisfies both, you perform the actions in order: add the counter, then untap the creature. Note that The Fifth Doctor can target itself if it was on the battlefield at the start of the turn and did not attack.
Common Mistakes
A common point of confusion is how this interacts with Vigilance. Even if a creature with Vigilance does not tap to attack, it still counts as having 'attacked' if it was declared as an attacker, meaning it will not receive a counter. Additionally, remember that 'Time Lord' is a single creature type; when using effects that name a type, you must use the full two-word name.
When to Play It
This card shines in 'Tap-out' control strategies or decks with many activated abilities. By untapping your creatures at the end of your turn, you ensure you have blockers ready for your opponent's combat phase while slowly growing your board presence without having to risk your utility creatures in battle.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf Roaming Throne enters the battlefield and you choose 'Time Lord', The Fifth Doctor's ability will trigger twice during your end step. If Roaming Throne was already on the battlefield and did not attack, it will receive two +1/+1 counters and be untapped twice.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you cast Solemn Simulacrum during your main phase, it entered the battlefield this turn. During the end step, The Fifth Doctor's ability will check the Simulacrum, see that it entered this turn, and will not give it a counter or untap it. You must wait until your next turn's end step for the Simulacrum to qualify.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : The Fifth Doctor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Unlike other creature types in Magic that are each only one word, the two words "Time Lord" represent a single creature subtype. Time Lord is the only two-word creature type.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Neither "Time" nor "Lord" are creature types. Some older cards were printed with the subtype "Lord," but all of those cards have updated Oracle card text that removed that type.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to choose a creature type, you may choose Time Lord.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
The Fifth Doctor + Adric, Mathematical Genius
- 1At the beginning of your end step, The Fifth Doctor triggers.
- 2Holding priority, activate mana-producing creatures you control by tapping them, adding at least
. - 3Activate Adric's first ability by paying and tapping them, copying the Fifth Doctor's trigger.
- 4Resolve the copied triggered ability, untapping all creatures you control that didn't enter or attack this turn and putting a +1/+1 counter on each them.
- 5Repeat from 2.
The Fifth Doctor + Gogo, Master of Mimicry
- 1At the beginning of your end step, The Fifth Doctor triggers.
- 2Holding priority, activate any number of creatures you control by tapping them, adding at least .
- 3Activate Gogo by paying and tapping it, copying The Fifth Doctor's trigger.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Fifth Doctor's trigger, untapping all creatures you control that didn't enter or attack this turn and putting a +1/+1 counter on them.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with The Fifth Doctor
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.