Thieves' Guild EnforcerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Thieves' Guild Enforcer has three main components: Flash, a triggered ability that mills opponents, and a static ability that buffs itself. The Flash keyword allows you to cast it at any time you could cast an instant, providing tactical flexibility. The milling trigger happens whenever it or any other Rogue you control enters the battlefield, forcing each opponent to put the top two cards of their library into their graveyard. Finally, it gains +2/+1 and deathtouch as soon as any one opponent has eight or more cards in their graveyard.

Resolution Step by Step

When Thieves' Guild Enforcer or another Rogue enters the battlefield, its ability is put onto the stack. When this ability resolves, each opponent mills two cards. After the ability resolves, the game state is checked: if any opponent now has eight or more cards in their graveyard, the Enforcer's static ability immediately applies, granting it the +2/+1 bonus and deathtouch without using the stack.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that the Enforcer scales its power based on the number of opponents with full graveyards; however, it only gets +2/+1 once, even if multiple opponents meet the criteria. Additionally, timing is crucial for deathtouch. If the Enforcer deals damage and an opponent reaches eight cards in their graveyard simultaneously (for example, due to a death trigger), the Enforcer did not have deathtouch at the moment the damage was dealt, so the damage is not considered lethal via deathtouch rules.

When to Play It

Because of Flash, this card is excellent to hold up during an opponent's turn. You can cast it after attackers are declared to surprise an opponent with a blocker, or at the end of their turn to trigger mill and set up your next offensive. It is most effective when paired with other Rogues to maximize the number of cards sent to the graveyard early in the game.

Interaction examples

Enforcer in Combat

Ornithopter of Paradise

Your opponent attacks you with Ornithopter of Paradise. You cast Thieves' Guild Enforcer during the declare attackers step. It enters, triggering its mill ability. If this mill results in your opponent having eight cards in their graveyard, the Enforcer becomes a 3/2 with deathtouch immediately. You can then declare it as a blocker, and since it has deathtouch, it will destroy the Ornithopter of Paradise regardless of its toughness.

The Timing of Deathtouch

Blood Artist

Suppose your opponent has seven cards in their graveyard and you block their creature with your Blood Artist while your Thieves' Guild Enforcer is on the field. The Blood Artist and the enemy creature die. Blood Artist's trigger goes on the stack and eventually resolves, dealing the final point of damage to a player or causing a discard that puts an eighth card in the opponent's graveyard. If the Enforcer dealt combat damage at the same time the Blood Artist died, the Enforcer did not have deathtouch at that moment, so its damage was normal damage.