Ticking Gnomes 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

Echo (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.) Sacrifice this creature: It deals 1 damage to any target.

Complete guide

Ticking Gnomes is a classic artifact creature that offers utility both as an attacker and a flexible piece of direct damage. Hailing from the Urza block, it forces players to choose between investing mana for longevity or cashing in the creature for immediate value.

Understanding Echo

The Echo keyword represents a delayed cost. When Ticking Gnomes enters the battlefield, you do not have to pay anything extra immediately. However, at the start of your next upkeep, a triggered ability goes on the stack. You must either pay its mana cost of {3} or sacrifice the Gnomes. Note that this trigger also occurs if you gained control of the creature from another player since your last upkeep.

Resolution Step by Step

First, the Echo ability triggers during your upkeep phase. While this trigger is on the stack, you have the opportunity to activate the sacrifice ability. If you choose to sacrifice the Ticking Gnomes to its own ability before the Echo trigger resolves, the damage will still be dealt, and the Echo trigger will simply fail to find the creature to sacrifice when it eventually resolves. If you choose to pay the Echo cost, the creature remains on the battlefield, and you can still sacrifice it later at any time you have priority.

Common Mistakes

A common error is thinking you must pay the Echo cost to use the damage ability. You can always choose not to pay and instead sacrifice the Gnomes in response to the Echo trigger to deal 1 damage. Another mistake involves timing; you cannot sacrifice the creature twice. Once it is sacrificed for its own ability, it is no longer on the battlefield to be sacrificed to the Echo trigger or any other effect.

Strategic Timing

Ticking Gnomes is best used as a reactive tool. Because it can sacrifice itself at any time, it is excellent for finishing off a weakened creature or dealing the final point of damage to a player. In decks that care about artifacts entering or leaving the graveyard, it serves as a self-enabling trigger that doesn't require extra mana to 'exit' the battlefield.

Interaction examples

Echo and Typing Synergy

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Gnome', the Echo ability of Ticking Gnomes will trigger twice during your upkeep. You would have to pay the Echo cost twice to keep it, or sacrifice it to the first trigger. However, the activated ability to deal 1 damage is not a triggered ability, so Roaming Throne does not cause the damage to happen twice.

Managing Your Board State

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control both Ticking Gnomes and Solemn Simulacrum, you have two different ways to interact with the graveyard. While Solemn Simulacrum provides a benefit when it dies naturally, Ticking Gnomes allows you to control exactly when it dies. You can use Ticking Gnomes to ping a small creature, potentially clearing the way for Solemn Simulacrum to attack safely.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.