Toph, Greatest Earthbender 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
When Toph enters, earthbend X, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast her. Land creatures you control have double strike.
Complete guide
Toph, Greatest Earthbender is a powerhouse commander that brings the terrain itself to life. By transforming your lands into formidable warriors, she turns your mana base into a double-striking army that returns to the battlefield even after being defeated.
What It Does
Toph features the 'earthbend' keyword, which animates a target land you control into a 0/0 creature with haste. The number of +1/+1 counters it receives depends on the mana spent to cast Toph, usually four. Furthermore, she grants all land creatures you control double strike, making your animated lands twice as dangerous in combat.
How It Resolves Step by Step
When Toph enters the battlefield, her earthbend ability triggers. First, you choose a target land you control. As the ability resolves, that land becomes a 0/0 land creature with haste and receives X +1/+1 counters, where X is the mana spent to cast Toph. Finally, a delayed triggered ability is created: if that specific land creature dies or is exiled, it is returned to the battlefield tapped under your control.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that earthbend gives the land a color; however, unless the land was already colored, it remains colorless. Also, remember that the 'return to battlefield' trigger only applies if the land dies or is exiled. If the land is returned to your hand or tucked into your library, it will not return to the battlefield via Toph's ability.
When to Play It
Toph is best played when you have stable mana and a land ready to attack. Since the land gains haste, you can immediately use it to pressure opponents. Because she checks mana spent, Toph becomes even more effective in the late game if she is cast from the command zone with a commander tax, resulting in a larger creature.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumAfter you use Solemn Simulacrum to put a basic land onto the battlefield, you can cast Toph and earthbend that land. If your opponent destroys that land creature, Toph's ability ensures the land returns to the battlefield tapped, effectively ramping you while keeping your resources safe.
Eternal WitnessIf Toph is in your graveyard, you can use Eternal Witness to bring her back to your hand. When you recast Toph, you can earthbend a new land or even target a land that was previously earthbended. If you target the same land, it becomes a 0/0 again and receives a fresh set of +1/+1 counters on top of any it already had.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Toph, Greatest Earthbender
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Earthbend doesn't give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted land becomes an illegal target before the spell or ability that includes earthbend resolves, earthbend does nothing. If the spell or ability didn't have other targets, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a land was animated by earthbend and would go to any zone other than the graveyard or exile, it will not be returned to the battlefield by the delayed triggered ability created by earthbend.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
"Earthbend N" means "Target land you control becomes a 0/0 land creature with haste in addition to its other types. Put N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped under your control."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
You may target a land that is already a creature, perhaps because of a previous earthbend ability. The land will get the +1/+1 counters, gain haste, and have its base power and toughness set to 0/0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that's turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for
.No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Felidar Guardian
- 1Cast Felidar Guardian by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Felidar Guardian enters, it triggers, blinking Toph.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Felidar Guardian as it's a land due to Ashaya.
- 4Since zero mana was spent to cast Toph, Felidar Guardian becomes a 0/0 creature and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness.
- 5Toph triggers, returning Felidar Guardian from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Ashaya, Soul of the Wild + Restoration Angel
- 1Cast Restoration Angel by paying its mana cost.
- 2When Restoration Angel enters, it triggers, blinking Toph.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Restoration Angel as it's a land due to Ashaya.
- 4Since zero mana was spent to cast Toph, Restoration Angel becomes a 0/0 creature and dies as a state-based action due to having 0 toughness.
- 5Toph triggers, returning Restoration Angel from your graveyard to the battlefield.
- 6Repeat from step 2.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Goblin Bombardment
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying
plus commander tax if applicable. - 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Solid Ground.
- 4Activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Solid Ground.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Resolve the Goblin Bombardment ability.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Goblin Bombardment
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying plus commander tax if applicable.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Branching Evolution.
- 4Activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Branching Evolution.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Resolve the Goblin Bombardment ability.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Goblin Bombardment
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying plus commander tax if applicable.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Hardened Scales.
- 4Activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Hardened Scales.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Resolve the Goblin Bombardment ability.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Goblin Bombardment
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying plus commander tax if applicable.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Loading Zone.
- 4Activate Goblin Bombardment by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Loading Zone.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Resolve the Goblin Bombardment ability.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Kami of Whispered Hopes
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying plus commander tax if applicable.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Kami of Whispered Hopes.
- 4Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Kami of Whispered Hopes.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Toph. Choose to return Toph from your graveyard to the command zone.
Toph, Greatest Earthbender + Power Depot + Crystalline Crawler + Altar of Dementia
- 1Play Power Depot, which will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 2Cast Toph either from your hand or from the command zone by paying plus commander tax if applicable.
- 3When Toph enters, it triggers, earthbending Power Depot and putting a number of +1/+1 counters on Power Depot equal to the mana spent to cast Toph, increased by Branching Evolution.
- 4Activate Altar of Dementia by sacrificing Power Depot.
- 5When Power Depot dies, its modular ability and Toph trigger.
- 6Resolve the modular trigger, putting the +1/+1 counters that were on Power Depot onto Crystalline Crawler, increased by Branching Evolution.
- 7Resolve the Toph trigger, returning Power Depot from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Power Depot will enter with a +1/+1 counter on it due to its modular ability
- 8Resolve the Altar of Dementia ability.
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