Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble 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
, Tap an untapped creature you control: Transform this creature. This creature attacks each combat if able.
: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Town Gossipmonger is a low-cost white creature that can quickly transform into a dangerous threat by rallying its neighbors. This double-faced card rewards aggressive strategies but requires careful timing to ensure you do not leave yourself defenseless. Knowing how to leverage its transformation and forced attack clause is key to mastering this card.
Stirring the Mob
Town Gossipmonger starts as a 1/1 creature with an activated ability that costs one white mana and requires tapping itself and another untapped creature you control. Upon resolution, it transforms into Incited Rabble. It is important to note that while the 'other' creature can have summoning sickness, Town Gossipmonger must have been under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn to use its tap ability.
The Price of Incitement
Once transformed into Incited Rabble, the creature becomes a 2/3 and gains a mandatory attack requirement. If Incited Rabble is untapped during your declare attackers step, it must attack if able. However, if there is a cost associated with attacking—such as an opponent's effect requiring mana to be paid—you are not forced to pay that cost to satisfy the attack requirement. Additionally, it has a mana sink ability allowing you to boost its power for two mana.
Strategic Considerations
A common mistake is forgetting that transforming Town Gossipmonger does not untap it. If you activate the transformation ability during your turn, it will remain tapped and unable to attack until it is untapped during your next untap step. Because it must attack each combat if able, timing the transformation is crucial to ensure it survives its forced charges into enemy territory.
Interaction examples
Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble
Esper SentinelYou play Town Gossipmonger on turn one. On turn two, you play Esper Sentinel. Because Esper Sentinel is a creature you control, you can tap it to pay the cost of Town Gossipmonger's ability. Even though Esper Sentinel has summoning sickness, it can still be tapped for this cost. Town Gossipmonger transforms into Incited Rabble, but since it is now tapped, it cannot attack this turn.
Ornithopter of ParadiseIf you have an untapped Ornithopter of Paradise and an Incited Rabble, you must decide your mana usage carefully. Since Incited Rabble has an ability that costs two generic mana to give it +1/+0, you can tap the Ornithopter of Paradise for mana before moving to the declare attackers step. If you use the Ornithopter to pay for the buff, the Ornithopter is now tapped and cannot be used for other costs, but Incited Rabble still must attack because it is untapped and able.
Shadows Over Innistrad Checklist 1When playing with double-faced cards like Town Gossipmonger in a deck with transparent sleeves, you must use a substitute card like Shadows Over Innistrad Checklist 1. You mark the box next to Town Gossipmonger to represent it in your library and hand. You only bring the actual Town Gossipmonger card into the game once the checklist card is played onto the battlefield.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
You can tap any untapped creature you control, including one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the cost of Town Gossipmonger’s activated ability. You must have controlled Town Gossipmonger continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, however.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Incited Rabble’s controller still chooses which player, planeswalker, or battle it attacks.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If, during its controller’s declare attackers step, Incited Rabble is tapped or is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having Incited Rabble attack, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either. Note that transforming Town Gossipmonger won’t untap it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Town Gossipmonger // Incited Rabble
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.