Treacherous Pit-DwellerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it does

Treacherous Pit-Dweller features two distinct abilities that work in tandem. First, it has Undying, which returns it to the battlefield from the graveyard with a +1/1 counter if it had no counters when it died. Second, it has a triggered ability that triggers whenever it enters the battlefield from a graveyard, forcing you to give control of the Demon to a target opponent.

How it resolves step by step

When Treacherous Pit-Dweller dies without a +1/+1 counter, the Undying ability triggers. As the Undying trigger resolves, the creature returns to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter. Immediately upon entering, its second ability triggers because it entered from the graveyard. You must choose a target opponent, and once that ability resolves, that opponent gains control of the now 5/4 Demon indefinitely.

Common mistakes

A common mistake is thinking you can keep the creature if you are the one who brought it back. The 'enters from a graveyard' clause applies regardless of how it got there—whether through its own Undying ability, a Reanimate spell, or any other effect. Another error is forgetting that the +1/+1 counter remains on the creature when the opponent takes control; they get the buffed version, not the base 4/3.

When to play it

This card is best used in aggressive decks that plan to win before the creature dies, or in decks that can capitalize on the 'enters the battlefield' or 'dies' triggers of other cards. Alternatively, you can use cards that prevent triggers or sacrifice the Demon in response to the control-change trigger to ensure your opponent never actually gets to use it.

Interaction examples

Undying and Control Shift

If your Treacherous Pit-Dweller is destroyed by a spell, Undying triggers because it had no counters. It returns to the battlefield under your control as a 5/4. However, its second ability then triggers. You must target an opponent, and they gain control of the 5/4 Demon.

Squeezing Value from Death

Blood Artist

With Blood Artist on the battlefield, when Treacherous Pit-Dweller dies, Blood Artist triggers, draining your opponent for 1 life. The Demon then returns via Undying. Even though an opponent will eventually gain control of the Demon, you still get the life drain benefit from the initial death.

Combat Trades

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you attack with Treacherous Pit-Dweller and your opponent blocks with Ornithopter of Paradise, the Ornithopter is destroyed. If the Demon also takes lethal damage and dies, it will return to the battlefield under your control with a +1/+1 counter, but you must then give it to your opponent due to its enter-the-battlefield trigger.