Trickster's TalismanHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Trickster's Talisman grants the equipped creature a modest +1/+1 power and toughness boost. More importantly, it grants an triggered ability called 'Invoke Duplicity.' When the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you have the option to sacrifice the Talisman to create a permanent token copy of that creature. This copy remains on the battlefield even after the Talisman is gone.

Resolving the Trigger Step by Step

First, the equipped creature must deal combat damage to a player; damage to planeswalkers or battles will not trigger the ability. Once the ability triggers and begins to resolve, you choose whether to sacrifice Trickster's Talisman. If you choose to sacrifice it, you then create a token that is a copy of the creature as it existed at the moment the ability resolved. If the creature has left the battlefield before the trigger resolves, you use its last known information to determine what the token looks like.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A critical detail involves control: according to official rulings, if you somehow lose control of the equipped creature but still control the Talisman, the creature's new controller cannot sacrifice the Talisman because they do not own or control the artifact. Additionally, remember that the sacrifice is part of the effect, not the cost. You only sacrifice the Talisman if you want the token, and if the Talisman is destroyed in response to the trigger, you cannot sacrifice it and therefore won't get a token.

When to Play It

This card shines when attached to creatures with 'Enters' abilities or those that are difficult to block. Since the token is a copy, it will trigger any 'when this creature enters the battlefield' abilities the original creature had. It is also an excellent way to duplicate utility creatures that provide mana or card draw once they have successfully poked through an opponent's defenses.

Interaction examples

Duplicating Utility Mana Rocks

Sol RingArcane Signet

While Trickster's Talisman normally equips to creatures, if you use an effect to turn your Sol Ring or Arcane Signet into a creature, you can equip the Talisman to them. Upon dealing combat damage, you can sacrifice the Talisman to create a non-creature token copy of the artifact, permanently doubling your mana acceleration.

Creating a Permanent Copy

Copy

If your equipped creature deals combat damage to an opponent, the Invoke Duplicity trigger goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you sacrifice the Talisman and use a Copy token to represent the new creature. This new token does not have the Talisman attached to it, but it retains all the base statistics and abilities of the original creature.