Witty Demon 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
Flying When Witty Demon enters, if your starting library had at least 13 cards over the minimum, search your library for a card and put that card into your hand, then shuffle your library. Otherwise, Witty Demon deals 4 damage to you.
Complete guide
Witty Demon is a powerful black creature that rewards players who choose to build larger-than-standard decks. It provides a significant strategic choice: trade deck consistency for a powerful search effect or accept a life-tax for an efficient flyer. Mastering this Demon requires careful attention to your deck construction before the game even begins.
Understanding the Entry Trigger
When Witty Demon enters the battlefield, its ability checks a specific condition: did your starting library have at least 13 cards over the minimum deck size? In standard Constructed play, the minimum is 60 cards, so you would need at least 73 cards. In Limited formats like Draft or Sealed, where the minimum is 40, you would need at least 53 cards. If you meet this requirement, it acts as a tutor; if you do not, it deals 4 damage to you.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, the ability triggers and is put on the stack. Upon resolution, the game checks the 'starting library' size. This includes all cards in your deck when the game began, even those that started in other zones like the Command Zone or outside the library via specific mechanics. If the count is 13+ over the minimum, you search your library for any card, put it in your hand, and shuffle. If the count is lower, the search is skipped entirely and you lose 4 life.
Common Mistakes
A common error is forgetting that 'starting library' refers to your initial deck list, not how many cards are currently in your library when the Demon enters. Effects that mill cards or draw cards do not change whether the condition is met. Additionally, if the Demon's ability is copied, the condition is checked for each instance. If you have 60 cards in a Constructed deck, you will take 4 damage for every trigger that resolves.
When to Play Witty Demon
Witty Demon is best utilized in 'Battle of Wits' style decks or Commander where deck sizes are naturally larger. In a standard 60-card deck, it functions as an aggressive 3/3 flyer for three mana, provided you can afford the 4 damage. In a 73+ card deck, it becomes one of the most efficient tutors in the game, allowing you to find silver bullets or combo pieces while putting a threat on the board.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne with 'Demon' chosen as the creature type, Witty Demon's ability will trigger twice. If your deck started with 73 cards (in a 60-card format), you will search your library for two cards. If your deck started with only 60 cards, you will be dealt a total of 8 damage (4 from each trigger).
Solemn SimulacrumIf you have both creatures enter the battlefield at the same time, you can choose the order of the triggers. If your deck is large enough, you might choose to resolve Solemn Simulacrum's trigger first to pull a basic land out of the deck, thinning it slightly before using Witty Demon's ability to search for a high-impact non-land card.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Witty Demon
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The minimum deck size is normally 40 cards in a Limited event and 60 cards in a Constructed event.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
“Starting library” should be interpreted as “starting deck,” including cards that started the game in a zone other than your library (such as Buried Ogre or Memory Bank).
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Witty Demon
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