Y'shtola Rhul — ruling 1

Abilities that trigger "at the beginning of [your/the] end step" will trigger at the beginning of each of your additional end steps as well.

Y'shtola Rhul — ruling 2

If a permanent with an ability that triggers "at the beginning of the end step" enters during your first end step, that ability won't trigger during that end step, but it will trigger during your second end step. Likewise, if a delayed triggered ability that triggers "at the beginning of the next end step" is created during your first end step, that ability will trigger during your second end step.

Y'shtola Rhul — ruling 3

If the target creature is an illegal target as Y'shtola Rhul's ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. There won't be an additional end step.

Y'shtola Rhul — ruling 4

Additional end steps don't come with any other additional steps (such as cleanup). Damage marked on permanents won't be removed until you actually get to the cleanup step (which will happen after your second end step), and "until end of turn" and "this turn" effects won't end until the cleanup step either.

Y'shtola Rhul : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Y'shtola Rhul 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

At the beginning of your end step, exile target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control. Then if it's the first end step of the turn, there is an additional end step after this step.

Complete guide

Y'shtola Rhul is a powerful legendary creature that manipulates the very flow of time in your final moments of the turn. By blinking your own creatures and creating extra end steps, she provides a way to double your triggers and protect your board. Mastering her timing is essential to maximizing the value of your most potent artifacts and creatures.

Blinking and Time Dilation

At the beginning of your end step, Y'shtola Rhul targets a creature you control to be exiled and returned. This 'blink' effect resets the creature, causing it to enter the battlefield as a new object. If this happens during the very first end step of the turn, she generates a second end step immediately following the current one, allowing for repeated effects.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When your end step begins, Y'shtola Rhul's ability goes on the stack. First, you choose a target creature you control. Upon resolution, that creature is exiled and immediately returns to the battlefield under its owner's control. The game then checks if this is the first end step of the turn; if it is, the additional end step is scheduled. Note that if the target creature is removed in response, the entire ability fails, and no extra end step is created.

Understanding the Cleanup Step

A common mistake is assuming that 'until end of turn' effects expire or damage is removed between the two end steps. This is not the case. The cleanup step, where damage is cleared and temporary buffs wear off, only occurs once per turn, after all end steps have concluded. Any ability that triggers 'at the beginning of the end step' will trigger twice: once in the first step and once in the second.

When to Play Y'shtola Rhul

You should play Y'shtola Rhul when you have high-impact 'Enter the Battlefield' abilities or other triggers that occur at the end of the turn. Since she costs six mana, ensure you have a board presence that benefits from being blinked, or use the second end step to double your resource generation before the cleanup phase begins.

Interaction examples

Double Kraken Protection

Hullbreaker Horror

If you have Hullbreaker Horror on the battlefield, you can target it with Y'shtola Rhul's ability. During your first end step, the Horror is exiled and returned. Because Y'shtola Rhul creates a second end step, the Horror will be back on the battlefield and ready to use its flash-cast triggers to bounce spells or permanents if you cast an instant during that second end step.

End Step Persistence

Psychosis Crawler

When Y'shtola Rhul blinks Psychosis Crawler, it leaves and returns as a new object. Its power and toughness will immediately update based on your current hand size. While the Crawler itself doesn't have an end-step trigger, the fact that Y'shtola Rhul creates an additional end step gives you an extra window to cast card-draw spells to trigger the Crawler's life-loss ability before the turn finally concludes.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Y'shtola Rhul

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Abilities that trigger "at the beginning of [your/the] end step" will trigger at the beginning of each of your additional end steps as well.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent with an ability that triggers "at the beginning of the end step" enters during your first end step, that ability won't trigger during that end step, but it will trigger during your second end step. Likewise, if a delayed triggered ability that triggers "at the beginning of the next end step" is created during your first end step, that ability will trigger during your second end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If the target creature is an illegal target as Y'shtola Rhul's ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. There won't be an additional end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4June 6, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Additional end steps don't come with any other additional steps (such as cleanup). Damage marked on permanents won't be removed until you actually get to the cleanup step (which will happen after your second end step), and "until end of turn" and "this turn" effects won't end until the cleanup step either.
No other card is named in this ruling.