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Ancient Animus

Ancient Animus

Instant

common

Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control if it's legendary. Then it fights target creature an opponent controls. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)

$0.20 ✦ $0.30View on Scryfall →

Semantic Tags

Cares about +1/+1 counters — places, moves, doubles, or benefits from counters on creatures.

Power Mattersmechanical

Cares about power of creatures — Fling effects, power-based draw, Xenagos strategies.

Format Legality

commanderlegal
oathbreakerlegal
modernlegal
pioneerlegal
standardnot legal
legacylegal
vintagelegal
pauperlegal
historiclegal
explorernot legal
alchemynot legal

Price history

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Printings (2)

SetRarityTCGplayerCard KingdomCardmarket
Commander Legends#215common···
Dominaria#154common···

Related Concepts

Fight

When two creatures fight, each deals damage equal to its power to the other. See rule 701.14, “Fight.”

Related Rules

701.14

Fight

701.14a

A spell or ability may instruct a creature to fight another creature or it may instruct two creatures to fight each other. Each of those creatures deals damage equal to its power to the other creature.

701.14b

If one or both creatures instructed to fight are no longer on the battlefield or are no longer creatures, neither of them fights or deals damage. If one or both creatures are illegal targets for a resolving spell or ability that instructs them to fight, neither of them fights or deals damage.

Rulings

2020-11-10

If the creature you control is an illegal target as Ancient Animus tries to resolve, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on it. If that creature is a legal target but the creature you don't control isn't, you'll still put the counter on the creature you control if it's legendary.

2020-11-10

If either target is an illegal target as Ancient Animus tries to resolve, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage.

2020-11-10

You can't cast Ancient Animus unless you choose both a creature you control and a creature you don't control as targets.

2020-11-10

The creature you control doesn't have to be legendary. It simply won't receive a +1/+1 counter before it fights if it isn't legendary.