Sly Instigator

three generic mana one blue mana Creature — Human WizardPower and toughness2/4

one blue mana , tap this permanent : Until your next turn, target creature an opponent controls can't be blocked. Goad that creature. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)

"Me? I'm just an innocent bystander!"

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Showing Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate#736

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0.39 $

27 printings · up to 0.54 $

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Sly Instigator rulings

2023-06-30
If the creature doesn't meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than the controller of the spell or ability that goaded it if able. If the creature can't attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack a planeswalker an opponent controls, a battle an opponent controls, or a player who goaded it.
2023-06-30
Attacking with a goaded creature doesn't cause it to stop being goaded. If there is an additional combat phase that turn, or if another player gains control of it before it stops being goaded, it must attack again if able.
2023-06-30
If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents that hasn't goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, the creature must attack an opponent (rather than a planeswalker or battle), but you choose which opponent it attacks.
2023-06-30
If, during a player's declare attackers step, a creature that player controls that's been goaded is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't attack, or hasn't been under that player's control continuously since the turn began (and doesn't have haste), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack a player, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack that player.
2023-06-30
Being goaded isn't an ability the creature has. Once it's been goaded, it must attack as detailed above even if it loses all abilities.
2021-04-16
If you leave the game, any creatures you've goaded remain goaded until your next turn would have begun. They don't immediately stop being goaded and don't remain goaded indefinitely.
2021-04-16
Once a creature an opponent controls has been legally blocked, activating Sly Instigator's ability won't change or undo that block.

Sly Instigator keyword rules

Goad Rule 701.38

Certain spells and abilities can goad a creature. Until the next turn of the controller of that spell or ability, that creature is goaded.

Goaded is a designation a permanent can have. A goaded creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than the controller of the permanent, spell, or ability that caused it to be goaded if able. Goaded is neither an ability nor part of the permanent’s copiable values.

A creature can be goaded by multiple players. Doing so creates additional combat requirements.

Once a player has goaded a creature, the same player goading it again has no effect. Doing so doesn’t create additional combat requirements.