Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu (Commander Ninjutsu)
Keyword Ability
Type	Activated
Introduced	Betrayers of Kamigawa
Last used	Modern Horizons
Reminder Text	Ninjutsu [cost] (Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Commander ninjutsu [cost] (Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand or the command zone tapped and attacking.)
Statistics	10 ninjutsu cards 50% 40% 10% 1 commander ninjutsu card 100%
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keyword:"Ninjutsu" keyword:"Commander ninjutsu"

For the theme deck see: Ninjutsu (deck)

Ninjutsu is a keyword ability designed by Mark Rosewater that was introduced in Betrayers of Kamigawa. It is exclusive to Ninjas.

Description

Ninjutsu represents the stealth of the Ninjas by allowing a creature that attacks and isn't blocked to be exchanged with a Ninja in the controlling player's hand, such that the Ninja is attacking and unblocked instead of the original creature, which is returned to the controller's hand. With the release of Worldwake and the card Amulet of Vigor, one can put a ninja into play tapped and attacking, but have that creature untap as soon as it enters play.

History

The keyword had only appeared in Betrayers of Kamigawa, and exclusively on black or blue Ninja cards, until it returned on some cards in the Night of the Ninja deck of Planechase 2012. Later, it reappeared in Modern Horizons.

Commander ninjutsu

Commander ninjutsu is a variant of ninjutsu which allows the Ninja to be in your command zone or your hand. This was featured on Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow in Commander 2018.

Disguise

A variant called Disguise was considered as the Dimir mechanic for Guilds of Ravnica. In this variant, the creature with disguise swaps with the attacking creature, meaning that anything connected to it (enchantments enchanting it, equipment equipped to it, counters on it, etc.) are still attached to the new creature as it was treated as the same object.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Ninjutsu

A keyword ability that lets a creature suddenly enter combat. See rule 702.49, “Ninjutsu.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 702.49. Ninjutsu
  • 702.49a Ninjutsu is an activated ability that functions only while the card with ninjutsu is in a player’s hand. “Ninjutsu [cost]” means “[Cost], Reveal this card from your hand, Return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner’s hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.”
  • 702.49b The card with ninjutsu remains revealed from the time the ability is announced until the ability leaves the stack.
  • 702.49c A ninjutsu ability may be activated only while a creature on the battlefield is unblocked (see rule 509.1h). The creature with ninjutsu is put onto the battlefield unblocked. It will be attacking the same player, planeswalker, or battle as the creature that was returned to its owner’s hand.
  • 702.49d Commander ninjutsu is a variant of the ninjutsu ability that also functions while the card with commander ninjutsu is in the command zone. “Commander ninjutsu [cost]” means “[Cost], Reveal this card from your hand or from the command zone, Return an unblocked attacking creature you control to its owner’s hand: Put this card onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.”

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Commander Ninjutsu

A variant of the ninjutsu ability. See rule 702.49, “Ninjutsu.”

Rulings

• The ninjutsu ability can be activated during the declare blockers, combat damage, or end of combat steps if you have an unblocked attacking creature.
• Activating the ninjutsu ability during the declare blockers step allows the Ninja to deal combat damage. Using ninjutsu during the combat damage or end of combat steps will mean the unblocked attacking creature is dealing combat damage.
• The Ninja will be attacking the same player or planeswalker the original attacking creature was attacking. This is a rule specific to ninjutsu; in other cases, the controller of a creature put onto the battlefield attacking chooses which player or planeswalker it attacks.
• Although the Ninja is attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
• The Ninja should be revealed while announcing the ability, but it doesn't leave your hand until the ability resolves.

Examples

Example 1

Ninja of the Deep Hours
Creature — Human Ninja
2/2
Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever Ninja of the Deep Hours deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.

Example 2

Okiba-Gang Shinobi
Creature — Rat Ninja
3/2
Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever Okiba-Gang Shinobi deals combat damage to a player, that player discards two cards.