Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu (Commander Ninjutsu)
Keyword Ability
Type	Activated
Introduced	Betrayers of Kamigawa
Last used	Commander 2018
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 cards 50% 40% 10%
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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.

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.

Commander ninjutsu

Commander ninjutsu is a variant of ninjutsu which allows the Ninja to be in your command zone or your hand.

Rules

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.