Cohort

Cohort
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Cohort.png}}|70x70px]]
Ability Word
Introduced	Oath of the Gatewatch
Last used	Oath of the Gatewatch
Typical Text	Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: ...
Storm Scale	8
Statistics	9 cards 44.4% 33.3% 22.2%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Cohort"

Cohort is an ability word introduced in Oath of the Gatewatch and associated with Allies. The activated ability requires tapping the Ally creature and another Ally.

Description

The cost of each cohort ability (tapping itself and tapping another Ally) is always the same but the effects differ wildly. While the costs could include mana, none do so, and all Cohort abilities are on Ally creatures. Because the cost includes , the Ally that has the cohort ability has to have been under your control since your most recent turn began. It can't have "summoning sickness." But the other Ally, the "an untapped Ally you control," could be one you just cast.

Cohort was the lowest rated mechanic in the modern era, from the gameplay problems of being slow, weak and parasitic to the design problems of repetitiveness, narrowness and being game-slowing. The Storm Scale puts it at 8, avoiding a higher grade due to being hard to break and is creature-focused.

Rulings

• To activate a cohort ability, the Ally with that ability must have been under your control continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn. Informally, it can’t have “summoning sickness.” However, the other Ally you tap can be one that just came under your control. (Note that tapping the second Ally doesn’t use [the tap symbol].)

Examples

Example

Munda's Vanguard
Creature — Kor Knight Ally
3/3
Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.