Cecil, Dark Knight // Cecil, Redeemed Paladin
Deathtouch Darkness — Whenever Cecil deals damage, you lose that much life. Then if your life total is less than or equal to half your starting life total, untap Cecil and transform it. // Lifelink Protect — Whenever Cecil attacks, other attacking creatures gain indestructible until end of turn.
Rulings (9)
Jun 6, 2025 · The mana value of a nonmodal double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up.
Jun 6, 2025 · Each face of a nonmodal double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a nonmodal double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored.
Jun 6, 2025 · A nonmodal double-faced card enters with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or allows you to cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up.
Jun 6, 2025 · In the Commander variant, a double-faced card's color identity is determined by the mana costs and mana symbols in the rules text of both faces combined. If either face has a color indicator or basic land type, those are also considered. For example, Cecil, Dark Knight's color identity is black and white, since its front face is black and its back face has a white color indicator.
Jun 6, 2025 · If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of Crystal Fragments, it will be exiled during the resolution of its second ability and remain in exile.
Jun 6, 2025 · Each nonmodal double-faced card in this release is cast face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored.
Jun 6, 2025 · A token that is created as a copy of a double-faced permanent or a double-faced card in another zone is a double-faced token. It will have both the front face and back face of whatever object it's copying. If it's copying a double-faced permanent whose back face is up, the token will enter with its back face up. It can transform if instructed to do so.
Jun 6, 2025 · If Cecil, Dark Knight is dealt lethal damage at the same time it deals damage (probably because it blocked or became blocked), its last ability will still trigger. You'll still lose life, but you won't untap or transform Cecil, Dark Knight because it won't be on the battlefield anymore.
Jun 6, 2025 · The back face of a nonmodal double-faced card usually has a color indicator that defines its color.
Where it’s played now
Inclusion by archetype
| Archetype | Format | Inclusion | Copies | Decks (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orzhov Midrange | Standard | 100% | 1× | 1 |
| Mardu Discard | Standard | 80% | 1–2× | 45 |
| Dimir Midrange | Standard | 50% | 2× | 8 |
| 4-Color Energy | Modern | 33.3% | 2× | 3 |
| Rakdos Shadow | Modern | 28.6% | 2× | 7 |