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Nemesis Trap, art by Ryan Pancoast
Art by Ryan Pancoast · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · image via Scryfall
Selected printing · USD
$0.14
checked Jun 14, 2026 · Scryfall
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Nemesis Trap

{4}{B}{B} · Instant — Trap

If a white creature is attacking, you may pay {B}{B} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. Exile target attacking creature. Create a token that's a copy of that creature. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step.

Rulings (9)

Mar 1, 2010 · If the exiled creature has {X} in its mana cost (such as Protean Hydra), X is considered to be zero.

Mar 1, 2010 · If you cast Nemesis Trap for {B}{B}, you may still target any attacking creature, not just the white attacking creature.

Mar 1, 2010 · An "attacking creature" is one that has been declared as an attacker this combat, or one that was put onto the battlefield attacking this combat. Unless that creature leaves combat, it continues to be an attacking creature through the end of combat step, even if the player it was attacking has left the game, or the planeswalker it was attacking has left combat.

Mar 1, 2010 · Any "enters" abilities of the exiled creature will trigger when the token is put onto the battlefield. Any "as [this creature] enters" or "[this creature] enters with" abilities of the chosen creature will also work.

Mar 1, 2010 · The token you put onto the battlefield copies exactly what was printed on the exiled creature and nothing more (unless it was copying something else or it was a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether the exiled creature was tapped or untapped, whether it had any counters on it or Auras attached to it, or any non-copy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. For example, if Nemesis Trap targets an animated Celestial Colonnade, the token you put onto the battlefield will be a Celestial Colonnade that's just a land. (Because of this, Nemesis Trap has received minor errata to specify that you put a token, not a "creature token," onto the battlefield.)

Mar 1, 2010 · If the exiled creature was copying something else (for example, if it was a Jwari Shapeshifter), then your token enters as a copy of whatever the exiled creature was copying.

Mar 1, 2010 · If the exiled creature was a token, your token copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that put it onto the battlefield.

Mar 1, 2010 · If you cast Nemesis Trap during your opponent's declare attackers step, you'll put the token onto the battlefield before the declare blockers step begins and you can block with it this combat. If you cast Nemesis Trap later in the combat phase a, you won't be able to block with the token.

Mar 1, 2010 · If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time Nemesis Trap resolves, the entire spell doesn't resolve. You won't get a token.

LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
ModernLegal
PioneerNot legal
StandardNot legal
PauperNot legal
PremodernNot legal
cEDHLegal

Where it’s played now

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No qualifying decks played Nemesis Trap in the last 30 days. Tournament coverage starts Jun 1, 2026.
Data as of Jun 14, 2026 · MTGO + papercasthaven.com

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