Sly Instigator

Public decks that run Sly Instigator

• Draconic Dissent - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, led by Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
• Prismari Performance - Commander 2021, led by Zaffai, Thunder Conductor

Commanders that run Sly Instigator most

Deck counts from EDHREC.

• Firkraag, Cunning Instigator: 1,749 decks
• Jon Irenicus, Shattered One: 1,251 decks
• Red Death, Shipwrecker: 993 decks
• Karona, False God: 704 decks
• The Rani: 650 decks
• Garland, Royal Kidnapper: 399 decks
• Maeve, Insidious Singer: 332 decks
• Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist: 200 decks

Often played with Sly Instigator

Cards that show up in the same decks on EDHREC.

• Maeve, Insidious Singer
• Death Kiss
• Frenzied Gorespawn
• Predatory Impetus
• Tahngarth, First Mate
• Warmonger Hellkite
• Renegade Silent
• Coronation of Chaos
• Taunting Kobold
• Goblin Spymaster

Rulings

• 2021-04-16: If you leave the game, any creatures you've goaded remain goaded until your next turn would have begun. They don't immediately stop being goaded and don't remain goaded indefinitely.
• 2021-04-16: Once a creature an opponent controls has been legally blocked, activating Sly Instigator's ability won't change or undo that block.
• 2023-06-30: If, during a player's declare attackers step, a creature that player controls that's been goaded is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't attack, or hasn't been under that player's control continuously since the turn began (and doesn't have haste), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack a player, its controller isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack that player.
• 2023-06-30: If the creature doesn't meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than the controller of the spell or ability that goaded it if able. If the creature can't attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack a planeswalker an opponent controls, a battle an opponent controls, or a player who goaded it.
• 2023-06-30: Attacking with a goaded creature doesn't cause it to stop being goaded. If there is an additional combat phase that turn, or if another player gains control of it before it stops being goaded, it must attack again if able.
• 2023-06-30: If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents that hasn't goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, the creature must attack an opponent (rather than a planeswalker or battle), but you choose which opponent it attacks.
• 2023-06-30: Being goaded isn't an ability the creature has. Once it's been goaded, it must attack as detailed above even if it loses all abilities.