Sneak

Keywords · advanced

Sneak is an alternative cost that lets you cast a spell during your declare blockers step by returning an unblocked attacker to hand.

How it works

• Sneak [cost] means that any time you could cast an instant during your declare blockers step, you may cast the spell by paying that cost and returning an unblocked creature you control to its owner's hand, instead of paying its mana cost.
• If the spell becomes a permanent, it enters the battlefield tapped and attacking. It attacks the same player, planeswalker, or battle that the returned creature was attacking.

Rules notes

• Sneak can only be used during your declare blockers step, not at any other time you could normally cast an instant.
• The creature you return must be unblocked. A blocked attacker can't be bounced to pay a sneak cost.
• Some cards check whether their sneak cost was paid and grant a bonus only then, such as entering with bonus counters, pumping your team, or making created tokens enter tapped and attacking.

Rule reference

[702.190]