---
name: "Instigator"
mana_cost: "{1}{B}"
cmc: 2
type_line: "Creature — Human Spellshaper"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "MMQ"
set_name: "Mercadian Masques"
collector_number: "140"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Fred Fields"
oracle_id: "0fe1a1f7-41c9-415e-a5e3-b5ba0c0271e5"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/instigator-mmq"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Instigator
- **Mana Cost:** `{1}{B}` (CMC: 2)
- **Type:** Creature — Human Spellshaper
- **Power/Toughness:** 1/1

## Oracle Text
{1}{B}{B}, {T}, Discard a card: Creatures target player controls attack this turn if able.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Cackling Witch](/printing/cackling-witch-plst.md) — Creature — Human Spellshaper
2. [Cult Guildmage](/printing/cult-guildmage-rna.md) — Creature — Human Shaman
3. [Courtly Provocateur](/printing/courtly-provocateur-m13.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
4. [Bog Witch](/printing/bog-witch-mmq.md) — Creature — Human Spellshaper
5. [Cinderhaze Wretch](/printing/cinderhaze-wretch-shm.md) — Creature — Elemental Shaman
6. [Ridged Kusite](/printing/ridged-kusite-plc.md) — Creature — Horror Spellshaper

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Mercadian Masques (MMQ) #140
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Fred Fields
- **Total Printings:** 8 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`