Trigger Happy MTG Card


Deals with threats and draws a card, bolstering hand resources and disrupting opponent strategies. Boosts mana efficiency, triggering abilities and resource gains, advancing board position rapidly. Plays at instant speed to pivot game direction, offering tactical advantage without premature commitments.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Text of card

Choose a triggered ability of target permanent. It triggers. You control that ability.

Whenever you copy a triggered ability, you may do a little dance.


Cards like Trigger Happy

Discussing Trigger Happy within the pantheon of Magic: The Gathering cards, aficionados might draw parallels with spells like Shrapnel Blast and Fling. Both these cards function by sacrificing an asset for damage; however, Trigger Happy adds a nuanced twist to this formula. Spotlighting its unique ability to potentially chain multiple sacrifices in a single turn, Trigger Happy allows for an amplified strategy that Shrapnel Blast lacks.

Comparing further, Goblin Bombardment stands out as another similar card where continuous sacrifice for incremental damage is key. Although Goblin Bombardment enables multiple sacrifices without incurring additional costs per activation, Trigger Happy shines by offering a larger damage output per sacrifice. This can be a game-changer in situations where massive, swift damage is paramount. Finally, the likes of Collateral Damage also share the thematic link of sacrificial damage but Trigger Happy offers a reprintable action, which Collateral Damage cannot boast.

In summary, while each card has its distinct advantages and situational benefits, Trigger Happy holds a special place for players looking to build a deck around repeatable, scalable effects for outmaneuvering opponents in Magic: The Gathering.

Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Collateral Damage - MTG Card versions
Shrapnel Blast - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bombardment - MTG Card versions
Collateral Damage - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Trigger Happy by color, type and mana cost

Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Sudden Shock - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions
Release the Ants - MTG Card versions
Magma Jet - MTG Card versions
Seismic Shudder - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions
Shatter - MTG Card versions
Word of Blasting - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Guerrilla Tactics - MTG Card versions
Aleatory - MTG Card versions
Orcish Catapult - MTG Card versions
Blood Frenzy - MTG Card versions
Falter - MTG Card versions
Shattering Pulse - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Strike - MTG Card versions
Starstorm - MTG Card versions
First Volley - MTG Card versions
Surging Flame - MTG Card versions
Psychotic Fury - MTG Card versions
Sudden Shock - MTG Card versions
Fists of the Anvil - MTG Card versions
Release the Ants - MTG Card versions
Magma Jet - MTG Card versions
Seismic Shudder - MTG Card versions
Fling - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The capability to selectively deal with threats while drawing a card makes this a go-to option for decks looking to maintain hand resourcefulness while disrupting the opponent’s board state.

Resource Acceleration: It efficiently uses mana to trigger abilities or synergies that can result in gaining extra resources or advancing your board position quickly compared to other plays.

Instant Speed: Usable at the most opportune moments, it can be cast in response to an opponent’s actions, allowing for strategic plays that can pivot the direction of the game in your favor without committing resources prematurely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To activate its effect, Trigger Happy requires discarding a card, a potential setback when your hand is already depleted or when holding key cards for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost demanding red mana, Trigger Happy is inherently restricted to red-centric or multicolor decks, possibly excluding it from a wide array of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing in at a relatively steep mana investment for its triggered ability, there are alternative cards that might present more cost-effective or versatile options for inclusion in your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Trigger Happy shines due to its ability to seamlessly integrate into a plethora of deck types that thrive on instant-speed interaction. Whether it’s an aggressive build requiring swift removal, or a control setup looking for reactive play options, this card adjusts to meet various strategic demands.

Combo Potential: With Trigger Happy’s capacity to potentially untap permanents or create surprising card interactions, the opportunities to initiate or complete game-changing combos are numerous. It acts as an enabler, tying together pieces of a strategic puzzle many players eagerly exploit.

Meta-Relevance: Considering a game environment where combat tricks and surprise plays can tip the scales, Trigger Happy’s swift playstyle support keeps it relevant. Its influence on the battlefield can outpace opponents who aren’t equipped to handle instant-speed threats and tricks, making it a stalwart choice in ever-shifting metas.


How to beat

Confronting Trigger Happy in MTG requires strategic finesse, as this unique card can become a persistent threat when cast. Building a strategy against Trigger Happy begins with understanding the card’s mechanics – its ability to deal damage each time you activate a triggered ability. This constant damage can quickly derail an opponent’s game plan.

To mitigate the impact of Trigger Happy, consider incorporating instant-speed removal spells that can handle the threat before it accumulates value. Key options include Fatal Push or Path to Exile, both able to dispatch it efficiently. Another tactic is to rely on counter spells. By keeping mana open, spells like Counterspell or Mana Leak ensure Trigger Happy never touches the battlefield, negating its potential damage entirely.

Lastly, leveraging a deck that emphasizes non-triggered abilities can naturally circumvent Trigger Happy’s effects. Prioritizing static abilities, mana ramp, or straightforward creature combat can minimize the extent to which Trigger Happy impacts your games. Thus, while Trigger Happy may pose a formidable challenge, with the right preparation and response, it can be managed effectively.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Trigger Happy MTG card by a specific set like Unfinity and Unfinity, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Trigger Happy and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Trigger Happy Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-10-07 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Jamroz Gary.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-10-07UnfinityUNF 1252015NormalBlackJamroz Gary
22022-10-07UnfinityUNF 4112015NormalBlackJamroz Gary

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Trigger Happy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-10-07 Because you control the ability, you choose any targets it requires.
2022-10-07 If a triggered ability is triggered with this spell, you ignore its trigger event—typically all the text between “When”, “Whenever”, or “At” until the first comma—and only consider the remaining text in that ability. For example, Complains Clerk has “Whenever you roll a 1, create a 1/1 white Clown Robot artifactcreature token.” If you choose that ability, you ignore everything up to the first comma, ending up with “Create a 1/1 white Clown Robot artifact creature token.”
2022-10-07 Some triggered abilities have an “intervening if” clause—that is, they are written in the form of “When/Whenever/At
-rigger event], if
-ondition],
-ffect].” If you choose such an ability with Trigger Happy, you ignore the trigger event, and the ability will go on the stack even if the intervening if condition is not fulfilled, but the ability will still check the intervening if condition as the ability tries to resolve. If the condition is not fulfilled at that time, then the ability won’t resolve. For example, Tatyova, Steward of Tides has the ability “Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, if you control seven or more lands,
-ffect].” If you choose that ability, it will go on the stack regardless of how many lands you control. However, as the ability tries to resolve, if you don’t control seven or more lands, the ability fails to resolve and the effect doesn’t happen.
2022-10-07 The ability that triggered will think that it triggered at the normal time and for the normal reason. It may refer to attacking creatures you control, except it’s your opponent’s end step. It may be looking for a card in the graveyard after a dies trigger, but the creature is still sitting on the battlefield. It may be looking for the spell that caused it to trigger, but there was no spell. If the triggered ability can’t determine the information it needs, or if it can’t find the objects it expects to find in certain zones, those parts of the effect just do nothing.
2022-10-07 Triggered abilities are abilities that start with “When”, “Whenever”, or “At”, generally at the start of a paragraph on the permanent. You can’t choose reflexive or delayed triggered abilities; these are triggered abilities that occur in the middle of a paragraph, usually after some kind of action or choice.
2022-10-07 You can choose triggered abilities which are represented by keywords, such as exalted. Most of those keywords will have “When”, “Whenever”, or “At” in their reminder texts. The visit ability of an Attraction is a triggered ability, so you can choose it. However, the “Prize” section on an Attraction is not a triggered ability, so that can’t be chosen separately. Nevertheless, you’ll get the prize if you choose the visit ability on that Attraction and successfully claim the prize.
2022-10-07 You can use Trigger Happy to cause abilities to trigger at unusual times. Sometimes that will make sense and be great. Sometimes it won’t.