Lamentation

11/17/2025

Each token must attack the appropriate player if able.

11/17/2025

Encore is an activated ability that functions from the graveyard. "Encore [cost]" means "[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: For each opponent, create a token that's a copy of this card that attacks that opponent this turn if able. The tokens gain haste. Sacrifice them at the beginning of the next end step. Activate only as a sorcery."

11/17/2025

Exiling the card with encore is a cost to activate the encore ability. Once you announce that you're activating it, no player may take actions until you've finished. They can't try to remove the card from your graveyard to stop you from paying the cost.

11/17/2025

If an effect stops a token from attacking a specific player, that token can attack any player, planeswalker, or battle, or not attack at all. If the effect stops the token from attacking a specific player unless a cost is paid, you don't have to pay that cost unless you want to attack that player.

11/17/2025

If one of the tokens can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, you aren't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.

11/17/2025

If one of the tokens somehow is under another player's control as the delayed triggered ability resolves, you can't sacrifice that token. It remains on the battlefield indefinitely, even if you regain control of it later.

11/17/2025

If the target creature is an illegal target as Lamentation's first ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. You won't gain life.

11/17/2025

Opponents who have left the game aren't counted when determining how many tokens to create.

11/17/2025

The tokens copy only what's on the original card. Effects that modified that creature when it was previously on the battlefield won't be copied.