Beastmaster AscensionHow it works & interactions with other cards

Building the Quest

Beastmaster Ascension tracks every time a creature you control attacks. For each creature you declare as an attacker during your combat phase, the first ability triggers individually. You can choose to put a quest counter on the enchantment for each of these triggers. Note that these triggers resolve before blockers are even declared, allowing you to build counters rapidly even if your creatures do not survive the combat.

The Ultimate Buff

The second ability is a static effect that checks how many quest counters are on Beastmaster Ascension. As soon as the seventh counter is placed, every creature you control immediately gets +5/+5. This effect does not use the stack and is active as long as the counter threshold is met. If a creature attacks and its trigger puts the seventh counter on the enchantment, that creature and all other attacking creatures will already have the +5/+5 bonus by the time they deal combat damage.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that you need to wait until the next turn to benefit from the power boost. Because the +5/+5 is a static ability, it applies the moment the seventh counter is placed, which usually happens during the Declare Attackers step. Also, remember that creatures 'put onto the battlefield attacking' (via certain effects) do not trigger Beastmaster Ascension because they were never declared as attackers.

When to Play It

You should play Beastmaster Ascension when you have a board presence of multiple creatures ready to strike. It is often best to hold it in your hand until you can attack with several creatures at once to surprise your opponent, potentially reaching all seven counters in a single combat phase.

Interaction examples

Trampling Through the Defense

Garruk's Uprising

If you have Beastmaster Ascension with seven counters, your small creatures gain +5/+5. With Garruk's Uprising on the battlefield, those creatures also gain trample. This combination ensures that the massive power boost from the Ascension is not simply blocked by a single 1/1 token, as the excess damage will carry over to your opponent.

Finding the Pieces

Sylvan Library

Sylvan Library allows you to dig deep into your deck during your draw step to find Beastmaster Ascension or the creatures needed to trigger it. Once you find the Ascension, the extra cards drawn from the Library can help you replenish your hand with low-cost creatures to quickly reach the seven-counter requirement.