Bessie, the Doctor's RoadsterHow it works & interactions with other cards

Speed and Evasion

Bessie, the Doctor's Roadster has Haste, meaning it can be crewed and attack the same turn it enters the battlefield. Its primary utility is its triggered ability: whenever it attacks, you choose another target legendary creature, and that creature gains a 'can't be blocked' status for the remainder of the turn. Note that Bessie itself does not become unblockable from this ability, and it requires another legendary friend to be on the board to target.

How to Resolve the Attack

First, you must activate the Crew 2 ability by tapping creatures with total power 2 or more. Once Bessie is an artifact creature, you declare it as an attacker during your combat phase. This triggers its ability. You must choose a legal target—another legendary creature—at the moment the ability is put on the stack. If the target is legal as the ability resolves, that creature cannot be blocked for the rest of the turn, even if Bessie is later removed from combat.

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is trying to target Bessie with its own ability; the text specifically states 'another' target legendary creature. Additionally, remember that Crewing is an action you must take before the Declare Attackers step. If you move to combat and your opponent passes priority, you must crew Bessie before you actually declare it as an attacker to get the trigger. Finally, if the targeted legendary creature loses its 'Legendary' supertype after the ability resolves, it remains unblockable because the restriction only applies during targeting.

When to Play Bessie

Bessie is best utilized in decks with high-impact legendary creatures that have 'on combat damage' triggers. Since Bessie costs only two mana, it can be deployed early. Using artifacts like Sol Ring to accelerate into Bessie and a crew member allows you to start pressuring opponents as early as turn two. It is a fantastic way to ensure your Commander connects with an opponent regardless of their board state.

Interaction examples

Fast Starts with Acceleration

Sol Ring

On turn one, you play a land and Sol Ring. You use the two colorless mana from Sol Ring to cast Bessie, the Doctor's Roadster. Because Bessie has Haste, if you have a way to provide a creature with power 2 or more on turn two, Bessie can immediately begin attacking and granting unblockability to your legendary creatures.

Fixing and Crewing

Arcane Signet

Arcane Signet helps you fix your colors to cast other legendary creatures that Bessie wants to protect. If you cast a legendary creature with 2 power, that creature can immediately tap to Crew Bessie. When Bessie attacks, you can target that same legendary creature (provided it isn't 'summoning sick' or has its own way to attack) to ensure it gets through for damage later if you have multiple combat phases or similar effects.