BioplasmHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unpacking the Attack Trigger

When Bioplasm is declared as an attacker, its triggered ability goes on the stack. You must exile the top card of your library as part of the effect's resolution. If that card is a creature card, Bioplasm gains a power and toughness bonus equal to that card's stats. If the exiled card is a noncreature card, such as a land or an instant, the card remains in exile and Bioplasm receives no bonus.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you declare Bioplasm as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step. Second, the ability is placed on the stack; this is when players may respond with spells or abilities. Third, as the ability resolves, you exile the top card of your library. Finally, if it is a creature, Bioplasm's power and toughness are instantly updated. This happens before your opponent declares blockers, meaning they must decide how to block based on the new, potentially much larger, stats.

Understanding Characteristic-Defining Abilities

A common point of confusion involves creatures with asterisks (*) in their power and toughness boxes. According to official rulings, abilities that define a creature's power and toughness apply in all zones, including exile. If Bioplasm exiles a creature with a variable power (like one determined by the number of lands you control), Bioplasm will check that value at the moment the ability resolves to determine the bonus.

Strategic Timing

Because Bioplasm triggers 'whenever' it attacks, you can maximize its effectiveness by manipulating the top of your library before the combat phase. While the bonus lasts only until the end of the turn, the exiled card remains in exile permanently. This makes Bioplasm a high-risk, high-reward card that can end games quickly if it hits a high-power target.

Interaction examples

Boosting the Ooze

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Bioplasm and exile the top card of your library, which happens to be Solemn Simulacrum. Since Solemn Simulacrum is a creature card with 2 power and 2 toughness, Bioplasm gets +2/+2. Bioplasm becomes a 6/6 creature until the end of the turn.

Doubling the Consumption

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Ooze', Bioplasm's attack trigger will fire twice. When the first trigger resolves, you exile the top card; if it's a creature, Bioplasm gets a bonus. Then, the second trigger resolves, and you exile another card. If both exiled cards are creatures, Bioplasm receives the power and toughness bonuses from both cards simultaneously, potentially becoming an enormous threat.