Boros MastiffHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Boros Mastiff features the Battalion ability, which triggers whenever it and at least two other creatures are declared as attackers during the Declare Attackers step. When this condition is met, the Mastiff gains lifelink until the end of the turn. This means any damage it deals—whether to a player, a planeswalker, a battle, or a blocking creature—will result in you gaining that much life simultaneously.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you must declare Boros Mastiff and at least two other creatures as attackers at the same time. Once they are declared, the Battalion ability triggers and is put onto the stack. If your opponents have no responses, the ability resolves, granting the Mastiff lifelink. Crucially, once the ability has triggered, it does not matter if the other attacking creatures are removed from combat or destroyed before the ability resolves; the Mastiff will still gain lifelink.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming all three creatures must attack the same target. In reality, you can send Boros Mastiff at your opponent and the other two creatures at a planeswalker or battle, and the ability will still trigger. Also, remember that Battalion only checks the number of attackers at the moment they are declared. If you put a creature onto the battlefield 'tapped and attacking' via another effect, that creature was never declared as an attacker and won't help trigger the Mastiff's ability.

When to Play It

Boros Mastiff is best utilized in aggressive 'Go-Wide' strategies where you can consistently field three or more creatures. It is particularly effective when you need to stabilize your life total against other aggressive decks without stopping your own offensive momentum.

Interaction examples

Forming the Battalion

Esper SentinelOrnithopter of Paradise

You control Boros Mastiff, Esper Sentinel, and Ornithopter of Paradise. When you move to combat and declare all three as attackers, the Battalion condition is met. The Mastiff's ability triggers, and upon resolution, it gains lifelink for the duration of the turn.

Survival of the Ability

Esper SentinelOrnithopter of Paradise

You attack with all three creatures. Your opponent casts a spell to destroy Esper Sentinel in response to the Battalion trigger. Because the trigger is already on the stack, it will still resolve. Even though only two creatures remain attacking, Boros Mastiff successfully gains lifelink.

Splitting the Targets

Esper SentinelOrnithopter of Paradise

You declare Boros Mastiff attacking an opponent, Esper Sentinel attacking a planeswalker, and Ornithopter of Paradise attacking a battle. Despite having three different targets, the Battalion trigger still occurs because three creatures were declared as attackers simultaneously.