Burnout Bashtronaut is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Menace Start your engines! (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life. Max speed is 4.): This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Max speed — This creature has double strike.
Complete guide
Burnout Bashtronaut is a high-octane red creature that rewards aggressive playstyles by introducing the speed mechanic to your game. As you damage your opponents, your speed increases, transforming this humble Goblin into a terrifying double-striking threat.
Understanding Speed Mechanics
When you play Burnout Bashtronaut, you immediately 'Start your engines!' If you currently have no speed, your speed becomes 1 as a state-based action. From that point forward, whenever an opponent loses life during your turn, your speed increases by 1, up to a maximum of 4. Note that speed tracks the player, not the creature; even if Burnout Bashtronaut leaves the battlefield, you retain your current speed level.
Achieving Max Speed
Once your speed reaches 4, you have reached 'Max speed.' While at this level, Burnout Bashtronaut gains the double strike keyword. Combined with its inherent menace and its activated ability to boost its power for two mana, a Max speed Bashtronaut can end games quickly by hitting twice and being difficult to block.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking speed increases multiple times per turn. The ability only triggers once each turn when an opponent loses life, regardless of how many sources caused the life loss. Additionally, if you lose control of all permanents with the 'Start your engines!' ability, your speed does not reset to 0; it stays at its current value, though you will need another card with the mechanic to continue increasing it.
Strategic Timing
Because Burnout Bashtronaut has menace, it is best played early to chip away at your opponent's life total and start your speed progression. Use its activated ability in the late game when you have excess mana to maximize the impact of double strike once you have reached Max speed.
Interaction examples
Burnout Bashtronaut
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou cast Burnout Bashtronaut. Because you have no speed, your speed immediately becomes 1. On your next turn, you use Ornithopter of Paradise to produce red mana and activate Burnout Bashtronaut's ability to give it +1/+0. When it deals combat damage to your opponent, your speed increases from 1 to 2 because an opponent lost life during your turn.
Ragavan, Nimble PilfererYou have Burnout Bashtronaut on the battlefield and your speed is currently 3. You attack with Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. When Ragavan deals combat damage, the opponent loses life. This triggers the speed increase, moving your speed to 4. Immediately, Burnout Bashtronaut gains double strike. If Burnout Bashtronaut also attacks and is not blocked, it will deal damage twice during the combat phase.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Burnout Bashtronaut
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Start your engines! isn’t a triggered ability. Increasing your speed to 1 is something that happens as a state-based action as soon as you control a permanent with the ability. Notably, this includes gaining control of a permanent with the ability that another player controls.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Your speed doesn’t change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn. Notably, losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn’t affect your speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect needs to know what a player’s speed is and that player doesn’t have a speed, their speed is considered 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
A player “has max speed” if their speed is 4.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
“Max speed — [ability]” means “As long as you have max speed, this object has [ability].” If the granted ability functions in a zone other than the battlefield, the max speed ability does too.
No other card is named in this ruling.
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Meta decks with Burnout Bashtronaut
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