Caesar, Legion's EmperorHow it works & interactions with other cards

Tactical Sacrifice

Caesar's ability triggers the moment you declare an attack with one or more creatures. Unlike standard triggered abilities, you do not choose targets or modes right away. Instead, you first decide whether to sacrifice another creature. If you do, a second 'reflexive' ability goes on the stack, which is when you select two of the three available modes.

Understanding the Modes

The first mode creates two 1/1 red and white Soldier creature tokens that enter the battlefield tapped and attacking. The second mode provides card advantage at the cost of 1 life. The third mode scales with your board state, dealing damage to a target opponent equal to the total number of creature tokens you control at the time the ability resolves.

Timing and Restrictions

Because the Soldier tokens enter the battlefield already 'attacking,' they were never declared as attackers during the Turn-Based Action of the Declare Attackers step. This means they will not trigger 'whenever a creature attacks' abilities, nor can they trigger Caesar's own ability again in the same combat phase.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that you must sacrifice 'another' creature; Caesar cannot sacrifice himself to his own ability. Additionally, if the opponent removes Caesar in response to the initial trigger, you can still choose to sacrifice a creature, but Caesar won't be on the battlefield to deal damage if you chose the third mode.

Interaction examples

Multiplying the Legion

Caesar, Legion's EmperorSoldier

You attack with Caesar and a Soldier token. Caesar's ability triggers. You choose to sacrifice the Soldier token. The reflexive ability triggers, and you choose the first and second modes. You create two new 1/1 Soldier tokens that are tapped and attacking, then you draw a card and lose 1 life.

The Emperor's Double Decree

Caesar, Legion's EmperorRoaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human', Caesar's attack trigger fires twice. For the first trigger, you sacrifice a creature and pick two modes. Then, for the second trigger, you may sacrifice another creature to pick two modes again. This allows you to potentially generate four tokens or draw two cards in a single combat.

Value from Death

Caesar, Legion's EmperorSolemn Simulacrum

You attack with Caesar and sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum to his trigger. Because the sacrifice is part of the resolution, Solemn Simulacrum's 'dies' trigger goes on the stack alongside Caesar's reflexive ability. You will draw one card from the Simulacrum and then proceed with the two modes chosen for Caesar.