Collectigull // Only the BestHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Collectigull is a 2/3 Bird with Flying and protection from common. This protection means it cannot be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted/equipped by anything with a common rarity symbol. Additionally, whenever it attacks, it lets you peek at the top of your library for a 'Booster Fun' card—special treatments like borderless, showcase, or extended-art cards—to add to your hand. Its Adventure side, Only the Best, is a sorcery that recovers one of these special cards from your graveyard.

Resolving the Attack Trigger

When you declare Collectigull as an attacker, its triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you reveal the top card of your library. You must check if the card is technically a 'Booster Fun' variant; if it is, you have the option to put it into your hand. If it is a standard frame card or you choose not to take it, the card remains on top of your library. Note that this is not a 'draw' effect, so it does not interact with abilities that trigger on drawing cards.

Protection and Rarity

A common mistake is forgetting that 'protection from common' applies to the current printing of the card in play. In Magic, rarity is determined by the set symbol on the specific physical card. If your opponent controls a card that has been printed as a common in any set, but the specific version they are using has a common (black) expansion symbol, Collectigull is safe from it. This includes tokens, which are generally treated as having no rarity and thus are not common unless specified.

Strategic Timing

Cast the Adventure side, Only the Best, early in the game to reclaim a powerful showcase card that was discarded or destroyed. Because Collectigull goes to the Exile zone after the Adventure resolves, you can cast the creature half later. Once on the battlefield, use its evasion to safely trigger its ability every turn, filtering your deck for your most visually impressive spells.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Value

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Bird' chosen as the creature type, Collectigull's attack trigger will fire twice. You will reveal the top card of your library; if it is a Booster Fun card, you take it. Then, you repeat the process for the new top card of your library, potentially netting two cards in a single swing.

The Rarity Shield

Solemn Simulacrum

If your opponent attempts to block Collectigull with a Solemn Simulacrum that has a silver (uncommon) or gold (rare) expansion symbol, the block is legal. However, if they are using a version of Solemn Simulacrum from a set where it was printed as a common (like certain Commander sets), Collectigull's protection from common prevents it from being blocked by that specific card.