Collective DroneHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Dynamic Power Level

Collective Drone features a characteristic-defining ability that sets its power. This ability is active in all zones, not just while the Drone is on the battlefield. Because the ability checks the number of artifact creatures you control, its power will fluctuate immediately as other artifact creatures enter or leave the battlefield under your command.

Resolving Power Changes

Step one: The game identifies the current number of permanents you control that have both the 'Artifact' and 'Creature' types. Step two: The power of Collective Drone is set to that exact number. Note that Collective Drone is itself an artifact creature, so it will almost always have at least 1 power as long as it is on the battlefield, unless an effect removes its card types.

Strategic Implementation

Since Collective Drone only checks for artifact creatures, non-artifact creatures or non-creature artifacts do not contribute to its strength. To maximize its potential, you should focus on playing low-cost artifact creatures to rapidly increase the Drone's threat level. It is most effective in decks that can flood the board with utility-based mechanical units.

Common Pitfalls

Players often forget that the power update is continuous and does not use the stack. If an opponent destroys one of your other artifact creatures during combat, Collective Drone's power decreases immediately. Conversely, if you create an artifact creature token during the declare blockers step, the Drone's power increases before combat damage is dealt.

Interaction examples

Expanding the Collective

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you control Collective Drone and then cast Ornithopter of Paradise, the moment Ornithopter of Paradise enters the battlefield, Collective Drone's power increases from 1 to 2. Because Ornithopter of Paradise is an artifact creature, it satisfies both requirements for the Drone's ability.

Non-Artifact Interactions

Blood Artist

If you have Collective Drone and Blood Artist on the battlefield, Collective Drone will only have 1 power. Even though Blood Artist is a creature, it is not an artifact, so it does not contribute to the Drone's characteristic-defining ability.

Losing the Hive

Ornithopter of Paradise

If your Ornithopter of Paradise is destroyed by an opponent's spell, Collective Drone's power will immediately drop back to 1. This happens as a continuous effect and does not wait for the next turn or phase to update.