Curzon Dax, Bound by BloodHow it works & interactions with other cards

Vengeance of the Warrior

Curzon Dax has two distinct triggered abilities. The first is a triggered ability that monitors other Klingons or Warriors you control; whenever one dies, Curzon deals 1 damage to each opponent. The second is a 'dies' trigger that activates when Curzon himself leaves the battlefield, allowing you to cheat a creature with mana value 3 or less directly into play from your hand.

Resolving the Triggers

When a Warrior or Klingon you control dies, Curzon's first ability is put onto the stack. It does not target, so it will resolve even if opponents have hexproof. If Curzon Dax dies at the same time as other Warriors (for example, due to a board wipe), his first ability will still trigger for each of those other creatures because they 'see' each other leaving the battlefield simultaneously.

Strategic Timing

The second ability is optional, signaled by the word 'may.' When Curzon Dax dies, you choose whether to put a small creature from your hand onto the battlefield as the ability resolves. Since this happens during the resolution, your opponents cannot react to the specific creature you choose once you decide to use the effect.

Common Pitfalls

Note that Curzon Dax's first ability specifies 'another' creature. Curzon will not trigger his own damage-dealing ability when he dies. Additionally, the creature put onto the battlefield by the second ability must already be in your hand when the ability resolves; you cannot use other 'dies' triggers to draw a card and then put that specific card into play with Curzon's effect unless those triggers resolve first.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Bloodshed

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Warrior' as its type, it becomes a Warrior. When another Warrior you control dies, Curzon Dax's damage ability triggers twice because Roaming Throne is a Warrior and Curzon is a Warrior. Furthermore, if Roaming Throne itself dies, Curzon triggers twice, dealing a total of 2 damage to each opponent.

Chain Reaction Deaths

Solemn Simulacrum

If Curzon Dax and Solemn Simulacrum are both destroyed by a spell like Wrath of God, Curzon's first ability triggers because Solemn Simulacrum (a Golem) is NOT a Warrior or Klingon, so no damage is dealt. However, Curzon's own death trigger and Solemn Simulacrum's death trigger both go on the stack. You can choose the order: if you resolve Solemn's trigger first to draw a card, you might draw a creature with mana value 3 or less that you can then put onto the battlefield when Curzon's trigger resolves.