Deeproot Warrior 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
Whenever this creature becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Deeproot Warrior is a straightforward Merfolk Warrior that excels at punishing your opponent for trying to stand in its way. By gaining a power and toughness boost during combat, it forces difficult decisions during the declare blockers step.
A Combat Bonus
Deeproot Warrior features a triggered ability that activates as soon as it is declared blocked by one or more creatures. This makes it a 3/3 attacker rather than a 2/2 as long as an opponent attempts to defend against it. This bonus lasts until the end of the turn, potentially helping it survive the combat phase or post-combat damage spells.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you declare Deeproot Warrior as an attacker. Then, during the declare blockers step, if your opponent chooses one or more creatures to block it, the ability triggers and goes on the stack. This happens before any combat damage is dealt, meaning the +1/+1 bonus is active during the damage calculation.
Important Clarifications
It is important to remember that this ability triggers only once per combat. Even if your opponent assigns two or three creatures to block Deeproot Warrior, it still only receives a single +1/+1 bonus. Additionally, if the blocking creature is removed from combat after the block is legal, Deeproot Warrior remains 'blocked' and retains its bonus.
Strategic Implementation
Because Deeproot Warrior becomes a 3/3 when blocked, it can safely attack into many 2/2 creatures, such as Llanowar Elves if they were to block for some reason. It effectively demands a creature with at least 3 toughness or 3 power to be traded away or stopped effectively.
Interaction examples
Llanowar ElvesYou attack with Deeproot Warrior and your opponent blocks with Llanowar Elves. The Warrior's ability triggers, making it a 3/3. When damage is dealt, the Warrior deals 3 damage to the Elves and the Elves deal 1 damage to the Warrior. The Elves are destroyed, and the Warrior survives.
Birds of ParadiseIf your opponent uses Birds of Paradise to block your Deeproot Warrior, the Warrior becomes a 3/3. It deals lethal damage to the Bird, which only has 1 toughness. Even though the Bird has Flying, it can still block non-flying creatures like the Warrior on the ground.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Deeproot Warrior
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Deeproot Warrior’s ability triggers only once if multiple creatures block it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Deeproot Warrior
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.