Dragon TrainerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Dragon Trainer is a red creature with an 'enters' triggered ability. As soon as it arrives on the battlefield from any zone, it triggers a secondary effect that creates a 4/4 red Dragon creature token with flying. This effectively puts two bodies on the board for the price of one spell, totaling significant power and toughness.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Dragon Trainer by paying its mana cost of three generic and two red mana. Once the spell resolves and the creature enters the battlefield, its triggered ability is placed on the stack. Players then have a chance to respond with instants or activated abilities. If no one intervenes, the ability resolves, and you place a 4/4 red Dragon token with flying onto the battlefield under your control.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that the token creation is a triggered ability, not part of the casting process. If Dragon Trainer is countered while it is still a spell, the ability never triggers, and no Dragon is created. Additionally, because the ability triggers 'When' it enters, the Dragon Trainer must successfully reach the battlefield for you to get your token.

When to Play It

Dragon Trainer is best played when you need to stabilize your defense against flyers or when you want to apply aggressive pressure. Since it provides two bodies, it is also excellent in decks that benefit from having multiple creatures or those that synergize with the Dragon creature type.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Dragons

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Human' chosen as the creature type, Dragon Trainer's ability triggers an additional time when it enters. You will create two 4/4 red Dragon tokens instead of just one.

Generating Value

Solemn Simulacrum

In a mid-game scenario, you might play Solemn Simulacrum to ramp into your fifth land. This allows you to cast Dragon Trainer on the following turn, resulting in a total of three creatures and a flying threat to take control of the game.

The Flying Token

Dragon

When Dragon Trainer enters, you create the specific Dragon token. This token has the 'Flying' keyword, meaning it can only be blocked by other creatures with flying or reach, allowing you to bypass ground-based blockers.