Dragonmaster OutcastHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Trigger Works

Dragonmaster Outcast has an 'intervening if' clause. This means the ability checks your land count twice: once when your upkeep begins to see if the ability triggers at all, and again when the ability tries to resolve. You must control six or more lands at both moments to successfully create a Dragon token.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, your upkeep begins and the game checks if you control at least six lands. If you do, the ability is put onto the stack. Players then have a chance to respond with spells or abilities. When the ability is ready to resolve, the game checks your land count one last time. If you still control six or more lands, a 5/5 red Dragon creature token with flying is created.

Strategic Timing

Because Dragonmaster Outcast is fragile with only 1 toughness, it is often best to play it when you already have six lands or on the turn right before you hit your sixth land. This minimizes the time your opponent has to remove it before you get at least one Dragon. If the Outcast is destroyed in response to its trigger, you still get the Dragon as long as you have the lands, because the ability exists independently on the stack.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking the ability triggers during the draw step or main phase. It only triggers at the very start of your upkeep. If you play your sixth land during your main phase, you must wait until your next turn's upkeep to get a token. Additionally, if an opponent destroys one of your lands in response to the trigger and drops you to five lands, the ability will fail to resolve.

Interaction examples

Building Your Army

Dragon

If you start your upkeep with six Mountains and Dragonmaster Outcast on the field, the ability triggers. Upon resolution, you place a 5/5 red Dragon token with flying onto the battlefield. You now have 6 total power across two flyers for just one initial mana investment.

Early Game Setup

Ornithopter of Paradise

In the early turns, you can use Ornithopter of Paradise to accelerate your mana or provide fixing. While Dragonmaster Outcast won't produce Dragons yet, having the Ornithopter helps you reach the mana required to cast other spells while you wait to draw your sixth land.

Treasure and Land Counts

Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer can generate Treasure tokens when it deals combat damage. Note that while Treasures provide mana, they are not lands. If you have five lands and one Treasure, Dragonmaster Outcast will not trigger because you do not meet the 'six or more lands' requirement.