Elemental MasteryHow it works & interactions with other cards

Token Generation and Timing

Elemental Mastery grants the enchanted creature an activated ability. When you tap the creature, you look at its current power to determine how many 1/1 red Elemental tokens are created. These tokens gain haste immediately, allowing them to attack or use abilities requiring the tap symbol right away. However, their time is short; they are destined to be exiled at the beginning of the next end step.

The Resolution Process

When you activate the ability, it goes on the stack. The game checks the creature's power only when the ability resolves. If the creature is destroyed or leaves the battlefield in response, the game uses 'Last Known Information' to determine its power at the moment it left. Once the tokens are created, they are tied to a delayed triggered ability. This trigger will fire at the start of the next end step to exile them, regardless of whether Elemental Mastery or the original creature is still on the battlefield.

Strategic Considerations

One common mistake is activating the ability during the end step. If you activate this ability after the 'beginning of the end step' has already triggered, the tokens will actually persist through the entire next turn, only being exiled at the start of the following turn's end step. This is a great way to keep blockers available for your opponent's turn. Also, remember that since the tokens are exiled rather than destroyed, 'death triggers' will not occur when they leave.

Interaction examples

Building a Tribal Swarm

Shared AnimosityElemental

If you enchant a 5-power creature with Elemental Mastery and activate it, you create five 1/1 Elemental tokens. When you attack with all five, Shared Animosity triggers for each one. Since each Elemental sees four other attacking Elementals, each token gets +4/+0, turning your 1/1s into a devastating 25 total power swing.

Infinite Combat Cycles

Aggravated Assault

By enchanting a creature with at least 5 power, you can tap it to create five Elemental tokens. You can then use the mana from your lands to activate Aggravated Assault, untapping your enchanted creature and gaining an extra combat phase. In that new phase, you can tap the creature again to create five more tokens. This allows you to stack up an enormous army for a single turn's combat.