Halana and Alena, Partners 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
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) At the beginning of combat on your turn, put X +1/+1 counters on another target creature you control, where X is Halana and Alena's power. That creature gains haste until end of turn.
Complete guide
Halana and Alena, Partners are a powerhouse duo that reward you for boosting their own strength. By transferring their current power into permanent growth for your other creatures, they turn every equipment and aura into a massive advantage. This legendary pair ensures your newest recruits are ready to fight the moment they hit the battlefield.
Scaling Power and Haste
Halana and Alena, Partners have a triggered ability that triggers at the beginning of combat on your turn. This ability targets another creature you control to receive a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the current power of Halana and Alena. Additionally, that creature gains haste, allowing it to attack immediately even if you just cast it during your precombat main phase.
Resolving the Ability
When the 'at the beginning of combat' trigger goes on the stack, you must choose another target creature you control. The game checks Halana and Alena's power at the moment the ability resolves. If Halana and Alena are no longer on the battlefield, the game uses their last known information to determine how many counters to place. If their power is 0 or less, no counters are placed, but the target creature will still gain haste.
Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting that you must choose the target as the combat phase begins. You cannot cast a creature during combat and then try to give it counters with this ability. Make sure to cast your creatures during your first main phase. Also, remember that since the ability scales with Halana and Alena's power, any effects that buff them—such as equipment or temporary spells—will increase the number of counters they provide to their partner.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumYou have Halana and Alena, Partners on the battlefield. During your first main phase, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. When you move to the combat phase, Halana and Alena's ability triggers, targeting the Golem. Since Halana and Alena have 2 power, you put two +1/+1 counters on Solemn Simulacrum, making it a 4/4 creature, and it gains haste so it can attack immediately.
Eternal WitnessYou cast Eternal Witness and return a card from your graveyard to your hand. As you enter the combat phase, you target Eternal Witness with Halana and Alena's trigger. The Witness receives two +1/+1 counters, becoming a 4/3 creature. Even though Eternal Witness was just played this turn, the haste granted by the partners allows it to join the attack alongside them.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Halana and Alena, Partners
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If Halana and Alena's power is somehow negative at the time its triggered ability resolves, you will put no counters on that creature. The effect doesn't remove counters from that creature or give it -1/-1 counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Halana and Alena, Partners + Sage of Hours
- 1At the beginning of combat on your turn, Halana and Alena triggers, putting at least five +1/+1 counters on Sage of Hours.
- 2Activate Sage of Hours by removing all +1/+1 counters from it, taking at least one extra turn after this one.
- 3Repeat.
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom + Halana and Alena, Partners + Crystalline Crawler
- 1Move to combat.
- 2Halana and Alena trigger, putting at least six +1/+1 counters on Crystalline Crawler.
- 3Attack with at least Najeela.
- 4Najeela triggers, creating a 1/1 Warrior creature token that is tapped and attacking.
- 5Activate Crystaline Crawler by removing five +1/+1 counters from it, adding
. - 6Activate Najeela by paying , untapping all attacking creatures, giving them trample, lifelink and haste, and gaining an additional combat phase after this one.
- 7Repeat.
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom + Halana and Alena, Partners + Cryptic Trilobite + Mycosynth Lattice
- 1Move to combat.
- 2Halana and Alena trigger, putting at least three +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 3Attack with at least Najeela.
- 4Najeela triggers, creating a 1/1 Warrior creature token that is tapped and attacking.
- 5Activate Cryptic Trilobite by removing three +1/+1 counters from it, adding
that can only be spent to activate abilities. - 6Activate Najeela by paying
, untapping all attacking creatures, giving them trample, lifelink and haste, and gaining an additional combat phase after this one. - 7Repeat.
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom + Halana and Alena, Partners + Cryptic Trilobite + Chromatic Orrery
- 1Move to combat.
- 2Halana and Alena trigger, putting at least three +1/+1 counters on Cryptic Trilobite.
- 3Attack with at least Najeela.
- 4Najeela triggers, creating a 1/1 Warrior creature token that is tapped and attacking.
- 5Activate Cryptic Trilobite by removing three +1/+1 counters from it, adding that can only be spent to activate abilities.
- 6Activate Najeela by paying , untapping all attacking creatures, giving them trample, lifelink and haste, and gaining an additional combat phase after this one.
- 7Repeat.
Legal formats
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