Horn of GreedHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Trigger Works

Horn of Greed features a triggered ability that triggers whenever a player 'plays' a land. This specifically refers to the special action of playing a land from your hand during your main phase when the stack is empty. If an effect says you may 'play an additional land,' Horn of Greed will trigger for those additional lands as well. However, it only looks for the specific action of playing a land, not just any land entering the battlefield.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. A player plays a land from their hand as a special action. 2. Horn of Greed's ability triggers and is put onto the stack. 3. Players have a chance to respond with spells or abilities. 4. If the ability resolves, the player who played that land draws one card. Because playing a land doesn't use the stack, the land is already on the battlefield before the draw trigger even goes on the stack.

Common Pitfalls

The most frequent mistake involves effects that 'put' a land onto the battlefield, such as Rampant Growth or Elvish Reclaimer. These do not count as 'playing' a land, so Horn of Greed will not trigger. Additionally, remember that this effect is mandatory; if a player plays a land, they must draw a card, which can be dangerous if a player is low on cards in their library.

Strategic Timing

Since Horn of Greed is symmetrical, you should play it when you are prepared to play more lands than your opponents or when you have ways to benefit from the extra draws immediately. It is often best to cast your other non-land spells, like Arcane Signet, before dropping this artifact to ensure you have the mana ready to utilize the cards you draw.

Interaction examples

Standard Land Drop

You have Horn of Greed on the battlefield. During your precombat main phase, you play a Forest from your hand. This action triggers Horn of Greed, and you draw a card. This uses your one land play for the turn.

Equipment and Efficiency

Swiftfoot Boots

With Horn of Greed out, you play a Mountain and draw a card. You then use the mana from your lands to cast Swiftfoot Boots. The draw from the land play helps you dig for these utility pieces without spending additional resources.

Mana Development

Arcane Signet

You cast Arcane Signet to ensure you have enough mana to cast Horn of Greed later. Once Horn of Greed is active, every subsequent turn where you play a land from your hand will replace that land card in your hand with a new card from your library.