Iroh, Dragon of the WestHow it works & interactions with other cards

Harnessing the Inner Fire

Iroh features two primary abilities that synergize perfectly. First, Mentor allows him to strengthen weaker allies by placing +1/+1 counters on them when he attacks. Second, his triggered ability at the start of combat grants 'firebending 2' to any creature you control that already has a counter on it. Firebending is a triggered ability that adds red mana to your pool when that creature attacks, and unlike standard mana, this mana stays in your pool until the end of the entire combat phase.

Resolving the Abilities Step by Step

When you enter your combat phase, Iroh's firebending grant triggers first. You check which creatures have counters (like +1/+1 or keyword counters) and they all gain the ability. Next, when you declare attackers, two things happen: Iroh's Mentor ability triggers, and the firebending abilities of your creatures trigger. You choose targets for Mentor and put the mana generation triggers on the stack. The mana is added only after these triggers resolve, so you can't use firebending mana to pay for the initial costs of attacking or abilities that trigger 'whenever you attack' unless you have a way to resolve the stack in a specific order.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common misconception is that firebending is a mana ability. It is actually a triggered ability that uses the stack and can be countered or responded to. Additionally, remember that the mana preservation only applies to the specific mana generated by the firebending ability. If you use a different card to add mana during your declare attackers step, that other mana will disappear when you move to the declare blockers step, while your firebending mana remains available until your post-combat main phase begins.

Strategic Timing

Because the firebending mana lasts until the end of combat, you have several windows to spend it. You can use it during the declare blockers step to cast combat tricks, or even during the end of combat step after damage has been dealt to cast instants or activate abilities. This makes Iroh an excellent engine for decks that want to cast big spells or activate expensive abilities during the combat phase.

Interaction examples

Mentoring the Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control Iroh and Solemn Simulacrum, you can attack with both. Because Iroh has 3 power and the Simulacrum has 2 power, Mentor triggers. You place a +1/+1 counter on Solemn Simulacrum. On your next turn, at the beginning of combat, Iroh will see the counter on Solemn Simulacrum and grant it firebending 2. When you attack that turn, the Simulacrum will now generate two red mana for you to use.

Doubling the Flame

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield naming 'Human' or 'Noble', it will interact with Iroh significantly. First, when Iroh attacks, Mentor triggers twice, allowing you to put counters on two different creatures (or the same creature if its power is still low enough). Furthermore, Iroh's ability to grant firebending at the start of combat will trigger twice. This means each creature with a counter will gain two separate instances of firebending 2, generating a total of four red mana when each of those creatures attacks.