Iron Man, Modern MarvelHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Flying Mastermind

Iron Man, Modern Marvel provides two distinct benefits: a static buff and a triggered ability. First, it serves as an anthem, giving all other artifact creatures you control +1/+1. Second, it features an attack trigger that rewards you for having teammates. For this trigger to even go on the stack, you must control at least one other artifact creature at the moment Iron Man is declared as an attacker.

Step-by-Step Attack Phase

During the Declare Attackers step, you choose Iron Man, Modern Marvel as an attacking creature. At this exact moment, the game checks if you control 'another artifact creature.' If you do, the ability triggers and is put onto the stack. When the ability resolves, you draw a card. Note that if your only other artifact creature is destroyed in response to the trigger, you still get to draw your card because the condition was met at the time of attacking.

Common Strategic Errors

A common mistake is forgetting that Iron Man does not buff himself; the +1/+1 bonus only applies to other artifact creatures. Additionally, keep in mind that the 'intervening if' clause means that if you don't control another artifact creature when you declare Iron Man as an attacker, the ability won't trigger at all. You cannot play an artifact creature with Flash after attackers are declared to try and trigger this ability retrospectively.

When to Deploy the Suit

Iron Man is most effective when your board already has small artifact utility creatures that can benefit from the +1/+1 boost. Because he has Flying, he is a reliable attacker who can trigger his own draw ability safely. It is often best to play him when you can immediately follow up with a combat phase where you already have a board presence to ensure you get value the turn he loses summoning sickness.

Interaction examples

Industrial Efficiency

Solemn Simulacrum

With Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield, Iron Man, Modern Marvel provides a +1/+1 bonus, making the Golem a 3/3. When Iron Man attacks, the game sees you control the Golem, allowing you to draw a card. If the Golem later dies in combat, you will draw an additional card from its own death trigger, showing the resource advantage of this duo.

Doubling the Innovation

Roaming Throne

As Roaming Throne enters, choose 'Human' or 'Hero' (Iron Man's types). Because Roaming Throne is an artifact creature, it receives +1/+1 from Iron Man. When Iron Man attacks, his ability triggers. Roaming Throne sees this trigger from a creature of the chosen type and causes it to trigger an additional time. You will draw two cards instead of one during that attack step.