Iron Man, Tony StarkHow it works & interactions with other cards

A High-Flying Offensive Leader

Iron Man, Tony Stark possesses three distinct abilities that define his role on the battlefield. First, he has Flying, making him a difficult threat to block. Second, he acts as an anthem for your aggressive strategies, granting all attacking creatures you control—including himself—a +1/+0 power boost whenever they swing. Finally, he has a triggered ability that creates a 2/1 colorless Robot Hero artifact creature token with flying every time you cast a red spell.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When you cast a red spell while Iron Man, Tony Stark is on the battlefield, his token-generating ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of that spell. This means the 2/1 Robot Hero token will enter the battlefield before the red spell that triggered it actually resolves. During the declare attackers step, his static ability automatically applies the +1/+0 bonus to every creature you designate as an attacker, including tokens that were already on the field.

Timing and Card Types

It is important to remember that Iron Man, Tony Stark only triggers on the 'casting' of a spell. If a red permanent is put directly onto the battlefield without being cast, you will not receive a Robot Hero. Furthermore, the creature tokens created are artifacts; this makes them vulnerable to artifact removal but also allows them to benefit from any synergies you have with artifact permanents.

When to Deploy the Suit

Deploy Tony Stark when you have a hand full of low-cost red spells to maximize token production in a single turn. Because he provides a power boost to all attackers, he is most effective when you already have a wide board of creatures ready to strike. Use his flying ability to chip away at opponents who lack aerial defenses while your Robot Hero army grows.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Genius

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield and you choose 'Human' or 'Hero', its ability will apply to Tony Stark. When you cast a red spell, Tony's ability will trigger twice, granting you two 2/1 Robot Hero tokens instead of one. Additionally, the +1/+0 bonus is a static ability, not a triggered one, so it remains a single +1/+0 boost.

The Robot Hero Legion

Robot Hero

When Iron Man and a Robot Hero token attack together, the +1/+0 static ability applies to both. Iron Man becomes a 5/4 flyer and the Robot Hero becomes a 3/1 flyer. Because both have Flying, your opponent must have multiple creatures with flying or reach to block your assault.

Casting Artifacts vs. Red Spells

Solemn Simulacrum

If you cast Solemn Simulacrum, Iron Man, Tony Stark's ability will not trigger because Solemn Simulacrum is a colorless artifact spell, not a red spell. To get the Robot Hero token, the spell being cast must have red in its mana cost or be defined as red by a characteristic-defining ability.