Jackdaw SaviorHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Second Wind for the Fallen

Jackdaw Savior features a triggered ability that looks for creatures with flying you control dying. Note that 'dies' means 'is put into a graveyard from the battlefield.' When this occurs, you target a creature card in your graveyard with a lower mana value than the creature that just died. This ability even triggers when Jackdaw Savior itself dies, allowing it to potentially bring back one last ally as it exits.

Calculating Mana Value

To determine what you can return, you look at the mana value of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield. If a creature had {X} in its cost, X is considered 0. The target card in your graveyard must strictly have a mana value less than that number. For example, if a creature with mana value 3 dies, you can target a card with mana value 2, 1, or 0.

Simultaneous Deaths

If a board wipe occurs and Jackdaw Savior dies at the same time as several other creatures with flying, the ability triggers for each one of them. You will put all the triggers on the stack and choose targets for each. However, keep in mind that Jackdaw Savior cannot target itself because the ability specifies 'another' creature card.

Optimal Timing

Jackdaw Savior is best played in decks where you can reliably sacrifice flying creatures for value or where you expect high-pressure combat. Since the ability doesn't require the creature to be non-token, you can even trigger it with flying tokens to bring back small utility creatures from your graveyard.

Interaction examples

Double Resurrection with Roaming Throne

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Bird' or 'Cleric' chosen, and another creature you control with flying dies, Jackdaw Savior's ability triggers twice. This allows you to target two different creature cards in your graveyard, provided each has a mana value less than the creature that died.

Cycling Value with Solemn Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

If Jackdaw Savior (mana value 3) dies while you have Solemn Simulacrum in your graveyard, you cannot return the Simulacrum because its mana value (4) is not lesser than 3. However, if a creature with flying and mana value 5 or higher dies, you can target Solemn Simulacrum to return it to the battlefield and get its land-search trigger.