Kobold Drill SergeantHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Kobold Drill Sergeant features a static ability that grants other Kobold creatures you control +0/+1 and trample. This is particularly significant for Kobolds, which are often 0/1 creatures, as it increases their survivability against small ping effects and allows them to deal excess damage to players or planeswalkers even if they are blocked.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, the Sergeant enters the battlefield and its static ability immediately applies to all other Kobolds you control; this does not use the stack. Second, if a Kobold creature enters the battlefield later while the Sergeant is present, it will immediately receive the +0/+1 and trample. Finally, if Kobold Drill Sergeant leaves the battlefield, the bonus and the trample ability are lost instantly by all other Kobolds.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming Kobold Drill Sergeant grants itself the bonus; the text explicitly states 'Other Kobold creatures,' meaning it remains a 1/2 without trample unless another copy or a different lord is present. Additionally, players often forget that trample only functions if the creature's power is greater than the toughness of its blockers; a 0/2 Kobold with trample will still deal 0 damage to a player if blocked.

When to Play It

This card is best utilized in dedicated tribal decks where you can swarm the board with zero-mana Kobolds. By providing trample, it ensures that any power buffs you provide via equipment or other spells aren't wasted on a single small blocker. It is also an excellent early-game drop to protect your utility creatures from 'one damage' board wipes.

Interaction examples

Basic Stat Boost

With only Kobold Drill Sergeant on the field, it is a 1/2 creature. If you play a second Kobold Drill Sergeant, the first one becomes a 1/3 with trample, and the second one also becomes a 1/3 with trample because they each buff 'other' Kobolds.

Resource Generation and Trample

Professional Face-Breaker

If you have a Kobold creature buffed by the Sergeant and it deals trample damage to a player, Professional Face-Breaker will trigger. You will create a Treasure token, which you can then sacrifice to exile the top card of your library for more plays.

Non-Kobold Interactions

Ornithopter of Paradise

Even though Ornithopter of Paradise is a low-cost creature, it is a Thopter, not a Kobold. It will not receive the +0/+1 bonus or trample from the Sergeant, meaning it remains a 0/2 flying creature.