Krydle of Baldur's GateHow it works & interactions with other cards

Evasion for a Price

Krydle features two distinct triggered abilities. The first is an attack trigger: whenever you declare an attack, you may pay {2}. If you do, a target creature becomes unblockable for the rest of the turn. This can be used on Krydle himself or any other creature you control to ensure damage gets through. Note that this ability triggers when you declare attackers, so you must pay the mana and choose a target before your opponent has a chance to declare blockers.

The Saboteur Effect

The second ability triggers whenever Krydle deals combat damage to a player. It creates a four-part sequence: the defending player loses 1 life, that player mills a card, you gain 1 life, and finally, you scry 1. Because these actions happen in a specific order, you will know what card was milled and how your life total changed before you look at the top of your library to scry.

Timing and Targeting

A common mistake is forgetting that Krydle's unblockable ability can target any creature, not just one that is currently attacking. However, for the ability to be effective, it must resolve during the Declare Attackers step. Once a creature has been legally blocked by an opponent's creature, making it unblockable will not remove the blocker or allow the damage to go through to the player.

Interaction examples

Ensuring the Hit

Ornithopter of Paradise

You have both creatures on the battlefield. When you move to combat and declare them as attackers, Krydle's second ability triggers. You pay {2} using mana from Ornithopter of Paradise. You target Krydle with the ability. Krydle becomes unblockable. Even if your opponent has flying creatures to block the Ornithopter, Krydle is guaranteed to deal combat damage, which then triggers his first ability to drain life and scry.

Drain and Gain Synergy

Blood Artist

Krydle attacks and deals combat damage to your opponent. His trigger causes the opponent to lose 1 life and you to gain 1 life. While Blood Artist is on the battlefield, you are setting up a state where any trades in combat will result in even more life drain. Krydle's scry 1 also helps you dig through your deck to find more creatures to trigger Blood Artist later in the game.