Loot, the Key to EverythingHow it works & interactions with other cards

How Loot's Ability Works

Loot features a triggered ability that fires at the beginning of your upkeep. It counts the number of distinct card types among other nonland permanents you control to determine how many cards you exile. The relevant card types you might have are artifact, battle, creature, enchantment, kindred, and planeswalker. Remember that Loot itself is not counted because the ability specifies 'other' nonland permanents.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When your upkeep begins, Loot's ability is put onto the stack. When the ability resolves, it checks your current board state. If you control a creature and an artifact, X is 2. You then exile that many cards from the top of your library. These cards remain in exile, and you gain permission to play them until the end of your current turn. You must still pay all mana costs and follow timing restrictions, such as only playing sorceries or lands during your main phase.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is counting land types or the card types on Loot itself. If you control an artifact land like Great Furnace, the 'artifact' type only counts toward X if you have another nonland artifact on the board; the land itself is ignored by the ability. Additionally, if Loot leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, it still uses the last known information of your board state to determine the value of X.

When to Play Loot

Since Loot triggers at the beginning of your upkeep, you generally want to cast it during a main phase so it is ready to trigger on your next turn. It possesses Ward {1}, giving it a small layer of protection against targeted removal. To maximize its value, ensure you have at least two or three different nonland card types in play before your upkeep begins.

Interaction examples

Calculating X with Artifact Creatures

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control Solemn Simulacrum when Loot's ability resolves, X will be 2. This is because Solemn Simulacrum counts as both an 'artifact' and a 'creature'. Even though it is only one permanent, it contributes two distinct card types to Loot's count.

Timing and Sacrificing

Sakura-Tribe Elder

If you have Sakura-Tribe Elder on the battlefield, it counts as a 'creature' for Loot. However, if you sacrifice the Elder to find a land in response to Loot's upkeep trigger, it will no longer be on the battlefield when the ability resolves. If that was your only other nonland permanent, X would become 0, and you would exile no cards.