Moltensteel Dragon is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
(can be paid with either
or 2 life.) Flying
Complete guide
Moltensteel Dragon is a powerhouse of the Scars of Mirrodin block, showcasing the brutal efficiency of Phyrexian mana. This artifact creature offers flexibility in its casting cost and an explosive firebreathing ability that can end games in a single swing.
Understanding Phyrexian Mana
The core mechanic of Moltensteel Dragon is the Phyrexian Red mana symbol {R/P}. You can pay for each of these symbols using either one Red mana or by paying 2 life. This means you can cast this 4/4 flyer for four generic mana and 4 life, or pump its power significantly even if you are completely tapped out of mana, provided you have the life to spare.
Resolving the Pump Ability
When you activate the ability, you first choose whether to pay {R} or 2 life. Once the cost is paid, the ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, Moltensteel Dragon gains +1/+0 until the end of the current turn. Because this is an activated ability with no 'once per turn' restriction, you can stack multiple instances of this effect as long as you can pay the cost.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake involves the Dragon's color and mana value. Despite being an artifact and having the option to pay life, its mana value is always 6, and it is always a Red card. Additionally, you cannot choose to pay 2 life if your life total is 1 or less; you must have the life available to pay the cost in full.
Strategic Timing
Since the firebreathing ability costs no mana when paying life, it is best used after your opponent has declined to block. This allows you to calculate exactly how much life you need to spend to deal lethal damage without risking your life total against a combat trick or removal spell.
Interaction examples
With 6 lands on the battlefield, you cast Moltensteel Dragon by spending 4 generic mana and 4 life. Later that turn, you attack. If the opponent doesn't block, you can pay an additional 10 life to activate its ability five times, giving it +5/+0 for a total of 9 damage.
Goldspan DragonIf you control Goldspan Dragon, your Treasure tokens produce two mana. You can sacrifice a Treasure for two Red mana to activate Moltensteel Dragon's ability twice, or use that mana to cast the Dragon itself without sacrificing your life total.
Etali, Primal StormWhen Etali, Primal Storm attacks and exiles Moltensteel Dragon, you may cast it without paying its mana cost. The 'without paying its mana cost' effect covers the {4} and both {R/P} symbols. However, you can still use the Dragon's activated ability later by paying life as usual.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Moltensteel Dragon
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its mana cost is each color that appears in that mana cost, regardless of how that cost may have been paid.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
To calculate the mana value of a card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, count each Phyrexian mana symbol as 1.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
As you cast a spell or activate an activated ability with one or more Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, you choose how to pay for each Phyrexian mana symbol at the same time you would choose modes or choose a value for X.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you're at 1 life or less, you can't pay 2 life.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Phyrexian mana is not a new color. Players can't produce Phyrexian mana.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Scion of the Ur-Dragon + Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon + Moltensteel Dragon
- 1Activate Scion of the Ur-Dragon by paying
. - 2Holding priority, activate Scion of the Ur-Dragon a second time by paying .
- 3Resolve the first Scion of the Ur-Dragon ability, searching your library for Moltensteel Dragon, putting it into your graveyard, causing Scion of the Ur-Dragon to become a copy of Moltensteel Dragon until end of turn, and shuffling your library.
- 4Activate Scion of the Ur-Dragon by paying , giving itself +1/+0 until end of turn.
- 5Repeat step 4 five additional times.
- 6Resolve the Scion of the Ur-Dragon ability from step 1, searching your library for Skithiryx, putting it into your graveyard, causing Scion of the Ur-Dragon to become a copy of Skithiryx until end of turn, and shuffling your library.
- 7If Scion of the Ur-Dragon has summoning sickness, activate it by paying
, giving it haste until end of turn. - 8Deal combat damage with Scion of the Ur-Dragon, causing an opponent to get ten poison counters and lose the game due to lethal infect damage.
Rowan, Scion of War + Exsanguinate + Moltensteel Dragon
- 1Activate Moltensteel Dragon by paying life.
- 2Repeat step 1 as desired.
- 3Activate Rowan by tapping it, reducing the cost of all black and/or red spells you cast this turn.
- 4Cast Exsanguinate, choosing for X to equal the amount of life you've lost this turn, but paying a total of due to Rowan.
- 5Resolve Exsanguinate, causing each opponent to lose X life, and you to gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Greven, Predator Captain + Moltensteel Dragon
- 1Activate Moltensteel Dragon by paying 2 life.
- 2Repeat step 1 until Greven has power 21 or greater due to its first ability.
- 3Deal combat damage to an opponent using Greven. The opponent loses the game due to being dealt 21 or more combat damage from your commander.
Rowan, Scion of War + Stensian Sanguinist // Exsanguinate + Moltensteel Dragon
- 1Activate Moltensteel Dragon by paying life.
- 2Repeat step 1 as desired.
- 3Activate Rowan by tapping it, reducing the cost of all black and/or red spells you cast this turn.
- 4Cast a copy of Exsanguinate, choosing for X to equal the amount of life you've lost this turn, but paying a total of due to Rowan.
- 5Resolve Exsanguinate, causing each opponent to lose X life, and you to gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Moltensteel Dragon
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