Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 1

"Partner with [name]" represents two abilities. The first is a triggered ability: "When this permanent enters the battlefield, target player may search their library for a card named [name], reveal it, put it into their hand, then shuffle their library."

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 2

Note that the target player searches their library (which may be affected by effects such as that of Stranglehold) and that the card they find is revealed, even though these words aren't included in the ability's reminder text.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 3

The second ability represented by the "partner with [name]" keyword modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant and has no function outside of that variant. If a legendary creature card with "partner with [name]" is designated as your commander, the named legendary creature card can also be designated as your commander.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 4

If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Blue, Loyal Raptor and Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with green, blue, and/or red in their color identity, but not white or black.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 5

Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 6

To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability or corresponding "partner with" abilities as the game begins. A creature with a "partner with" ability can't partner with any creature other than its designated partner. Losing a partner ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 7

Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional {2} the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from one of them, not from both of them combined. Command Beacon's effect puts one into your hand from the command zone, not both.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer — ruling 8

An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer 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

Partner with Blue, Loyal Raptor : Put your choice of a reach, menace, trample, or haste counter on target Dinosaur. Activate only as a sorcery.

Complete guide

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer is a versatile support commander that specializes in mentoring prehistoric allies. By pairing him with his iconic companion, you can build a powerful Temur Dinosaur deck that adapts to any board state.

Training Your Dinosaurs

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer has a activated ability that allows you to tap him to place a reach, menace, trample, or haste counter on a target Dinosaur. This ability can only be activated as a sorcery, meaning during your own main phase when the stack is empty. These keyword counters are permanent, staying on the creature even if Owen leaves the battlefield, providing lasting utility to your prehistoric threats.

How Partner With Resolves

The 'Partner with Blue, Loyal Raptor' keyword serves two roles. First, in deck construction for Commander, it allows Owen and Blue to both serve as your commanders, granting access to Red, Green, and Blue colors. Second, when Owen enters the battlefield, his triggered ability lets you target a player (usually yourself) to search their library for Blue, Loyal Raptor, reveal it, and put it into their hand. The library is then shuffled, even if the search fails.

Common Mistakes

A common error is attempting to use Owen's training ability during an opponent's turn or during the combat phase; remember that it is restricted to sorcery speed. Additionally, while Owen can partner with Blue, he cannot partner with any other creature featuring a generic 'Partner' ability. Finally, remember that commander tax is tracked separately for Owen and Blue; casting Owen multiple times does not increase the cost to cast Blue from the command zone.

Strategic Implementation

The most effective way to play Owen is to use him to prime Blue, Loyal Raptor. Since Blue shares her counters with other Dinosaurs as they enter, using Owen to put a variety of keyword counters on Blue before you play other creatures creates an overwhelming board presence. Use Owen early to ensure your heavy hitters have Haste or Trample the moment they arrive.

Interaction examples

The Dynamic Duo

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer

Blue, Loyal Raptor

When Owen Grady is on the battlefield, you can tap him to put a Haste counter on Blue, Loyal Raptor. Because Blue has a Haste counter, her static ability ensures that every subsequent Dinosaur you play will also enter the battlefield with a Haste counter, allowing for immediate attacks.

Defensive Maneuvers

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer

Blue, Loyal Raptor

If your opponent has flying creatures, Owen can tap to put a Reach counter on Blue, Loyal Raptor. This not only allows Blue to block fliers but ensures that every Dinosaur played afterward enters with Reach, creating a prehistoric wall against aerial assaults.

Strategic Searching

Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer

Blue, Loyal Raptor

If Blue, Loyal Raptor has been tucked into your library due to a spell or effect, casting Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer triggers his 'Partner with' ability. You can target yourself to search your library, find Blue, and put her back into your hand to be cast again.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
"Partner with [name]" represents two abilities. The first is a triggered ability: "When this permanent enters the battlefield, target player may search their library for a card named [name], reveal it, put it into their hand, then shuffle their library."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Note that the target player searches their library (which may be affected by effects such as that of Stranglehold) and that the card they find is revealed, even though these words aren't included in the ability's reminder text.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The second ability represented by the "partner with [name]" keyword modifies the rules for deck construction in the Commander variant and has no function outside of that variant. If a legendary creature card with "partner with [name]" is designated as your commander, the named legendary creature card can also be designated as your commander.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Blue, Loyal Raptor and Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with green, blue, and/or red in their color identity, but not white or black.
Card named in this ruling
Blue, Loyal Raptor Blue, Loyal Raptor
#5November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability or corresponding "partner with" abilities as the game begins. A creature with a "partner with" ability can't partner with any creature other than its designated partner. Losing a partner ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from one of them, not from both of them combined. Command Beacon's effect puts one into your hand from the command zone, not both.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The triggered ability of the "partner with" keyword still triggers in a Commander game. If your other commander has somehow ended up in your library, you can find it. You can also target another player, whether or not they have that card in their library.
No other card is named in this ruling.

Interactions with other cards

These cards' text mentions Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer.

Blue, Loyal Raptor

Partner with Owen Grady, Raptor Trainer (When this creature enters, target player may put Owen into their hand from their library, then shuffle.) For each kind of counter on Blue, Loyal Raptor, each other Dinosaur you control enters with a counter of that kind on it.