Righteous ValkyrieHow it works & interactions with other cards

Gaining Life with the Valkyrie

Righteous Valkyrie has a triggered ability that looks for other Angels or Clerics entering the battlefield under your control. When one does, the ability goes on the stack. The amount of life you gain is determined by that creature's toughness at the time the ability resolves. If the creature is destroyed in response to the trigger, the game uses its 'last known information' to check what its toughness was just before it left the battlefield.

The +2/+2 Threshold

The second ability is a static effect that grants all your creatures +2/+2 as long as your life total is at least 7 higher than your starting life total (usually 27 in standard formats or 47 in Commander). This bonus is checked constantly; as soon as you hit that number, your creatures grow. Conversely, if your life total drops below that threshold due to an opponent's attack or a spell, your creatures immediately lose the +2/+2 bonus.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves combat damage. Since damage remains marked on creatures until the end of the turn, losing your life bonus can be fatal. If your 3/3 creature takes 2 damage while you have the +2/+2 bonus (making it a 5/5), and then an opponent deals damage to you that brings your life total below the threshold, your creature returns to being a 3/3. Because it still has 2 damage marked on it, it survives, but if it had taken 4 damage earlier, it would now have lethal damage and be destroyed.

When to Play It

Righteous Valkyrie is best played early to maximize the life gain from subsequent creatures, or as a finishing piece when you are already near the life threshold. Because it is an Angel Cleric itself, it benefits from other copies of Righteous Valkyrie, and its flying keyword makes it a reliable way to chip away at your opponent's health while you build your board.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Blessings

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Angel' or 'Cleric', the Throne enters as that type. Righteous Valkyrie's ability triggers. Because Roaming Throne is the chosen type, its second ability causes the Valkyrie's life gain ability to trigger an additional time. You will gain life equal to the Roaming Throne's toughness twice.

Non-Synergistic Entries

Solemn Simulacrum

When Solemn Simulacrum enters the battlefield, Righteous Valkyrie's ability does not trigger. This is because Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem, not an Angel or a Cleric. You will still get to search for a land from the Simulacrum's own ability, but you will not gain any life from the Valkyrie.

Lethal Timing

If you control Righteous Valkyrie and another 2/2 Angel, and your life total is 27, both creatures get +2/+2. The Valkyrie is a 4/6 and the Angel is a 4/4. If an opponent casts a spell to deal 3 damage to the Angel, it remains on the battlefield with 3 damage marked. If they then cast a spell to make you lose 1 life, your life total becomes 26, the +2/+2 bonus vanishes, and the Angel becomes a 2/2 with 3 damage marked, causing it to be destroyed.