Scion of DracoHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Domain and Cost Reduction

Scion of Draco features a Domain ability that checks the number of basic land types among lands you control: Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. For each unique basic land type you possess, the casting cost is reduced by {2}. If you control all five types, the cost is reduced by {10}, meaning you can cast this {12} mana creature for just {2}. Note that this only counts the types, not the number of lands; having three Forests only counts as one basic land type.

Granting Keywords by Color

Once Scion of Draco is on the battlefield, it provides a static ability that checks the colors of each creature you control, including itself. A white creature gains vigilance, a blue creature gains hexproof, a black creature gains lifelink, a red creature gains first strike, and a green creature gains trample. If a creature is multiple colors, it gains all the corresponding keywords. Because Scion of Draco is colorless, it does not naturally grant itself any of these bonuses unless its colors are changed by another effect.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

A common mistake is assuming that non-basic land types, like Desert or Urza's, contribute to the Domain reduction; only the five standard basic land types count. Additionally, remember that these keywords are granted by a static ability. If Scion of Draco leaves the battlefield, your other creatures lose those keywords immediately. Lastly, since Scion of Draco is an artifact creature with no innate colors, it does not give itself vigilance, hexproof, lifelink, first strike, or trample through its own ability.

When to Cast Scion of Draco

The ideal time to play Scion of Draco is early in the game after you have established three or more basic land types. This allows you to deploy a 4/4 flyer for a very low mana investment. It is particularly effective in decks with many multicolored creatures, as it can grant a single creature multiple powerful keywords, such as giving a Black-Green creature both lifelink and trample.

Interaction examples

Powering Up Colorless Behemoths

Blightsteel Colossus

You have Scion of Draco and Blightsteel Colossus on the battlefield. Because Blightsteel Colossus is a colorless artifact creature, it does not meet the requirements for Scion of Draco's color-based keywords. The Colossus retains its own Trample, Infect, and Indestructible, but Scion of Draco provides it no additional benefits.

Interactions with Legendary Eldrazi

Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

With both Scion of Draco and Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre in play, Ulamog remains a colorless creature. Even though Ulamog is a massive threat with Annihilator 4, Scion of Draco's ability specifically looks for white, blue, black, red, or green colors. Since Ulamog is colorless, it does not gain vigilance, hexproof, lifelink, first strike, or trample from the Scion.

Solo Flight

If you control Scion of Draco alone, it is a 4/4 artifact creature with Flying. Even though its ability mentions five different keywords, the Scion is colorless and does not grant itself any of those keywords. If you control a Forest and a Mountain, you can cast it for {8} mana instead of {12}.