Sea-Dasher OctopusHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Mechanics of Mutation

Sea-Dasher Octopus has two ways to enter the battlefield: as a standard creature for its mana cost or by using Mutate. When you cast it for its Mutate cost, you must target a non-Human creature you own. You then choose to place Sea-Dasher Octopus on top of or underneath that creature. The resulting permanent has the power and toughness of the top card and the names, colors, and abilities of all cards in the stack.

Resolution and Flash Timing

Because Sea-Dasher Octopus has Flash, you can cast it during your opponent's turn or during the combat phase. If you cast it for its Mutate cost, the spell remains on the stack until it resolves. If the target creature leaves the battlefield before the spell resolves, the Sea-Dasher Octopus will enter the battlefield as a normal creature instead of fizzling. Once mutated, the creature is treated as a single permanent, and any 'Whenever this creature deals combat damage' triggers will apply to the merged entity.

Strategy and Timing

The best time to play Sea-Dasher Octopus is often after your opponent has declared no blockers. You can flash it in and mutate it onto an unblocked creature to immediately draw a card when combat damage is dealt. Be wary of 'Human' creatures in your deck, as the Mutate ability cannot target them. If the top card of your mutated stack is an artifact creature, the whole permanent is an artifact creature; if it is a non-artifact creature, it loses the artifact type unless an ability says otherwise.

Interaction examples

Automated Evolution

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control Solemn Simulacrum, you can cast Sea-Dasher Octopus for its Mutate cost targeting the Golem. If you place the Octopus on top, the creature becomes a 2/2 blue Octopus with the 'enters' and 'dies' abilities of the Golem. If the Golem is on top, it remains a 2/2 colorless Artifact Creature but gains 'Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.' In either case, it is a non-Human, so the mutation is valid.

Doubling the Rewards

Roaming Throne

By mutating Sea-Dasher Octopus onto Roaming Throne (or vice versa), and choosing 'Octopus' or 'Golem' as the Throne enters, you create a powerful synergy. Because Roaming Throne is the chosen type and has an ability that doubles triggers of that type, when your mutated creature deals combat damage to a player, the Sea-Dasher Octopus ability will trigger twice, allowing you to draw two cards instead of one.