Selvala, Heart of the WildsHow it works & interactions with other cards

Winning the Power Race

Selvala's first ability triggers whenever another creature enters the battlefield. For the controller to draw a card, that creature's power must be strictly greater than the power of every other creature currently on the battlefield. This check happens twice: once when the creature enters, and again when the ability resolves. If another creature has equal or higher power at the moment of resolution, the draw is lost.

Mastering the Mana Ability

Selvala's second ability is a mana ability, meaning it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to by opponents. When you activate it, you check the greatest power among creatures you currently control and add that much mana in any combination of colors. If your strongest creature has 0 or less power, you simply add no mana. Because it is a mana ability, you can even activate it while in the middle of casting a spell or activating another ability.

Handling Departed Creatures

A common point of confusion occurs when a creature enters but leaves the battlefield before Selvala's draw trigger resolves. In this scenario, the game uses 'last known information' to determine the creature's power. You look at what its power was at the final moment it was on the battlefield to see if it was the strongest creature. Note that any temporary power-reduction effects that were active on the creature when it left will still be counted.

When to Activate Selvala

To maximize your resources, you should generally wait until your largest creature is on the battlefield before tapping Selvala for mana. However, since her draw trigger is separate, you can use the mana from her second ability to cast a massive creature, which then triggers her first ability to refill your hand. This creates a powerful cycle of ramping into threats and drawing more cards to keep the pressure on.

Interaction examples

Comparing the Golem's Power

Solemn Simulacrum

You control Selvala, Heart of the Wilds (power 2). You cast Solemn Simulacrum (power 2). When the Golem enters, Selvala's ability triggers. Upon resolution, the game compares the Golem's power (2) to Selvala's power (2). Since 2 is not strictly greater than 2, the powers are equal, and you do not get to draw a card.

Sacrificing in Response

Sakura-Tribe Elder

If you control Selvala and cast Sakura-Tribe Elder while no other creatures are on the battlefield, the Elder's power (1) is greater than Selvala's (currently 0 or reduced). If an opponent kills the Elder in response to the draw trigger, the game checks the Elder's power as it last existed on the battlefield. If it was still the strongest at that moment, you still get to draw the card.