Smaug 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
Flying, haste When this creature dies, create fourteen Treasure tokens.
Complete guide
Smaug is a legendary 6/6 Dragon token that represents the absolute peak of greed and power on the battlefield. Not only is he a massive aerial threat with haste, but his departure from the game leaves behind a hoard of wealth that can fuel your victory. Understanding how to maximize his death trigger is key to mastering this draconic treasure trove.
A Hoard in the Making
Smaug is a token creature, typically brought into existence by the final chapter of a specific Saga. He enters the battlefield as a 6/6 red Dragon with Flying and Haste, meaning he can impact the board immediately. His most potent ability, however, is a triggered ability that goes on the stack the moment he moves from the battlefield to the graveyard. This trigger creates fourteen Treasure tokens, which are artifacts that can be sacrificed for one mana of any color.
Resolution and Timing
When Smaug dies, his ability triggers. As this ability resolves, you place fourteen Treasure tokens onto the battlefield. These tokens are permanent artifacts; they do not have summoning sickness, so you can tap and sacrifice them for mana immediately. Because Smaug is legendary, if you somehow create a second copy of him, the 'Legend Rule' will force you to put one into the graveyard, which will immediately trigger his hoard ability.
Strategic Considerations
Players often make the mistake of protecting Smaug too fiercely. While a 6/6 flyer is dangerous, the fourteen mana provided by his death is often more valuable for casting game-ending spells. Additionally, remember that as a token, Smaug will cease to exist after moving to the graveyard, but the ability still triggers and resolves because it tracks the event of him leaving the battlefield.
Interaction examples
There and Back Again
SmaugWhen the third lore counter is placed on There and Back Again, the III chapter triggers. You create the legendary Smaug token. Because he has haste, you can attack immediately. If the opponent destroys Smaug during their turn, the triggered ability resolves, and you gain fourteen Treasure tokens to use on your next turn.
Walking BallistaIf you have a Walking Ballista with at least six +1/+1 counters, you can remove those counters to deal 6 damage to your own Smaug. This causes Smaug to die, triggering his ability. You then create fourteen Treasure tokens, which you could potentially use to cast another massive Walking Ballista or other spells.
If you already control a Smaug token and a second There and Back Again reaches its third chapter, you will create a second Smaug. Due to the legend rule, you must choose one to keep and put the other into the graveyard. The Smaug put into the graveyard will trigger, instantly granting you fourteen Treasure tokens while you still keep a 6/6 Dragon on the field.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Smaug
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Smaug.
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Up to one target creature can't block for as long as you control this Saga. The Ring tempts you. II — Search your library for a Mountain card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle. III — Create Smaug, a legendary 6/6 red Dragon creature token with flying, haste, and "When Smaug dies, create fourteen Treasure tokens."
Flying, haste Whenever Smaug attacks, he deals damage equal to the number of Treasures you control to any target. At the beginning of your upkeep, create a Treasure token.
Flying When Smaug enters, create X tapped Treasure tokens, where X is the number of artifacts your opponents control. Whenever you cast a spell, if mana from a Treasure was spent to cast it, you draw a card and lose 1 life.
Flying, indestructible, haste Whenever Smaug is dealt noncombat damage, create that many Treasure tokens.
Desolation of Smaug deals 3 damage to each non-Dragon creature. Add four mana in any combination of colors. Spend this mana only to cast Dragon spells.
Related cards and tokens
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