StratosoarerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Dual Functionality

Stratosoarer serves two primary roles. First, it acts as a mana-fixer via the Basic landcycling ability, allowing you to discard it for two mana to find any basic land. Second, when cast as a creature, it is a 4/4 flyer that grants another creature flying temporarily, helping you push through damage or set up a surprise blocker.

Resolving the Abilities

When you use Basic landcycling, you pay the cost and discard the card as a special action that goes on the stack; this is not a spell and cannot be countered by traditional means. When the creature enters the battlefield, its triggered ability goes on the stack. You must choose a target creature at that moment. If the target is legal when the ability resolves, that creature gains flying until the end of the current turn.

Timing and Strategy

Because Basic landcycling can be activated at any time you could cast an instant, you can use it on an opponent's end step to ensure you hit your land drops. Conversely, the enters-the-battlefield trigger is mandatory, so you must target a creature if one is available, even if it belongs to an opponent.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Lift

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Elemental' chosen as its type, casting Stratosoarer will cause its triggered ability to trigger twice. You can then choose two different target creatures to gain flying until end of turn, or target the same creature twice (though the second instance is redundant).

Securing the Skyway

Solemn Simulacrum

You can play Solemn Simulacrum to ramp into your fifth land, then cast Stratosoarer on the following turn. When Stratosoarer enters, you can target Solemn Simulacrum with the trigger, giving the Golem flying so it can attack over your opponent's ground blockers.