Sun TitanHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding the Reanimation Clause

Sun Titan triggers in two specific scenarios: when it enters the battlefield or whenever it attacks. The ability is optional, denoted by the word "may," and requires you to choose a target permanent card with a mana value of 3 or less in your graveyard. A permanent card includes artifacts, creatures, enchantments, lands, or planeswalkers. If the card has no mana cost, such as a land, its mana value is considered 0, making all lands valid targets for this ability.

Calculating Mana Value in the Graveyard

When Sun Titan's ability triggers, you must check the mana value of the card in the graveyard. The mana value is determined solely by the symbols in the upper right corner. If a card has {X} in its cost, X is treated as 0 while it is in the graveyard. This check is performed only when the ability is put on the stack and again when it resolves. If the target is no longer in the graveyard or its mana value has somehow changed to be greater than 3, the ability will fail to resolve.

Vigilance and Combat Strategy

Thanks to its Vigilance keyword, Sun Titan does not tap to attack. This allows it to trigger its ability during the Declare Attackers step while remaining upright to defend you during your opponent's next turn. Because the ability triggers upon attacking, you get the benefit of returning a permanent before blockers are even declared, which can often change the state of the board in your favor.

Common Timing Mistakes

A common mistake is trying to return a card that is not a permanent, such as an Instant or Sorcery; Sun Titan only targets permanents. Additionally, players often forget that the ability triggers on entry AND attack. If you can blink Sun Titan or give it additional combat phases, you can maximize the number of small permanents you return to the battlefield in a single turn.

Interaction examples

Reanimating a Flexible Threat

Psychosis Crawler

If Psychosis Crawler is in your graveyard, Sun Titan cannot return it. This is because Psychosis Crawler has a mana value of 5. Even if its power and toughness are currently low due to your hand size, the mana value is a static number based on the mana cost printed on the card, which exceeds Sun Titan's limit of 3.

The High-Cost Hurdle

Meteor Golem

You play Sun Titan while Meteor Golem is in your graveyard. You look at the Meteor Golem's mana cost, which is 7. Because Sun Titan only targets cards with a mana value of 3 or less, Meteor Golem is not a legal target. You must choose a different permanent card that meets the criteria or decline to use the 'may' ability.

Land Restoration

You attack with Sun Titan. You target a Evolving Wilds in your graveyard. Since land cards have no mana symbols in their cost, their mana value is 0. Sun Titan successfully returns the Evolving Wilds to the battlefield, allowing you to use it immediately to search for a basic land.