Swaggering CorsairHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Swaggering Corsair features a Raid ability, which is a keyword that looks back at the actions taken during your turn. Specifically, it checks if you declared any creatures as attackers during a combat phase earlier in the turn. If you did, this creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter, upgrading from a 2/2 to a 3/3.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you must move to your combat phase and declare at least one creature as an attacker. Once combat is over (or even during the second main phase), you cast Swaggering Corsair. As it enters the battlefield, the game checks the 'Raid' condition: 'Did the active player attack this turn?' If the answer is yes, the replacement effect applies immediately, and the Corsair enters with the counter already on it. It does not enter and then get a counter; it is never a 2/2 on the battlefield if the condition is met.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that the creature you attacked with must still be on the battlefield for Raid to work. According to official rulings, the Raid ability only cares that an attack was declared; even if your attacking creature was destroyed or exiled during combat, the Corsair will still receive its counter. Additionally, Raid does not care who or what you attacked—hitting a player, a planeswalker, or a battle all satisfy the requirement.

When to Play It

Because Raid requires an attack to have happened, Swaggering Corsair is almost always best played during your Second Main Phase. Playing it during your First Main Phase (before combat) means you haven't attacked yet, so you lose out on the +1/+1 counter unless you have found a way to take multiple combat phases.

Interaction examples

Aggressive Value

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Solemn Simulacrum during your combat phase. Even if your opponent blocks and destroys the Golem, the game recorded that you attacked. In your post-combat main phase, you cast Swaggering Corsair. It enters as a 3/3 because the Raid condition was satisfied by the Golem's earlier attack.

The Throne's Limitation

Roaming Throne

You control Roaming Throne with 'Human' or 'Pirate' chosen. You attack with a creature, then cast Swaggering Corsair. Note that Swaggering Corsair's Raid ability is a replacement effect ('enters with'), not a triggered ability ('When/Whenever/At'). Therefore, Roaming Throne does not grant a second counter, as there is no triggered ability for it to double.

Solo Deployment

If you cast Swaggering Corsair on turn three without having any other creatures to attack with, it enters the battlefield as a simple 2/2. To get the maximum value, you must ensure at least one other creature has been declared as an attacker earlier that same turn.