Swashbuckler ExtraordinaireHow it works & interactions with other cards

Making and Breaking Treasures

When Swashbuckler Extraordinaire enters the battlefield, its first triggered ability creates a Treasure token. The second ability is a triggered ability that triggers whenever you declare an attack. Note that you don't have to attack with Swashbuckler Extraordinaire itself; the ability triggers as long as you attack with one or more creatures. During the resolution of this trigger, you choose how many Treasures to sacrifice. This then creates a second 'reflexive' trigger that targets the creatures you wish to grant double strike.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, move to the beginning of combat and declare your attackers. Swashbuckler Extraordinaire's ability triggers and goes on the stack. When this ability resolves, you decide how many Treasures to sacrifice (you can choose zero). If you sacrifice one or more, a new ability goes on the stack, and you choose up to that many target creatures. Those targets then gain double strike until the end of the turn. Because the targeting happens after you sacrifice, you can't sacrifice more Treasures than you have legal targets available.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is trying to use the mana from the Treasure to pay for the sacrifice effect. You cannot do both; you either sacrifice the Treasure to the Swashbuckler's ability to gain double strike, or you sacrifice it to its own ability to add mana. Additionally, remember that double strike only matters if the creature is still in combat during the first strike and regular damage steps. If you grant double strike to a creature that has already dealt damage, it won't retroactively deal extra damage.

Strategic Timing

Since the ability triggers 'whenever you attack,' it is best to have your Treasures ready before the combat phase begins. You can use the Treasure generated by the Swashbuckler's enter-the-battlefield ability immediately on the turn it is played if you have other creatures ready to swing. It is also important to note that you can target the Swashbuckler itself or any other creature you control, even those that aren't attacking, though double strike is most effective on attackers.

Interaction examples

Double the Riches

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters and you choose 'Dragon,' 'Rogue,' or 'Warrior,' Swashbuckler Extraordinaire's abilities will trigger twice. When it enters, you create two Treasure tokens instead of one. When you attack, the sacrifice ability triggers twice, allowing you to potentially sacrifice two sets of Treasures to target even more creatures with double strike.

The Golem's Gambit

Solemn SimulacrumTreasure

You attack with Solemn Simulacrum. The Swashbuckler's ability triggers. You sacrifice a Treasure token created earlier. The reflexive trigger targets Solemn Simulacrum. The Golem now has double strike, meaning it will deal damage in the first strike step and the normal combat damage step, potentially destroying a blocker before it can even strike back.

Solo Swashbuckling

If Swashbuckler Extraordinaire is your only creature, it can trigger its own ability. When it enters, it creates a Treasure. If you then attack with it, you can sacrifice that specific Treasure to give the Swashbuckler double strike, effectively making it a 2/2 double striker for the turn.