Talus PaladinHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Dual-Purpose Trigger

Whenever Talus Paladin or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, a single triggered ability goes on the stack. This ability offers two distinct 'may' choices. First, you choose whether your Allies gain lifelink until the end of the turn. Second, you choose whether to place a +1/+1 counter on Talus Paladin itself. Because these are two separate decisions within one resolution, you can choose to do both, neither, or just one.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When an Ally enters, the ability is placed on the stack. Upon resolution, you first decide if your team gets lifelink. If you say yes, all Allies currently on the battlefield gain the keyword until the end of the turn. Next, you decide if Talus Paladin receives a +1/+1 counter. Note that the lifelink only applies to Allies on the battlefield at the moment the ability resolves; Allies that enter later in the turn will not have lifelink unless another trigger occurs.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is thinking that Talus Paladin must gain a counter to give your creatures lifelink. According to official rulings, these decisions are independent. Even if Talus Paladin is removed from the battlefield in response to the trigger, you can still choose to give your remaining Allies lifelink, though you obviously cannot put a counter on the Paladin if it is no longer there.

Strategic Timing

Since the lifelink effect lasts until the end of the turn, Talus Paladin is best utilized during your pre-combat main phase. By playing an Ally before you attack, you ensure your entire board is ready to swing for a massive life swing. If you have ways to flash Allies in during an opponent's turn, you can also use this defensively to gain lifelink for surprise blockers.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Rewards

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Ally' as it entered, its ability will cause Talus Paladin's trigger to fire twice whenever an Ally enters. This allows you to potentially put two +1/+1 counters on Talus Paladin from a single creature entering the battlefield. While giving lifelink twice is redundant, the extra counters significantly accelerate the Paladin's growth.

Entering the Fray

Solemn Simulacrum

When you cast Talus Paladin while Solemn Simulacrum is already on the battlefield, Talus Paladin triggers for itself. You can choose to give Allies you control lifelink and put a +1/+1 counter on Talus Paladin. However, Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem, not an Ally, so it will not gain lifelink from the Paladin's ability.

The Self-Trigger

When Talus Paladin enters the battlefield, it sees itself entering. The ability triggers immediately. If it is the only Ally you control, you can choose to give it lifelink and a +1/+1 counter, making it a 3/4 with lifelink on its very first turn.