The Balrog of Moria — ruling 1

Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.

The Balrog of Moria — ruling 2

Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren't spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as Saruman's Trickery) won't affect them.

The Balrog of Moria : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

The Balrog of Moria is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Trample, haste When The Balrog of Moria dies, you may exile it. When you do, for each opponent, exile up to one target creature that player controls. Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.) When you cycle this card, create two Treasure tokens.

How it works : The Balrog of Moria

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Some cards with cycling have an ability that triggers when you cycle them, and some cards have an ability that triggers whenever you cycle any card. These triggered abilities resolve before you draw from the cycling ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2June 16, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
Triggered abilities from cycling a card and the cycling ability itself aren't spells. Effects that interact with spells (such as Saruman's Trickery) won't affect them.
No other card is named in this ruling.