The Prydwen, Steel FlagshipHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Fleet of Knights

The Prydwen, Steel Flagship features a triggered ability that triggers whenever another nontoken artifact you control enters the battlefield. It creates a 2/2 white Human Knight token with a unique static ability: it gains +2/+2 as long as an artifact entered the battlefield under your control this turn. Because the artifact that triggered the creation of the token has already entered, the token will immediately be a 4/4 upon its arrival.

Understanding the Buff

The Knight's +2/+2 bonus is a check on the current turn's history. Once an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, the condition for the buff is satisfied for the remainder of that turn. Even if the artifact that entered is later destroyed or leaves the battlefield, the Knight tokens will retain their +2/+2 bonus until the cleanup step of the current turn.

Crewing the Flagship

As a Vehicle, The Prydwen, Steel Flagship is not a creature by default. You must pay the Crew 2 cost by tapping any number of creatures you control with total power 2 or greater. Interestingly, the Human Knight tokens created by this card have exactly 2 power (or 4 power if the buff is active), making them the perfect pilots to get this 6/6 flyer into the red zone.

Strategic Timing

To maximize your damage, you should aim to play your artifacts during your pre-combat main phase. This ensures that all Human Knight tokens you already controlled from previous turns receive their +2/+2 bonus before you declare attackers. Since the tokens are 4/4s during the turn they are created, they provide a significant defensive line or a potent offensive wave immediately if they have Haste.

Interaction examples

Deployment and Reinforcements

The Prydwen, Steel FlagshipGilded Lotus

With The Prydwen, Steel Flagship already on the battlefield, you cast Gilded Lotus. When Gilded Lotus enters, The Prydwen's ability triggers. You create a 2/2 Human Knight token. Because Gilded Lotus entered this turn, the Human Knight token immediately becomes a 4/4. You can then tap this 4/4 token to pay the Crew 2 cost of The Prydwen, Steel Flagship, turning the flagship into a 6/6 flying creature.

Coordinated Assault

The Prydwen, Steel FlagshipVanquisher's BannerHuman Knight

Suppose you have a Human Knight token from a previous turn. You cast Vanquisher's Banner, choosing 'Knight'. This triggers The Prydwen, Steel Flagship to create a new token. Because Vanquisher's Banner (an artifact) entered this turn, the new token is a 4/4 and your old token also grows to a 4/4. Furthermore, Vanquisher's Banner provides a static +1/+1 to all Knights, making your tokens 5/5 powerhouses for the rest of the turn.