The Underworld Fantasy QueenHow it works & interactions with other cards

Harnessing the Four Seasons

When The Underworld Fantasy Queen enters the battlefield, the season becomes Spring. This is a special state that changes every time your upkeep begins. The seasons always follow the order of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter before returning to Spring again. Each season unlocks a specific static or triggered ability printed on the card. Only the ability associated with the current season is active; all other seasonal abilities are ignored until their respective time arrives.

The Upkeep Transition

The transition between seasons happens as a triggered ability at the start of your upkeep. When this ability resolves, the season 'arrives,' moving one step forward in the cycle. This happens before you draw for the turn, meaning you will often have a new seasonal benefit during your main phase. Note that if The Underworld Fantasy Queen leaves the battlefield, the season remains what it was until another effect changes it or another Queen is played.

Strategic Considerations

Timing your attacks and sacrifices is crucial. During Spring, you want to have creatures available to sacrifice for card draw. During Summer and Fall, you want to focus on creature destruction to grow the Queen or drain your opponent's life. Winter is the most restrictive phase, as it prevents the Queen from being involved in combat entirely. Plans should be made one or two turns in advance to ensure you aren't stuck with a passive God during a critical combat step.

Interaction examples

Springtime Sacrifices

Solemn Simulacrum

With the season set to Spring, you cast The Underworld Fantasy Queen. When she enters, her Spring ability triggers. You choose to sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum. Both the Queen's ability and the Simulacrum's 'dies' ability trigger. You will draw one card from the Queen's effect and one card from the Simulacrum's own ability, providing massive card advantage.

Double the Seasons with the Throne

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield naming 'God', it interacts with the Queen's triggered abilities. During Spring, Summer, or Fall, if a seasonal condition is met (like a creature dying), the Queen's ability will trigger an additional time. However, the Roaming Throne also causes the 'next season arrives' upkeep trigger to happen twice, effectively skipping a season every turn (e.g., jumping from Spring to Fall).

Winter's Chill

If your upkeep begins and the season transitions from Fall to Winter, The Underworld Fantasy Queen immediately gains the restriction that she cannot attack or block. Even if she had Haste or was previously a legal attacker, she cannot be declared as an attacker during the declare attackers step as long as the season remains Winter.