Trostani, Three WhispersHow it works & interactions with other cards

A Trio of Talents

Trostani features three activated abilities that target creatures. For one green and one generic mana, you can grant deathtouch. For one hybrid green or white mana, you can grant vigilance. Finally, for two white and one generic mana, you can grant double strike. Each of these effects lasts until the end of the turn and can be activated multiple times to target different creatures or the same creature for a combined effect.

Step-by-Step Resolution

To use Trostani, first ensure you have the required mana available in your pool. Announce the ability you are activating and choose a legal target creature on the battlefield. Once you pay the cost, the ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, the target creature gains the specified keyword until the cleanup step of the current turn. You can activate these abilities at any time you have priority, including during your opponent's turn or after blockers have been declared.

Timing and Strategy

The best time to use Trostani is often during the combat phase. Granting double strike after an opponent declines to block can lead to massive damage. Alternatively, giving a creature deathtouch can discourage your opponent from attacking into your board. Because the vigilance ability is so cheap, it is excellent for allowing your heavy hitters to attack while still remaining untapped to defend on the following turn.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that these abilities must resolve before they take effect in combat. For example, if you want a creature to have double strike for its combat damage, you must activate the ability no later than the declare blockers step. Additionally, remember that giving a creature deathtouch after it has already dealt non-lethal damage will not retroactively destroy the creature it fought.

Interaction examples

The Deadly Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

You have Solemn Simulacrum on the field to block a large enemy attacker. Before damage, you pay {1}{G} to activate Trostani's first ability targeting the Golem. The Golem gains deathtouch, meaning it only needs to deal 1 damage to the attacker to destroy it. When the Golem dies in combat, you still get to draw a card from its own triggered ability.

Offensive Snake Tactics

Sakura-Tribe Elder

During your turn, you want to pressure your opponent. You pay {2}{W} to give Sakura-Tribe Elder double strike and {G/W} to give it vigilance. The Elder can now attack for 2 total damage (in two 1-damage increments). Because it has vigilance, it remains untapped after attacking, allowing you to sacrifice it later in the opponent's turn to search for a basic land.