Unclaimed CatHow it works & interactions with other cards

Choosing Your Allegiance

Unclaimed Cat relies on your team designation, which is typically decided at the start of specific formats or scenarios. If you are on the Mirran team, it gains lifelink, causing any damage it deals to result in you gaining that much life. If you are on the Phyrexian team, it gains Toxic 1, which ensures that any player dealt combat damage by it also receives a poison counter.

Static Abilities and Timing

The abilities granted to Unclaimed Cat are static abilities. This means they do not use the stack and are active as long as the condition (your team membership) is met. If the game state somehow changes your team status, the abilities will update immediately without needing to trigger or resolve.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming Unclaimed Cat has both abilities by default. It only possesses the keyword associated with your specific team. Additionally, Toxic 1 does not replace damage; the player takes both the life loss and the poison counter simultaneously during the damage step.

Strategic Deployment

On the Mirran team, use Unclaimed Cat to stabilize against aggressive decks by regaining life through combat. On the Phyrexian team, it serves as an early threat that can win the game through poison, regardless of your opponent's total life count.

Interaction examples

Generating Value on the Curve

Solemn Simulacrum

After casting Unclaimed Cat on turn three, you follow up with Solemn Simulacrum on turn four. The Simulacrum ensures you have the land needed to continue your curve, while the Cat provides either lifelink or Toxic 1 to apply pressure or defend based on your team's needs.

Double Team Benefits

Roaming Throne

If you cast Roaming Throne and choose 'Cat' as the creature type, it will benefit from its own triggered abilities. However, because Unclaimed Cat uses static abilities (lifelink or Toxic) rather than triggered ones, Roaming Throne will not cause the Cat to trigger additional times. The Cat remains a solid attacker while the Throne provides a massive 4/4 ward body.