Valakut Predator 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
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Complete guide
Valakut Predator is an aggressive Elemental that embodies the volatile nature of Zendikar's landscape. By utilizing the Landfall keyword, this creature transforms every land drop into a significant offensive boost. Understanding how to maximize these triggers is the key to overwhelming your opponents in the early to mid-game.
What It Does
Valakut Predator features the Landfall ability, a triggered ability that watches for lands entering the battlefield under your control. Every time a land is played or placed onto the battlefield through an effect, Valakut Predator receives a +2/+2 bonus until the end of the current turn. This ability is cumulative, meaning multiple lands entering in a single turn will stack multiple +2/+2 bonuses.
How Landfall Resolves
When a land enters the battlefield under your control, the Landfall ability triggers and is placed onto the stack. If multiple lands enter at the same time, or if you have multiple permanents with Landfall, you choose the order in which these triggers are placed on the stack. Each trigger resolves individually, granting the Predator +2/+2. Note that if a permanent you already control is turned into a land by an effect, Landfall does not trigger; the object must actually enter the battlefield as a land.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that Landfall only triggers when you 'play' your one land for the turn. In reality, any effect that puts a land onto the battlefield—such as a spell or a creature's ability—will trigger Valakut Predator. Additionally, remember that the +2/+2 bonus is temporary and will wear off during the cleanup step at the end of the turn, so you must use the increased power during your combat phase or for specific power-based effects.
When to Play It
Valakut Predator is best utilized in decks that can ensure consistent land drops or generate multiple land entries in a single turn. It excels in aggressive strategies where a 3-mana creature can suddenly swing for 4, 6, or even 8 damage. Timing your land plays for your pre-combat main phase is essential to ensure the Predator is buffed before it attacks.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you already control Valakut Predator and cast Solemn Simulacrum, the Golem's enter-the-battlefield ability allows you to put a basic land onto the battlefield. When that land enters, Valakut Predator's Landfall ability triggers. The Predator will get +2/+2, becoming a 4/4 creature until the end of the turn.
Roaming ThroneIf you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Elemental' chosen as the creature type, any Landfall trigger from Valakut Predator will trigger an additional time. If you then play a land, Valakut Predator's ability triggers twice, giving it a total of +4/+4 for that single land entry.
During your turn, you simply play a Mountain from your hand as your land for the turn. Valakut Predator's Landfall ability triggers immediately. Once the trigger resolves, your 2/2 Predator becomes a 4/4 until the end of the turn, ready to attack.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Valakut Predator
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A landfall ability triggers whenever a land you control enters for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability puts a land onto the battlefield under your control.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
A landfall ability doesn't trigger if a permanent already on the battlefield becomes a land.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Whenever a land you control enters, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one to resolve (As a result, you can have those abilities resolve in the order of your choosing.).
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Valakut Predator
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