Valley FlamecallerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Valley Flamecaller possesses a static replacement effect that increases damage. Whenever a Lizard, Mouse, Otter, or Raccoon you control deals damage—whether that is combat damage, a triggered ability, or an activated ability—the amount is increased by 1. Note that Valley Flamecaller itself is a Lizard, so it will benefit from its own ability and deal 3 damage in combat instead of its base power of 2.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, a qualifying creature you control prepares to deal damage to a permanent or player. Before the damage is dealt, the game checks for replacement effects. Valley Flamecaller's effect is applied, adding 1 to the total damage. Finally, the damage is dealt as a single event. If multiple creatures deal damage simultaneously (like during the combat damage step), the bonus is applied individually to each source that meets the type requirements.

Common Mistakes

A common point of confusion involves the interaction with other damage-modifying effects. If an opponent has a protection effect that prevents damage, the player being dealt the damage chooses the order in which to apply the effects. If they choose to prevent the damage first, Valley Flamecaller's bonus has nothing to add to and will not apply. Additionally, this effect does not change the source of the damage; the original creature is still the one dealing the damage, not the Flamecaller.

When to Play It

You should play Valley Flamecaller when you have an established board of the relevant creature types or when you need to push through extra damage against a blocking opponent. Because it affects all damage, not just combat damage, it is particularly effective in decks that use spells or abilities from Otters and Lizards to ping opponents or clear the board of small creatures.

Interaction examples

Boosting a Typed Golem

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Lizard' as it enters the battlefield, Roaming Throne becomes a Lizard in addition to its other types. When Roaming Throne deals damage, Valley Flamecaller recognizes it as a Lizard and increases the damage dealt by 1. This means Roaming Throne will deal 5 damage in combat instead of 4.

Interaction with Non-Related Types

Solemn Simulacrum

If Solemn Simulacrum deals damage while you control Valley Flamecaller, the damage is not increased. Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem and does not have the Lizard, Mouse, Otter, or Raccoon creature types. Valley Flamecaller's replacement effect only looks for those specific four types.

Self-Buffing Mechanics

Valley Flamecaller is a Lizard Warlock. If it attacks and is not blocked, it would normally deal 2 damage based on its power. However, its own replacement effect sees that a Lizard you control is dealing damage, so it adds 1. The opponent will be dealt 3 damage total.