Vaultborn Tyrant 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
Trample Whenever this creature or another creature you control with power 4 or greater enters, you gain 3 life and draw a card. When this creature dies, if it's not a token, create a token that's a copy of it, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
Complete guide
Vaultborn Tyrant is a colossal Dinosaur that ensures you stay healthy and your hand stays full throughout the game. Not only does it reward you for playing big creatures, but it also has a built-in insurance policy that leaves behind a powerful artifact copy when it falls in battle.
The Power Threshold
The primary ability of Vaultborn Tyrant triggers whenever it or another creature with power 4 or greater enters the battlefield under your control. The game checks the creature's power the moment it enters. This includes any static bonuses from other permanents or replacement effects like +1/+1 counters. If the creature meets the 4-power requirement at that instant, the ability triggers, granting you 3 life and a card draw.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, a creature enters the battlefield. Second, the game checks if its power is 4 or higher. If it is, the triggered ability goes on the stack. Once players pass priority and the ability resolves, you gain 3 life and draw a card. Crucially, if the creature's power is reduced or it is removed from the battlefield after the ability has triggered, the ability still resolves fully.
Death and Rebirth
When a non-token Vaultborn Tyrant dies, its final ability triggers to create a token copy. This token is a 6/6 Dinosaur Artifact creature. Because this token has power 6, its own 'enters' ability will trigger immediately upon creation, gaining you another 3 life and another card. Note that because the token is a token, it will not trigger the 'dies' ability again if it is destroyed later.
Strategic Timing
Since this card provides card advantage and life gain, it is best played in decks that consistently deploy high-power threats. It acts as a bridge to your late-game finishers while providing a body that is difficult for opponents to profitably interact with due to its 'dies' trigger.
Interaction examples
Vaultborn Tyrant
Craterhoof BehemothWith Vaultborn Tyrant on the battlefield, you cast Craterhoof Behemoth. As the Behemoth enters, it has a base power of 5. This satisfies the Tyrant's condition, triggering the ability to draw a card and gain 3 life. Note that even before the Behemoth's own +X/+X trigger resolves, the Tyrant has already seen a 4+ power creature enter.
CopyAn opponent destroys your non-token Vaultborn Tyrant. Its death trigger creates a token (represented by a Copy). As this token enters the battlefield, it is a 6/6 Artifact Dinosaur. Because its power is greater than 4, its own triggered ability activates, resulting in you gaining 3 life and drawing a card immediately upon its return.
Avenger of ZendikarWhen Avenger of Zendikar enters the battlefield, it is a 5/5 creature. This triggers Vaultborn Tyrant, so you gain 3 life and draw a card. However, the 0/1 Plant tokens created by the Avenger do not trigger the Tyrant because their power is less than 4. If you later use Landfall to put four +1/+1 counters on a Plant, the Tyrant still won't trigger because the creature was already on the battlefield; it only checks power at the moment of entry.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Vaultborn Tyrant
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If one or more static abilities that apply to a creature entering the battlefield change its power, those abilities are considered when determining whether or not Vaultborn Tyrant’s second ability triggers. The same is true for replacement effects that apply to it, such as entering the battlefield with one or more +1/+1 counters or entering the battlefield as a copy of another creature.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Once Vaultborn Tyrant’s second ability has triggered, lowering the power of the creature or removing it from the battlefield won’t stop you from gaining life and drawing a card.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Except for the listed exception, the token copies exactly what is printed on Vaultborn Tyrant and nothing else (unless Vaultborn Tyrant was copying something else; see below). It doesn’t copy whether Vaultborn Tyrant was tapped or untapped, whether it had any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If Vaultborn Tyrant was copying something else when it was last on the battlefield but somehow still had its last ability, then the token enters the battlefield as whatever Vaultborn Tyrant copied, with the listed exceptions.
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
When the token copy of Vaultborn Tyrant enters the battlefield, its second ability will trigger.
Card named in this ruling
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Ghalta, Primal Hunger + Vaultborn Tyrant + Phyrexian Altar + Defiler of Vigor
- 1Cast Ghalta from the command zone by paying
. - 2Defiler of Vigor triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
- 3Resolve Ghalta. When it enters, Vaultborn Tyrant triggers, causing you to gain 3 life and draw a card.
- 4Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Ghalta, adding . Choose to return Ghalta from your graveyard to the command zone.
- 5Repeat.
Vaultborn Tyrant + Trudge Garden + Ashnod's Altar
- 1Cast Vaultborn Tyrant by paying
. - 2When Vaultborn Tyrant enters the battlefield, its first ability triggers, causing you to gain 3 life and draw a card.
- 3Trudge Garden triggers. Choose not to pay.
- 4Activate Ashnod's Altar by sacrificing Vaultborn Tyrant, adding
. - 5When Vaultborn Tyrant dies, its second ability triggers, creating a token copy of it that is an artifact in addition to its other types.
- 6When the Vaultborn Tyrant token enters the battlefield, its first ability triggers, causing you to gain 3 life and draw a card.
- 7Trudge Garden triggers, causing you to pay
to create a 4/4 Fungus Beast creature token. - 8When the Fungus Beast enters the battlefield, the Vaultborn Tyrant token's first ability triggers.
The Locust God + Vaultborn Tyrant + March of the World Ooze
- 1Draw a card.
- 2The Locust God triggers, creating a 1/1 Insect creature token with flying and haste.
- 3When the Insect enters the battlefield as a 6/6 Insect Ooze due to March of the World Ooze, Vaultborn Tyrant's first ability triggers, causing you to gain 3 life and draw a card.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Vaultborn Tyrant
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.