Vulture, Feathered FiendHow it works & interactions with other cards

Soaring to Victory

Vulture, Feathered Fiend has two key components: the Flying keyword and a triggered ability. Flying allows it to bypass blockers that don't have Flying or Reach. Its triggered ability looks for any time one or more creatures you control with flying deal combat damage to a player. When this happens, each of those specific creatures gets a +1/+1 counter, and you draw exactly one card, regardless of how many creatures dealt damage.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you declare attackers, including at least one creature with flying. If those creatures are not blocked and deal combat damage to a player, Vulture's ability triggers. The ability is placed on the stack. Upon resolution, you identify which creatures with flying dealt combat damage to that player during that specific damage step. You put a +1/+1 counter on each of them simultaneously, and then you draw one card from your library.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that you draw a card for every creature that hits the player; however, the ability triggers 'Whenever one or more' deal damage, meaning you only get one draw per combat damage step. Additionally, the creatures must actually have flying at the time damage is dealt. If a creature loses flying after being declared as an attacker but before damage, it will not receive a counter and won't contribute to the trigger.

Strategic Timing

The best time to deploy Vulture, Feathered Fiend is when you already have a board presence of small fliers. Since it doesn't have Haste, it relies on other creatures to provide immediate value the turn it enters. It is also highly effective in formats with multiple combat steps or Double Strike, as the ability can trigger once in the first strike damage step and once in the regular damage step.

Interaction examples

Double the Villainy

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with the type 'Human' or 'Villain' chosen, Vulture's ability triggers twice. When your fliers deal combat damage to a player, you will put two +1/+1 counters on each of those creatures and draw two cards instead of one.

Flying Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

Normally, Solemn Simulacrum cannot trigger Vulture because it lacks flying. However, if you use an effect to give the Golem flying and it deals combat damage to a player while Vulture is on the battlefield, the Golem will receive a +1/+1 counter and you will draw a card.

Single Combat Trigger

If Vulture, Feathered Fiend attacks alone and is not blocked, it deals 3 damage to the opponent. Because it has flying and dealt combat damage to a player, you put a +1/+1 counter on it (making it a 4/4) and draw one card.