Westgate RegentHow it works & interactions with other cards

Scaling Power and Ward Protection

Westgate Regent features two powerful keyword abilities and a triggered growth ability. Flying allows it to bypass ground blockers, while its Ward ability forces an opponent to discard a card whenever they target it with a spell or ability. The most dangerous aspect of the Regent is its growth trigger: whenever it deals combat damage to a player, you put +1/+1 counters on it equal to the damage dealt. This effectively doubles its power every time it attacks unhindered.

Resolution Step by Step

When Westgate Regent deals combat damage to a player, its triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you check the amount of damage dealt and place that many +1/+1 counters on the Regent. For example, if it deals 4 damage, it receives four counters and becomes an 8/8. If an opponent targets Westgate Regent, the Ward ability triggers immediately. The opponent must discard a card while the Ward ability is on the stack; if they cannot or choose not to, their spell or ability is countered by the game rules.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that Ward triggers for both spells and abilities. This includes activated abilities from permanents and triggered abilities controlled by an opponent. Another error involves the timing of the counters; because the counters are placed after combat damage is dealt, the Regent does not deal increased damage during the same combat step it receives the counters. Furthermore, if a spell targets multiple permanents with Ward, the opponent must pay the Ward cost for each target individually.

Strategic Deployment

Westgate Regent is best played when you can guarantee a clear path for an attack. Because its growth is based on damage dealt, pairing it with effects that double triggers or increase its base power can lead to a one-turn clock. It is particularly effective against control decks that rely on targeted removal, as the Ward cost forces them to deplete their hand just to interact with your board.

Interaction examples

Exponential Growth with Roaming Throne

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne with 'Vampire' chosen as the creature type, Westgate Regent's damage ability will trigger an additional time. If a 4/4 Regent deals 4 combat damage to a player, it will trigger twice. The first trigger adds four +1/+1 counters (making it an 8/8), and the second trigger adds another four +1/+1 counters, resulting in a 12/12 creature from a single combat phase.

Punishing Targeted Abilities

Solemn Simulacrum

While Solemn Simulacrum typically searches for land or draws cards, if an opponent used an ability to force Solemn Simulacrum to target Westgate Regent (perhaps through a redirection effect), the Regent's Ward ability would trigger. The opponent would be forced to discard a card to prevent their ability from being countered, demonstrating that Ward protects against all forms of opponent-controlled targeting.

The Power of Flying

When Westgate Regent is your only creature, its Flying ability ensures it can often attack over ground-based blockers. Upon dealing its initial 4 damage to a player, it becomes an 8/8. On the next turn, if it connects again, it deals 8 damage and receives eight more counters, becoming a massive 16/16 flyer.