The Battlefield

Bontu's Monument
Gravecrawler
Warren Soultrader
AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Bontu's Monument + Gravecrawler + Warren Soultrader

Overview
With Bontu's Monument on the battlefield, Gravecrawler in your graveyard can be cast for {0} (its {B} cost is reduced by {1}) as long as you control a Zombie; when you cast it Monument's triggered ability will trigger and each opponent will lose 1 life and you will gain 1 life (Ruling [2017-04-18]). Warren Soultrader's activated ability (Pay 1 life, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Treasure token) is an activated ability whose costs are paid when it resolves . If you need to control a Zombie to cast Gravecrawler, you must control one at the time you cast it, but once Gravecrawler is on the stack losing that Zombie afterward doesn’t prevent Gravecrawler from resolving (Ruling [2011-01-22]).
Step 1
Have Bontu's Monument and Warren Soultrader on the battlefield and Gravecrawler in your graveyard; ensure you control at least one Zombie (for example, Warren Soultrader itself qualifies).
Step 2
If you want to cast Gravecrawler, declare casting it from your graveyard (Gravecrawler's oracle text allows this as long as you control a Zombie).
Step 3
As you determine total cost, Bontu's Monument's static cost-reduction applies, reducing Gravecrawler's {B} cost by {1}, making its mana cost {0} for you (Monument's cost-reduction part described in Ruling [2017-04-18]).
Step 4
Put Gravecrawler on the stack as a spell. Because you cast a creature spell, Bontu's Monument's triggered ability triggers (Ruling [2017-04-18]).
Step 5
Players receive priority and the triggers/other spells/abilities resolve in the usual order. When Gravecrawler resolves, it enters the battlefield as a creature. Note: once Gravecrawler is on the stack, you do not need to keep controlling a Zombie for that cast to resolve (Ruling [2011-01-22]).
Step 6
When Monument's triggered ability resolves, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
Step 7
If you instead activate Warren Soultrader's ability to produce a Treasure, you activate it and when it resolves you pay 1 life and sacrifice another creature as costs; the Treasure token is then created and can be used for mana afterwards .
Resolution
You can cast Gravecrawler from your graveyard for {0} if you control any Zombie while casting (Bontu’s Monument reduces its cost by {1}), Monument will trigger when you cast it and cause each opponent to lose 1 life and you to gain 1 life (Ruling [2017-04-18]), and once Gravecrawler is on the stack you don’t need to keep controlling a Zombie for that cast to resolve (Ruling [2011-01-22]). Warren Soultrader’s ability requires paying 1 life and sacrificing another creature when that ability resolves; you can use the Treasure it creates afterward as mana if you need mana for other spells or abilities .
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