AI DraftFeb 26, 2026
Gaea's Cradle + Oboro Breezecaller + Talon Gates of Madara
Overview
Gaea’s Cradle’s tap ability is a mana ability: when you activate "
: Add 
for each creature you control," it resolves immediately and produces green equal to the number of creatures you control at the moment it resolves . Oboro Breezecaller’s "
, Return a land you control to its owner's hand: Untap target land" is not a mana ability because it has a target, so it goes on the stack and you must return the chosen land to your hand as part of paying the activation’s cost before the ability resolves . Talon Gates of Madara’s "When this land enters, up to one target creature phases out" is a triggered ability that can phase out a creature when the land enters; phasing a creature out removes it from interaction for counting creatures (and does not cause leaves-the-battlefield or enters-the-battlefield events) per the published ruling [Ruling 2024-06-07] and tokens that are phased out cease to exist .
: Add for each creature you control," it resolves immediately and produces green equal to the number of creatures you control at the moment it resolves . Oboro Breezecaller’s ", Return a land you control to its owner's hand: Untap target land" is not a mana ability because it has a target, so it goes on the stack and you must return the chosen land to your hand as part of paying the activation’s cost before the ability resolves . Talon Gates of Madara’s "When this land enters, up to one target creature phases out" is a triggered ability that can phase out a creature when the land enters; phasing a creature out removes it from interaction for counting creatures (and does not cause leaves-the-battlefield or enters-the-battlefield events) per the published ruling [Ruling 2024-06-07] and tokens that are phased out cease to exist .Step 1
With Gaea’s Cradle, Oboro Breezecaller, and Talon Gates all on the battlefield, Gaea’s Cradle’s activation ": Add for each creature you control" is a mana ability and resolves immediately when activated, producing green equal to the current number of creatures you control .
: Add for each creature you control" is a mana ability and resolves immediately when activated, producing green equal to the current number of creatures you control .Step 2
You may activate Oboro Breezecaller’s ability by paying and returning a land you control to your hand as part of the activation’s cost; returning that land (for example Talon Gates) happens while you are paying costs, before the ability resolves .
and returning a land you control to your hand as part of the activation’s cost; returning that land (for example Talon Gates) happens while you are paying costs, before the ability resolves .Step 3
Because Oboro’s ability has a target ("Untap target land"), it is not a mana ability and goes on the stack; when it resolves it untaps the targeted land .
Step 4
If you return Talon Gates to your hand (as Oboro’s activation cost) and then pay Talon Gates’ 
activated ability to put it from your hand onto the battlefield, Talon Gates will enter the battlefield and its triggered ability "When this land enters, up to one target creature phases out" will trigger.
activated ability to put it from your hand onto the battlefield, Talon Gates will enter the battlefield and its triggered ability "When this land enters, up to one target creature phases out" will trigger.Step 5
When that triggered ability resolves it phases out the chosen creature (for example Oboro); phasing out removes the creature from being counted as a creature you control but does not cause leave/enter triggers to trigger and phased-out tokens cease to exist [Ruling 2024-06-07].
Step 6
After Oboro is phased out it is no longer counted by Gaea’s Cradle, so any later activation of Gaea’s Cradle will add green equal to the smaller number of creatures you control at that time .
Step 7
While Oboro is phased out you cannot activate its ability because it isn’t on the battlefield to activate, and it cannot be targeted by most spells or abilities that target creatures (phased-out permanents aren’t in the battlefield zone).
Resolution
If Talon Gates enters the battlefield and phases out Oboro Breezecaller, Oboro is no longer a creature you control for purposes of counting creatures for Gaea’s Cradle, so subsequent activations of Gaea’s Cradle’s mana ability will produce one less (or otherwise reflect the new creature count) [Ruling 2024-06-07]. You can use Oboro to return Talon Gates to your hand as part of Oboro’s activation cost; that removal happens immediately as part of paying costs, and Oboro’s ability (which has a target) will then go on the stack to untap the chosen land . If you then pay Talon Gates’ ability to put it from your hand onto the battlefield, its enter-the-battlefield triggered ability will trigger again and can phase out a creature (for example Oboro); phasing out does not cause enter/leave triggers to trigger [Ruling 2024-06-07]. If the phased-out creature was a token, it ceases to exist when phased out .
(or otherwise reflect the new creature count) [Ruling 2024-06-07]. You can use Oboro to return Talon Gates to your hand as part of Oboro’s activation cost; that removal happens immediately as part of paying costs, and Oboro’s ability (which has a target) will then go on the stack to untap the chosen land . If you then pay Talon Gates’ ability to put it from your hand onto the battlefield, its enter-the-battlefield triggered ability will trigger again and can phase out a creature (for example Oboro); phasing out does not cause enter/leave triggers to trigger [Ruling 2024-06-07]. If the phased-out creature was a token, it ceases to exist when phased out .Feedback