AI DraftFeb 26, 2026
Lightning Runner + Satya, Aetherflux Genius
Overview
When you attack with Lightning Runner and Satya, Aetherflux Genius, each creature’s “Whenever this creature attacks, you get 
” ability will trigger and (as those triggered abilities resolve) give you two energy counters apiece for a total of four energy counters; you cannot pay Lightning Runner’s “pay eight ” cost from those triggers alone this combat unless you already had additional energy beforehand. Lightning Runner’s payment must be made as its triggered ability resolves (so you must have eight energy at that moment) and, if you pay, you untap all creatures you control (including ones that aren’t attacking) and get an additional combat phase after this one [Ruling 2024-06-07] [Ruling 2017-02-09].
” ability will trigger and (as those triggered abilities resolve) give you two energy counters apiece for a total of four energy counters; you cannot pay Lightning Runner’s “pay eight ” cost from those triggers alone this combat unless you already had additional energy beforehand. Lightning Runner’s payment must be made as its triggered ability resolves (so you must have eight energy at that moment) and, if you pay, you untap all creatures you control (including ones that aren’t attacking) and get an additional combat phase after this one [Ruling 2024-06-07] [Ruling 2017-02-09].Step 1
Declare attackers: you declare Lightning Runner and Satya as attackers (both have haste so they can attack even if newly controlled) .
Step 2
Because each has an attack-triggered ability (“Whenever this creature attacks, you get …”), those triggered abilities are created by the attack declaration and will exist to be put onto the stack when triggered (they are separate triggered abilities that will each grant when they resolve) .
…”), those triggered abilities are created by the attack declaration and will exist to be put onto the stack when triggered (they are separate triggered abilities that will each grant when they resolve) .Step 3
When the relevant triggered abilities resolve, each one that grants energy will give you two energy counters; if you control both creatures and both triggers resolve you will gain from Lightning Runner and from Satya for a total of four energy counters (energy are counters, not mana) [Ruling 2024-06-07].
from Lightning Runner and from Satya for a total of four energy counters (energy are counters, not mana) [Ruling 2024-06-07].Step 4
Satya’s triggered ability also creates a tapped and attacking token that's a copy of up to one other target nontoken creature you control when that ability resolves; that token enters the battlefield tapped and attacking as the instruction on Satya’s ability dictates.
Step 5
Lightning Runner’s triggered ability (when it resolves) next lets you pay eight as part of that triggered ability’s resolution; you may only pay that cost at resolution time, and you can only pay energy you actually have at that moment (you can’t promise future energy) [Ruling 2024-06-07].
as part of that triggered ability’s resolution; you may only pay that cost at resolution time, and you can only pay energy you actually have at that moment (you can’t promise future energy) [Ruling 2024-06-07].Step 6
If you do pay eight while Lightning Runner’s ability is resolving, you untap all creatures you control (this includes creatures that aren’t attacking) and you get an additional combat phase after this phase [Ruling 2017-02-09].
while Lightning Runner’s ability is resolving, you untap all creatures you control (this includes creatures that aren’t attacking) and you get an additional combat phase after this phase [Ruling 2017-02-09].Step 7
Untapping attacking creatures that were declared as attackers does not remove them from combat, so they remain attacking for the remainder of this combat and can deal combat damage as appropriate (including double strike behavior for Lightning Runner) .
Step 8
If you didn’t (or couldn’t) pay eight when Lightning Runner’s ability resolved, nothing more happens from that triggered ability beyond the energy you gained when the triggers resolved.
when Lightning Runner’s ability resolved, nothing more happens from that triggered ability beyond the energy you gained when the triggers resolved.Resolution
Both attack triggers (Lightning Runner’s and Satya’s) will grant you when they resolve, for four energy total if you started with zero; Lightning Runner’s optional payment of eight must be paid during its triggered ability’s resolution, so you cannot pay it using energy you haven’t yet gained or that would be generated later in the turn unless you already have enough; if you do pay eight when the ability resolves, you untap all creatures you control (including ones that aren’t attacking) and there will be an additional combat phase after this phase [Ruling 2024-06-07] [Ruling 2017-02-09].
when they resolve, for four energy total if you started with zero; Lightning Runner’s optional payment of eight must be paid during its triggered ability’s resolution, so you cannot pay it using energy you haven’t yet gained or that would be generated later in the turn unless you already have enough; if you do pay eight when the ability resolves, you untap all creatures you control (including ones that aren’t attacking) and there will be an additional combat phase after this phase [Ruling 2024-06-07] [Ruling 2017-02-09].Feedback