First printed in Guilds of Ravnica (2018)
Creature — Elemental
Whenever you cast a red spell, if this creature has fewer than three +1/+1 counters on it, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
Remove three +1/+1 counters from this creature: Add 
.
1/1
- Illustrated by
- Jason Felix
Legality
- Legal in
- Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Historic, Timeless, Penny Dreadful, Gladiator, Commander, Duel Commander, Tiny Leaders, Oathbreaker, Brawl, Competitive Brawl
- Not legal in
- Standard, Pauper, Future Standard, Alchemy, Premodern, Old School 93/94, Pauper Commander, PreDH, Standard Brawl
Rulings (3)
- Runaway Steam-Kin’s triggered ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
- If Runaway Steam-Kin has three or more +1/+1 counters on it after you’re done paying for a red spell, its ability doesn’t trigger at all. If it has three or more +1/+1 counters on it as its triggered ability resolves, it doesn’t get a +1/+1 counter.
- Runaway Steam-Kin has to be on the battlefield for its ability to trigger. Casting it won’t trigger its own ability.
Prices
MTGO price: 0.007 TIX, the cheapest non-foil print (average sell price on GoatBots, 1 Nov 2026).
Combos
69 combos, the most popular first:
- Infinite magecraft triggers, Infinite red mana…: Reiterate + Ruby Medallion + Runaway Steam-Kin + Seething Song
- Infinite creature ETB, Infinite creature LTB…: Grinning Ignus + Runaway Steam-Kin
- Infinite draw triggers for all players, Infinite looting for all players…: Burning Inquiry + Runaway Steam-Kin + Underworld Breach
- Infinite death triggers, Infinite draw triggers…: Hazoret's Monument + Runaway Steam-Kin + Skirk Prospector + Squee, the Immortal
- Infinite death triggers, Infinite draw triggers…: Hazoret's Monument + Phyrexian Altar + Runaway Steam-Kin + Squee, the Immortal
- Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB…: Runaway Steam-Kin + Skyfire Phoenix + Squee, the Immortal + Thermopod
- Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB…: Desecrated Tomb + Phyrexian Altar + Runaway Steam-Kin + Squee, the Immortal
- Infinite creature LTB, Infinite creature ETB…: Phyrexian Altar + Runaway Steam-Kin + Skyfire Phoenix + Squee, the Immortal
- Infinite death triggers, Infinite creature ETB…: Genesis Chamber + Phyrexian Altar + Runaway Steam-Kin + Squee, the Immortal
- Infinite damage, Infinitely large creature until end of turn…: Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty + Crown of Flames + Runaway Steam-Kin + The Howling Abomination
