Protection from each cmc other than the chosen number? That is the most interesting effect I have seen in quite a while--your opponents probably can't target him but you might not be able to protect him in case they have the correct removal in hand. Vulnerable to sweepers, but then so are most other creatures.
Also, rules people: Is there any way to avoid the second ability choosing a number? I'm not a rules guy but I assume it's not worded as a triggered ability so Hushbringer doesn't works. How about Manifest? Would flipping him over make you roll the die?
Manifest would work. Humility would also work. In those cases, he essentially reads "~ has protection from each CMC except for <undefined>". The rest of the ability should work just fine even if that number is undefined. The rule that governs this is:
706.7a. If an ability causes a player to "choose a [value]" and a second, linked ability refers to that choice, the second ability is the only ability that can refer to that choice. An object doesn't "remember" that choice and use it for other abilities it may copy later. If an object copies an ability that refers to a choice, but either (a) doesn't copy that ability's linked ability or (b) does copy the linked ability but no choice is made for it, then the choice is considered to be "undefined." If an ability refers to an undefined choice, that part of the ability won't do anything.
I don't believe that this stops the ability as a whole; it just stops the "other than" part of it. We might need to wait for the Release Notes to be sure, but it seems that the rest of the ability should still work.
Due to the rule above since there is an undefined choice, the ability won't do anything at all. It is a bit weird but there we have it. We can't make it truly invincible.
Manifest works. But humility and hushbringer don't. It reads "as it enters the battlefield", not "when it enters the battlefield". So when in doubt just ask whether or not the effect would stop a clone.
Manifest works. But humility and hushbringer don't. It reads "as it enters the battlefield", not "when it enters the battlefield". So when in doubt just ask whether or not the effect would stop a clone.
Humility does stop clones. Thus, it stops the choice from being made for this card.
As mentioned, removing that choice makes the card worse, not better, so it isn't something you likely want to do.
Due to the rule above since there is an undefined choice, the ability won't do anything at all. It is a bit weird but there we have it. We can't make it truly invincible.
Aw shucks, but thanks a lot either way. Well, guess once again the combo is just to give him first strike then.
he's a bordline boros-only powerhouse that can get a lot of damagage done, mentor will probably never help him but he fits the boros aggro- phase so i think he's at least a 1- of in anything that wants him.
I'm glad they clarified that ruling. The phrase, "...that part of the ability..." is a little ambiguous, and I would have felt fairly confident after reading 706.7a that it would have worked the other way.
This guy is going to steal a lot of limited games I imagine. You're all in on RW, but unless your opponent has enough of whatever the magic number is, you're probably just going to win.
Manifest works. But humility and hushbringer don't. It reads "as it enters the battlefield", not "when it enters the battlefield". So when in doubt just ask whether or not the effect would stop a clone.
Humility does stop clones. Thus, it stops the choice from being made for this card.
As mentioned, removing that choice makes the card worse, not better, so it isn't something you likely want to do.
But surely the whole Humility angle was a red herring anyway as best case scenario you'd have ended up with an indestructible 1/1 that you cannot enchant or equip. Seems bad to me when you really want to be able to make your 1/1 better than your opponent's.
Having protection from tokens (and other 0-cost cards), 1-drops, and 5+ cost cards automatically is... pretty damned nice. Even if you end up hitting a cost your opponent has some cards that can remove him, they have to hit that exact card. Their removal is usually a 3-drop, but you rolled 2 so only one removal card they have a couple copies of can remove him? Wow.
Note also that it's protection from. If you are playing Boros, you might very well have Deafening Clarion and Storm's Wrath as your sweepers. If you roll a 2, he's immune to the damage from both (but still gets lifelink from Clarion!). If you roll a 3 or 4, he's still immune to one of them, giving you some interesting lines of play. You're also playing red and white. If you roll a number the opponent has a blocker for, you're in a color combo that can remove that potential blocker, thereby removing the card that he DOESN'T have protection from. You're also in a color combo that can give him protection from a color of your choice for W at instant speed. They use one of the only cards that can remove him, and you stop it with Gods Willing, you might have ruined their game just like that.
You're also in a color combo that can give him protection from a color of your choice for W at instant speed. They use one of the only cards that can remove him, and you stop it with Gods Willing, you might have ruined their game just like that.
This is a fascinating card.
Sadly, Haktos always has protection from cmc 1, so he cannot be targeted with Gods Willing.
Also, rules people: Is there any way to avoid the second ability choosing a number? I'm not a rules guy but I assume it's not worded as a triggered ability so Hushbringer doesn't works. How about Manifest? Would flipping him over make you roll the die?
Manifest would work. Humility would also work. In those cases, he essentially reads "~ has protection from each CMC except for <undefined>". The rest of the ability should work just fine even if that number is undefined. The rule that governs this is:
706.7a. If an ability causes a player to "choose a [value]" and a second, linked ability refers to that choice, the second ability is the only ability that can refer to that choice. An object doesn't "remember" that choice and use it for other abilities it may copy later. If an object copies an ability that refers to a choice, but either (a) doesn't copy that ability's linked ability or (b) does copy the linked ability but no choice is made for it, then the choice is considered to be "undefined." If an ability refers to an undefined choice, that part of the ability won't do anything.
I don't believe that this stops the ability as a whole; it just stops the "other than" part of it. We might need to wait for the Release Notes to be sure, but it seems that the rest of the ability should still work.
Due to the rule above since there is an undefined choice, the ability won't do anything at all. It is a bit weird but there we have it. We can't make it truly invincible.
I feel this is an edge case they created for themselves and worried he might be too strong (boros being too strong, thats a laugh and a half). Because normally the rules would permit this. But based on the clarification for this edge case, this is extremely counter productive design if he has no protection if no number could be chosen.
I won't lie, I was actually brewing in my head fun ways to negate his achilles heel (HA!), but then this ruling and I'm just like "Oh, guess I will brew something more interesting around another legendary instead."
Sadly, Haktos always has protection from cmc 1, so he cannot be targeted with Gods Willing.
Oh right, duh. Obvious mistake is obvious.
Disclosure: that was my first thought, as well, and then I reread the card. We do have Center Soul or Feat of Resistance at cmc 2 but the likelihood that your opponent will just happen to have the correct cmc of removal in hand is low enough that this card should prove difficult for them to remove, sweepers notwithstanding (since they don't target). Rather than trying to find neat combos to use to make him absoluately invulnerable, we should probably rely on his inherent effects--those are more than sufficient. Blink effects in white are probably better--not only will reentering the battlefield change the number but the blink means the original spell isn't targeting him any more.
The only good way to build him is with anthem/group-based effect. Its the same principle as building a Multani, Maro-Sorcerer deck. As due to his own randomized protection, he is actually highly unreliable for normal voltron builds.
Sadly, Haktos always has protection from cmc 1, so he cannot be targeted with Gods Willing.
Oh right, duh. Obvious mistake is obvious.
Disclosure: that was my first thought, as well, and then I reread the card. We do have Center Soul or Feat of Resistance at cmc 2 but the likelihood that your opponent will just happen to have the correct cmc of removal in hand is low enough that this card should prove difficult for them to remove, sweepers notwithstanding (since they don't target). Rather than trying to find neat combos to use to make him absoluately invulnerable, we should probably rely on his inherent effects--those are more than sufficient. Blink effects in white are probably better--not only will reentering the battlefield change the number but the blink means the original spell isn't targeting him any more.
That's why I suggested Brave the Elements. Doesn't target so you can still give him pro any color for W.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
If you can untap with him on the field, then cards like Brave the Elements and Unbreakable Formation can protect him.
https://twitter.com/EliShffrn/status/1213148285415804929
Due to the rule above since there is an undefined choice, the ability won't do anything at all. It is a bit weird but there we have it. We can't make it truly invincible.
As mentioned, removing that choice makes the card worse, not better, so it isn't something you likely want to do.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Now enough hax and we might get this guy to die to Assassin's Trophy, Kolaghan's Command, etc....
...or just board wipe him or make his controller sacrifice him.
Haktos is a monster, will be fun to play it in arena.
this is Progenitus-lite for 4.
Finaly someone has the right view on it d:)
But surely the whole Humility angle was a red herring anyway as best case scenario you'd have ended up with an indestructible 1/1 that you cannot enchant or equip. Seems bad to me when you really want to be able to make your 1/1 better than your opponent's.
In response, I Assassin's Trophy/Abrupt Decay/Doom Blade/Go For the Throat/Lightning Helix/Terminate/etc. him.
In Modern, at least, I want to hit CMC 4--he's too vulnerable to the above removal along with Bob/Goyf/Snapcaster Mage/Ice-Fang Coatl/Wrenn and Six at CMC 2, and he's too vulnerable to Kolaghan's Command/Oko, Thief of Crowns/Vendilion Clique/Emry, Lurker of the Loch/Tireless Tracker/Liliana, the Last Hope at CMC 3. What's the worst that often gets him at CMC 4 in Modern? Bounce like Cryptic Command/Jace, the Mind Sculptor? Maybe trading with Urza, Lord High Artificer isn't all that bad....
Note also that it's protection from. If you are playing Boros, you might very well have Deafening Clarion and Storm's Wrath as your sweepers. If you roll a 2, he's immune to the damage from both (but still gets lifelink from Clarion!). If you roll a 3 or 4, he's still immune to one of them, giving you some interesting lines of play. You're also playing red and white. If you roll a number the opponent has a blocker for, you're in a color combo that can remove that potential blocker, thereby removing the card that he DOESN'T have protection from. You're also in a color combo that can give him protection from a color of your choice for W at instant speed. They use one of the only cards that can remove him, and you stop it with Gods Willing, you might have ruined their game just like that.
This is a fascinating card.
Sadly, Haktos always has protection from cmc 1, so he cannot be targeted with Gods Willing.
I won't lie, I was actually brewing in my head fun ways to negate his achilles heel (HA!), but then this ruling and I'm just like "Oh, guess I will brew something more interesting around another legendary instead."
Oh right, duh. Obvious mistake is obvious.
Disclosure: that was my first thought, as well, and then I reread the card. We do have Center Soul or Feat of Resistance at cmc 2 but the likelihood that your opponent will just happen to have the correct cmc of removal in hand is low enough that this card should prove difficult for them to remove, sweepers notwithstanding (since they don't target). Rather than trying to find neat combos to use to make him absoluately invulnerable, we should probably rely on his inherent effects--those are more than sufficient. Blink effects in white are probably better--not only will reentering the battlefield change the number but the blink means the original spell isn't targeting him any more.
That's why I suggested Brave the Elements. Doesn't target so you can still give him pro any color for W.
Yep I spotted that too I read it wrong
It has protection from all numbers besides the one that was chosen at random