So Dominaria has a few cards we know of that are trying new variants of hexproof: hexproof from white and hexproof from black.
I'm interested in seeing how flexible this is, so I've been brainstorming for more interesting variants. I just wonder at what point these abilities should stop being grouped in with hexproof and just be spelled out.
Here's what I have so far:
-Hexproof from {type} (This creature can't be the target of {type} spells your opponents control or abilities your opponents control from {type} sources.)
-Hexproof from converted mana cost N (This creature can't be the twrget of spells your opponents control with converted mana cost N or less or abilities your opponents control from sources with converted mana cost N or less.)
-Hexproof from {player} (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities the chosen player controls.)
-Spellproof (This creature can't be the target of spells your opponents control.)
-Abilityproof (This creature can't be the targets of abilities your opponents control.)
At this point we can get into any combination of the above. I just wonder if any of this is going too far for a keyword.
Edit: I also just want to bring up the destinction betweet spells and abilities. Some of these variants would be way easier to execute if they were less wordy.
What I would propose is that a small rules change gives every card ability the same traits as its source. For example, an activated ability of Liliana Vess would be black, have CMC 5, and have the planeswalker card type attached to it.
Then, a hypothetical creature with "hexproof from planeswalkers" or "hexproof from converted mana cost 5 or less" would only need to read:
"This creature can't be the target of planeswalker abilities your opponents control,"
or
"This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control with converted mana cost 5 or less."
I think your rules change suggestion is interesting, but what about abilities such as Crackling Triton's? Red ability? Blue ability? Blue/red? By your rules suggestion it'd be blue of course, but the confusion is present.
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I think your rules change suggestion is interesting, but what about abilities such as Crackling Triton's? Red ability? Blue ability? Blue/red? By your rules suggestion it'd be blue of course, but the confusion is present.
Given how often we see off-color abilities vs how often we see hexproof, I wouldn't consider that a major problem.
These variations seem entirely within the tolerances of the existing change, essentially anything that could be had "protection from" can be had "hexproof from."
Hexproof from player would be redundant in a 1v1 game, and seems unlikely to be useful enough to see use in multiplayer formats. Additionally it would be very wordy to put it on a card, since you'd need another ability defining which player is hexproofed from.
I don't like abilityproof, it reminds me of the rarity of Counterabilities, which are scarce mostly because they're attached to things that can be eliminated by some other means. Spellproof seems fine, but would draw complaints from the negative comparison to hexproof, it would need a flavor justification I think.
The hexproof from black/white is a callback to White Knight and Black Knight of course, so it gets a pass, but in general the mana cost of hexproof is quite low, so justifying a weaker version of it on a given card isn't a sure thing.
As for the question of Crackling Triton or similar cards, the color of the activation cost of a card does not define the color of that ability, the color of the card that ability is printed on defines that color. Crackling Triton's ability is blue, it can zap a Narwhal all day long.
I'm interested in seeing how flexible this is, so I've been brainstorming for more interesting variants. I just wonder at what point these abilities should stop being grouped in with hexproof and just be spelled out.
Here's what I have so far:
-Hexproof from {type} (This creature can't be the target of {type} spells your opponents control or abilities your opponents control from {type} sources.)
-Hexproof from converted mana cost N (This creature can't be the twrget of spells your opponents control with converted mana cost N or less or abilities your opponents control from sources with converted mana cost N or less.)
-Hexproof from {player} (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities the chosen player controls.)
-Spellproof (This creature can't be the target of spells your opponents control.)
-Abilityproof (This creature can't be the targets of abilities your opponents control.)
At this point we can get into any combination of the above. I just wonder if any of this is going too far for a keyword.
Edit: I also just want to bring up the destinction betweet spells and abilities. Some of these variants would be way easier to execute if they were less wordy.
What I would propose is that a small rules change gives every card ability the same traits as its source. For example, an activated ability of Liliana Vess would be black, have CMC 5, and have the planeswalker card type attached to it.
Then, a hypothetical creature with "hexproof from planeswalkers" or "hexproof from converted mana cost 5 or less" would only need to read:
"This creature can't be the target of planeswalker abilities your opponents control,"
or
"This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control with converted mana cost 5 or less."
Lead Tesla, a community set designed by everyone and led by me, over at Goblin Artisans. Index of articles here!
Hexproof from player would be redundant in a 1v1 game, and seems unlikely to be useful enough to see use in multiplayer formats. Additionally it would be very wordy to put it on a card, since you'd need another ability defining which player is hexproofed from.
I don't like abilityproof, it reminds me of the rarity of Counterabilities, which are scarce mostly because they're attached to things that can be eliminated by some other means. Spellproof seems fine, but would draw complaints from the negative comparison to hexproof, it would need a flavor justification I think.
The hexproof from black/white is a callback to White Knight and Black Knight of course, so it gets a pass, but in general the mana cost of hexproof is quite low, so justifying a weaker version of it on a given card isn't a sure thing.
As for the question of Crackling Triton or similar cards, the color of the activation cost of a card does not define the color of that ability, the color of the card that ability is printed on defines that color. Crackling Triton's ability is blue, it can zap a Narwhal all day long.