I'm looking to build a commander deck with Varolz, the Scar-Striped as the commander. If Grim Strider is in the graveyard to be scavenged, will it be influenced by hand size? Cards such as Lord of Extinction are (graveyards), but I haven't been able to determine if Grim Strider would be similarly influenced.
Grim Strider's ability works only if Grim Strider is on the battlefield, not in your graveyard (C.R. 112.6).
I'll expand on this thread with a guide on how to tell abilities that involve power and toughness apart:
Static abilities with the form "power is equal" (e.g., Dakmor Sorceress and Tarmogoyf), "toughness is equal" (e.g., An-Havva Constable), or "power and toughness are each [equal]" (e.g., Maro, Apocalypse Demon, Angry Mob, Daxos the Returned) are characteristic-defining abilities that set power and/or toughness (C.R. 604.3, 604.3a, 613.4a). Charactistic-defining abilities work everywhere, even in graveyards (C.R. 113.6a).
Effects with the form "becomes a P/T ... creature", "are P/T ... creatures", "has base power and toughness...", or "with base power and toughness...", as in Kormus Bell and Humility, merely set power and/or toughness to a specific value (C.R. 613.4b). They are layered on top of effects from point 1 (C.R. 613.1, 613.4a-b).
Static abilities with the form "gets +N/+M" or "gets -N/-M", as in Death's Shadow and Grim Strider, have effects that modify power and/or toughness (C.R. 613.4c). Unless they mention another zone where they work, these abilities work only on the battlefield (C.R. 113.6). These effects are layered on top of effects from points 1 and 2 (C.R. 613.1, 613.1a-c).
Grim Strider has just a standard static ability. That only affects while it is on the battlefield. So is a 6/6 in every other zone except the battlefield. Lord of Extinction on the other hand has what is known as a characteristic-defining ability. It's power and toughness are always equal to the number of cards in graveyards, no matter what zone it is in.
Fantastic! I saw Death's Shadow on edhrec as a suggested card, but I couldn't quite get the rules to make sense mentally for such things. Thanks a lot!
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I'll expand on this thread with a guide on how to tell abilities that involve power and toughness apart:
EDIT (Jul. 25): Additional explanation.
EDIT (Apr. 21, 2022): Update rule numberings.
Lord of Extinction on the other hand has what is known as a characteristic-defining ability. It's power and toughness are always equal to the number of cards in graveyards, no matter what zone it is in.
Hope that helps.