If I'm understanding rule "710. Leveler Cards" correctly, you can turn Modular Monstrosity into a fully leveled up Kargan Dragonlord, Lighthouse Chronologist, or Transcendent Master once per day. In fact, with enough triggers, you could mix and match them all, ending up with a 9/9 indestructible, flying, trampling, lifelinking, firebreather, that grants you an extra turn each round.
Well, that's a super-vague claim. I assume that you're using this rule:
710.5. If the number of level counters on a leveler creature is less than N1 (the first number printed in its {LEVEL N1-N2} symbol), it has the power and toughness denoted by its uppermost power/toughness box.
By interpreting "uppermost" as any single level-up keyword that Modular Monstrosity gains. Of course, this claim is complicated by the fact that these rules operate under the assumption that all creatures with level-up abilities have the level-up text box layout, which the Mostrosity will not have. Your conclusion is further contradicted by:
710.2a “{LEVEL N1-N2} [Abilities] [P/T]” means “As long as this creature has at least N1 level counters on it, but no more than N2 level counters on it, it has base power and toughness [P/T] and has [abilities].”
710.2b “{LEVEL N3+} [Abilities] [P/T]” means “As long as this creature has N3 or more level counters on it, it has base power and toughness [P/T] and has [abilities].”
Which only allow the level-based text box to apply to creatures with sufficient level counters. Therefore, your conclusion is highly suspect, and you should definitely try to run it past a judge before deciding on how level-up interacts with MM.
Hopefully it will be spelled out for us in the Oracle rulings long before we get to the judges.
But my understanding is that the first trigger would let you give the Monstrosity Level "Level up 1", at which point you can start putting level counter on it. The next trigger would let you choose "{LEVEL 7+}[At the beginning of each end step, if it's not your turn, take an extra turn after this one.][3/5]". The trigger after that would let you choose "{Level 8+}[Flying, trample, R: Kargan Dragonlord gets +1/+0 until end of turn.][8/8]". Finally, the trigger after that would let you choose "{Level 12+)[Lifelink, indestructible][9/9]".
Writing it like that, it's obvious that the Monstrosity wouldn't benefit from using the firebreathing ability. Now if the abilities are granted in a different order, because you want to get indestructible on there first, then you end up with a smaller creature because the abilities are applied in the order in which they are listed on the card, which would be the order in which they are granted, so the last applicable ability that sets P/T would win out over the others.
If I'm understanding rule "710. Leveler Cards" correctly, you can turn Modular Monstrosity into a fully leveled up Kargan Dragonlord, Lighthouse Chronologist, or Transcendent Master once per day. In fact, with enough triggers, you could mix and match them all, ending up with a 9/9 indestructible, flying, trampling, lifelinking, firebreather, that grants you an extra turn each round.
That's how it would play in pre-stack days, but it doesn't work that way now. This is a triggered ability that requires a choice be made, and the 5 second restriction on making that choice applies to the start of the trigger's resolution. Even assuming you're the active player, which let's you put 5 successive spells on the stack, priority will be passed among players between each resolution, essentially requiring you to confirm each choice I make before the next 5 second restriction starts. It would play out like this:
You cast a sorcery.
Trigger 1 goes on the stack.
You respond with instant 1.
Trigger 2 goes on the stack.
You respond with instant 2.
Trigger 3 goes on the stack.
You respond with instant 3.
Trigger 4 goes on the stack.
You respond with instant 4.
Trigger 5 goes on the stack.
You pass priority.
Trigger 5 resolves, giving me 5 seconds.
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Instant 4 resolves (or fizzles depending on what I picked for trigger 5).
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Trigger 4 resolves, giving me 5 seconds.
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Instant 3 resolves (or fizzles depending on what I picked for triggers 4&5).
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Trigger 3 resolves, giving me 5 seconds.
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Instant 2 resolves (or fizzles depending on what I picked for triggers 3,4,5).
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Trigger 2 resolves, giving me 5 seconds.
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Instant 1 resolves (or fizzles depending on what I picked for triggers 2,3,4,5).
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
Trigger 1 resolves, giving me 5 seconds.
You get priority.
You pass priority.
I pass priority.
The sorcery resolves (or fizzles depending on what I picked for the 5 triggers).
People are saying you won't run out of stuff to put on it, but I feel that's where the skill in using this card actually lies. In a single draft you're going to average 2.5 games per round, times 4 rounds, and a 50% draw rate, That's about 5 games per draft, and with the resiliency this thing can have it's probably going to survive for a few turns each game, for a total of 15 turns of your opponent casting spells. If you do two drafts in a day...you can expect to need 30+ abilities, so maybe you don't want to draft it again, but I think it would be a mistake to open this colorless bomb and let it pass to someone who hasn't played one yet that day.
So I feel that it's important to know what abilities to stack, which to hold in reserve, as well as having a nice long list of stuff to grant that isn't necessarily going to lead to a win condition. Some games you won't even need this to be your win condition because you're already winning, so you need to be prepared to make it good enough without compromising its usefulness in future games.
By the way, in response to the mimic discussion...totally not a mimic. If it was a mimic it would be a shapechanger creature, so you could just kill it with direct damage / removal, rather than needing the activated ability to bounce it. Also, it's a League of Dastardly Doom card, implying a (poorly) trapped armchair. A mimic would more likely be associated with Agents of S.N.E.A.K., or maybe Crossbreed Labs.
Yeah, Mr. Miyagi would agree. Absolutely the best way to get the card in play when your opponent isn't paying attention is when your opponent isn't present.
You can only place a card face down on the battlefield if it has Morph or Megamorph, or is required to be placed faced down due to an effect. But that's not to say you can't do what you suggest, but with the card face up.
Pretty sure there are rules about cards in your hand touching cards on the battlefield that would keep you from being able to do this.
I can't find those rules. To be fair, I also can't find the rules that (used to exist?) about holding your hand of cards below table level. Citation?
You can only place a card face down on the battlefield if it has Morph or Megamorph, or is required to be placed faced down due to an effect. But that's not to say you can't do what you suggest, but with the card face up.
The beauty of it being an artifact is that it can be placed in a way that makes it looks like that creature is equipped with something, especially if you've been playing other equipment, like Proper Laboratory Attire.
It doesn't sound like this includes any kind of a collection manager? So there would be no way to build a Commander deck from among the cards I own without having to use a separate tool. Or while viewing a listed deck, see what cards I'd need to acquire to build it.
But my understanding is that the first trigger would let you give the Monstrosity Level "Level up 1", at which point you can start putting level counter on it. The next trigger would let you choose "{LEVEL 7+}[At the beginning of each end step, if it's not your turn, take an extra turn after this one.][3/5]". The trigger after that would let you choose "{Level 8+}[Flying, trample, R: Kargan Dragonlord gets +1/+0 until end of turn.][8/8]". Finally, the trigger after that would let you choose "{Level 12+)[Lifelink, indestructible][9/9]".
Writing it like that, it's obvious that the Monstrosity wouldn't benefit from using the firebreathing ability. Now if the abilities are granted in a different order, because you want to get indestructible on there first, then you end up with a smaller creature because the abilities are applied in the order in which they are listed on the card, which would be the order in which they are granted, so the last applicable ability that sets P/T would win out over the others.
So I feel that it's important to know what abilities to stack, which to hold in reserve, as well as having a nice long list of stuff to grant that isn't necessarily going to lead to a win condition. Some games you won't even need this to be your win condition because you're already winning, so you need to be prepared to make it good enough without compromising its usefulness in future games.
I find it interesting that going into the weekend we have so few contraptions revealed.
off topic: Jaya!