This is an awesome solution for the killbots. They have different names and therefore are considered different cards for deckbuilding purposes (right?) without occupying multiple slots in the set. Plus the flavor of an army of identical killbots. Without tokens (which are unusable with Mary), there really is no other way to convey that.
We already know that Sun will be taken by agent of Bolas. Who cares about the city?
Do we? This time, Bolas' plan seems far from foolproof, since he relies entirely on Vraska casting the spell at the right time. And remember that Jace, being the Guildpact, is capable of providing all that Bolas promised her. Jace randomly walking to Ixalan might, unlike the conscious effort of the whole Gatewatch, actually throw a wrench into Bolas' plans...
Concerning Mary, it's pretty clear from the wording that you can use it from hand. "Switch a killbot or Mary in your hand with one on the battlefield". What's there not to understand?
Well, all that means to me is that if Mary is on the battlefield, you can switch a killbot or another Mary that is in your hand with a Mary or killbot on the battlefield. But not necessarily that you can activate the ability from your hand.
That would be pretty weird on a legendary creature, and not in a good way. Having one die instantly to the legend rule would limit its use considerably.
Switching a Mary for a Mary does not invoke the legend rule, and it's a pretty decent play to dodge spot removal.
Except it is not, since the one you switch in will still be targeted. Or do I understand the switch wrong?
Hold on... Since the article doesn't mention it... could you use Mary's activated ability to effectively steal an opponent's Mary O'Kill (assuming they don't have the mana up to activate it in response to flip it back to hand) or killbot, because it doesn't specify which side of the battlefield the target needs to be on?
You can't activate abilities of permanenets you don't control unless specifically said so, so you can't switch their Mary for your killbot but you probably can do it the other way around. The question is why, unless we get a killbot better than a 5/5.
Concerning Mary, it's pretty clear from the wording that you can use it from hand. "Switch a killbot or Mary in your hand with one on the battlefield". What's there not to understand?
Well, all that means to me is that if Mary is on the battlefield, you can switch a killbot or another Mary that is in your hand with a Mary or killbot on the battlefield. But not necessarily that you can activate the ability from your hand.
That would be pretty weird on a legendary creature, and not in a good way. Having one die instantly to the legend rule would limit its use considerably.
Do we? This time, Bolas' plan seems far from foolproof, since he relies entirely on Vraska casting the spell at the right time. And remember that Jace, being the Guildpact, is capable of providing all that Bolas promised her. Jace randomly walking to Ixalan might, unlike the conscious effort of the whole Gatewatch, actually throw a wrench into Bolas' plans...
Not really, it was originally meant so but it was dropped later. Nothing keeps you from adjusting the house rules for your group, though.
The Calcutron was originally meant to be allowed as a commander, but it didn't fit in the text box, according to MaRo.
probably with a new keyword or with the effect simply spelled out, though.
Except it is not, since the one you switch in will still be targeted. Or do I understand the switch wrong?
I think not, kill spels still work with the lawyer out, right? He stops only damage and -X/-X.
Yes, the tokens.
You can't activate abilities of permanenets you don't control unless specifically said so, so you can't switch their Mary for your killbot but you probably can do it the other way around. The question is why, unless we get a killbot better than a 5/5.
That would be pretty weird on a legendary creature, and not in a good way. Having one die instantly to the legend rule would limit its use considerably.