Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas Ability
General forum
Posted on Jan. 31, 2011, 12:22 p.m. by Legendinc
In one of the preview articles for the upcoming Mirrodin Besieged set, a whole bunch of users, including myself, had a discussion about Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas -2 Ability
I think we all agreed, that it was pretty bad* ability, allowing something like Ichorclaw Myr to become a 5/5 artifact creature, while retaining his infect ability, as well as his special "gains +2/+2 when blocked" ability.
However, upon reading something, I am now under the impression that Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas ' -2 ability simply overwrites the abilities of the artifact he is turning.
The article in question, is actually a question asked on mtgsalvation.com, to Level 3 Regional Judge, Eli Shiffrin
http://mtgsalvation.com/1266-cranial-insertion-mirrodin-bee-sieged.html
It is the 13th question asked, just scroll down till you find the question concerning Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas and Inkmoth Nexus
i know its nitpicking or whatever, and I might be overlooking something that really does make Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas ' -2 ability really effing awesome. But I still wonder what exactly the rules are concerning this new card. Better to be safe than DQed at your local tourneys because you were doing it all wrong, is what I say :D
MagnorCriol says... #2
I'm a little bit confused exactly what you're asking, but I think if I explain Tezzy's second ability cleanly it'll answer you no matter what:
His -1 ability simply sets the P/T of an artifact creature, or if it's not a creature yet, it makes it an artifact creature, then sets its P/T to 5/5. It doesn't have any impact on the type, subtype or supertype layer other than adding creature if necessary; it doesn't take anything away.
Similarly, it doesn't do anything to affect abilities; so that Ichorclaw Myr will keep its infect and its pseudo-Bushido; and that Inkmoth Nexus will keep its flying.
The reason why he explains that it loses flying but not the 5/5 is because of Inkmoth Nexus' effect, not Tezzy's. When you activate the Nexus, it essentially says four things:
Add artifact creature to this card's type.
Add 1/1 as a P/T.
Add infect and flying as abilities.
Remove them all at end of turn.
So if you activate the Nexus you make it a 1/1 flying, Infect artifact creature land named Blinkmoth.
Then you activate Tezzy's ability which only sets P/T, turning it into a 5/5 flying, Infect artifact creature land named Blinkmoth.
At the end of turn, the Nexus' effect wears off. It tries to remove the effects it added. However:
It removes "artifact creature," but Tezzy's ability also gives it "artifact creature" so it keeps that.
It tries to remove its 1/1 P/T, but Tezzy's ability already overwrote that by setting it as 5/5, so it doesn't do anything.
It removes flying and infect.
Tezzy's ability last indefinitely, unlike the Nexus', so at the end of the turn it's a 5/5 artifact creature land named "Inkmoth Nexus" that can tap for mana and still has its ability to pay 1 to become a 1/1 Blinkmoth.
It's important to note that if you activate the Nexus' ability now, because of how it's worded, it sets the P/T to 1/1, overwriting the 5/5 from Tezzy's ability. However, just like before that characteristic "falls off" at the end of turn and it reverts to what it was before - namely, a 5/5.
This was really wordy, I know...but I could've gone into layer effects and made it even worse. =p Does this answer what you need?
January 31, 2011 1:11 p.m.