Can Alesha, Who Smiles at Death reanimate creatures with * power?

Asked by falc0n1234 5 years ago

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death can of course, reanimate creatures in your graveyard with power 2 or less, but can she reanimate cards, like Tarmogoyf, or Serra Avatar that each have * as their power?

DragonKing90 says... #1

if you go to the gatherer, it is explained there. under the rulings for Tarmogoyf and Serra Avatar, the rulings state that their abilities work in all zones, not just the battlefield. so in the case of Tarmogoyf, if there are 3+ card types in all graveyards, it cannot be reanimated by Alesha

September 20, 2018 7:15 p.m.

Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #2

It depends on exactly how the value of * is determined. For cards like Tarmogoyf and Serra Avatar, the ability is constantly updating * to the appropriate value. For cards like Sewer Nemesis or Minion of the Wastes, where the value of * depends on a choice or some other condition that's undefined while the card is in the graveyard, then * will default to 0 while it's in the graveyard.

September 20, 2018 7:21 p.m.

LGFlatron says... #3

DragonKing90 is correct, and as stated, the Gatherer entry also explains how it should behave.

Rhadamanthus is also correct, in that there is a difference between a characteristic-defining ability and a static ability that creates a replacement effect.

Cards like Tarmogoyf and Serra Avatar have characteristic-defining abilities, so ruling 604.3 applies:

Ruling 604.3 Show

- 604.3. Some static abilities are characteristic-defining abilities. A characteristic-defining ability conveys information about an object’s characteristics that would normally be found elsewhere on that object (such as in its mana cost, type line, or power/toughness box) or overrides information found elsewhere on that object. Characteristic-defining abilities function in all zones. They also function outside the game.

Cards like Sewer Nemesis and Minion of the Wastes have static abilities that create replacement effects, so ruling 208.2b applies:

Ruling 208.2b Show

- 208.2b The card may have a static ability that creates a replacement effect that sets the creature’s power and toughness to one of a number of specific values as it enters the battlefield or is turned face up. (See rule 614, “Replacement Effects.”) Such an ability is worded “As [this creature] enters the battlefield . . . ,” “As [this creature] is turned face up . . . ,” or “[This creature] enters the battlefield as . . .” and lists two or more specific power and toughness values (and may also list additional characteristics). The characteristics chosen or determined with these effects affect the creature’s copiable values. (See rule 706.2.) While the card isn’t on the battlefield, its power and toughness are each considered to be 0.

September 20, 2018 10:31 p.m.