Regeneration / Unnatural Endurance
Asked by BS-T 8 years ago
If a creature is regenerated, the rules say it is removed from combat if it's attacking or blocking - what use is +2/+0 a guy using Unnatural Endurance if it's getting removed from combat, doesn't that mean it isn't dealing or receiving combat damage?
Also, since regeneration taps a creature, isn't there an underlying flexibility to Unnatural Endurance in targeting your opponents creature if you're in a bind?
OK. So the removing it from combat part only happens if it is in fact 'killed' (dealt lethal damage) and the regeneration shield has to be 'used' (triggers)?
The second bit therefore, doesn't tap your opponents creature since you don't make its regeneration shield trigger? Though if you REALLY wanted their guy tapped and not dead (no good reason off the top of my head but MAYBE!) You could cast Unnatural Endurance and then e.g. Roast it to 'death'?
Thanks
January 24, 2016 7:41 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
Regeneration is not a triggered ability. It doesn't trigger. It's a replacement effect that applies the next time the permanent in question would be destroyed.
When an effect instructs you to regenerate something, what you're actually doing is creating a "regeneration shield" around that permanent. This shield lasts until the end of turn or until the permanent would be destroyed—whichever comes sooner. Only when the permanent would be destroyed this turn is the replacement effect applied, and only then is the permanent tapped and removed from combat.
Note that when the replacement effect is applied, the permanent doesn't actually die. It doesn't go anywhere; it remains on the battlefield, is cleared of any damage marked on it, is tapped, and is removed from combat.
So what Unnatural Endurance does is give the creature a +2/+0 buff, effective immediately, and create a regeneration shield around the creature that will prevent it from being destroyed the next time it would be destroyed this turn. The creature won't be tapped or removed from combat immediately upon the resolution of Unnatural Endurance.
January 24, 2016 8:13 p.m.
TheRedMage says... #4
Jargon nitpick: the regeneration shield doesn't "trigger". Triggered abilities trigger and, when they do, they then go on the stack. The regeneration shields is a replacement effect, and doesn't go on the stack.
Other than that, you are correct. When a spell says "regenerate" a creature, it creates a regeneration shield. When the creature is destroyed, that shield is applied and you do all the fancy regeneration things like removing it from combat, removing the damage and so on.
So in your example, Unnatural Endurance would generate a regeneration shield around its target. If you then Roast it, you would cause the shield to be applied - the creature would be tapped, and the five damage dealt to it by Roast would be removed from it. If it were in combat, it would also be removed from combat, although that doesn't apply to this example since Roast is a sorcery and cannot be cast in combat.
The creature would never leave the battlefield, by the way, so it would still have +2/+0 from Unnatural Endurance.
January 24, 2016 8:15 p.m.
TheRedMage says... #5
Hahaha Epoch did basically the same exact post as I did. Guess I got Ninja'd.
January 24, 2016 8:17 p.m.
shinobigarth says... #6
don't forget Unnatural Endurance can simply be used just for its +2 pump, such as if you need to get the last 2 damage in you use it for that and not for the regeneration part.
merrowMania says... Accepted answer #1
Regeneration replaces the destruction of a creature. It is done beforehand to prepare for the destruction. Casting Unnatural Endurance on a creature puts a 'regeneration shield' around the creature, but the effects that occur from actually replacing the creatures destruction only occur when the creature is destroyed. That is how the +2/+0 is useful; when an opponent blocks your attacking Merfolk of the Pearl Trident with his/her with Seascape Aerialist, you can cast you Unnatural Endurance on you MotPT to make it a 3/1 with a regeneration shield to deal lethal to the Aerialist, but still keep you creature.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
January 24, 2016 7:32 p.m. Edited.