Can Hangarback Walker be turned face up if manifested?
Asked by troyfunk 9 years ago
Im trying to build a mono green megamorph deck that includes both Whisperwood Elemental and Hangarback Walker if say the Walker gets manifested can I turn him face up or will he instantly die due to the enters with clause and a base power and toughness 0/0? I can't any rulings on the subject so ant help would be appreciated!
Epochalyptik says... #2
Note that Hangarback Walker does not have an ETB ability.
Hangarback Walker's first ability is a static ability that defines a replacement effect. The replacement effect modifies how Hangarback Walker enters the battlefield.
However, when you manifest Hangarback Walker, that card enters the battlefield as a face-down 2/2 creature with no other characteristics. Turning it face up for its mana cost does not cause a zone change, and it's still the same permanent (it's just changing status and characteristics, but it never leaves and reenters the battlefield). Therefore, Hangarback Walker's replacement effect will not apply and it will be a 0/0 unless some other effect is buffing it. As a 0/0, it will be placed into its owner's graveyard as a state-based action.
August 29, 2015 9:27 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #3
You can turn it face up, but it won't end well. The Walker's +1/+1 counter-adding ability is a replacement effect that modifies how it enters the battlefield. Turning something face up doesn't make it re-enter the battlefield, so the effect won't be applied. It will be a 0/0. Take a look at Hooded Hydra as an example of something that can specifically add counters to itself as it's turned face up.
August 29, 2015 9:29 p.m.
Thanks guys! And the deck runs 4 hooded hydras also but thanks for the suggestion!
August 29, 2015 10:13 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
Please remember to select an answer to remove this question from the active queue.
August 29, 2015 10:25 p.m.
Guys, can i tap it for +1/+1 counter just after i've turned it face up to get it 1/1 and stay on battlefield?
September 30, 2015 5:34 a.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #7
I'm not very well versed on State-Based Actions, but I'm fairly certain that's a negative nv, surely SBAs will take place either prior to your priority, and/or prior to the effect resolving.
September 30, 2015 6:04 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
State-based actions are performed before a player gets priority. If Hangarback Walker ever exists on the battlefield as a 0/0, it will be put into its owner's graveyard before you can do anything about it.
September 30, 2015 7:05 a.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #9
Thanks for the clarification Epochalyptik :) So they would happen both before one could activate Hangarback Walker, and after an effect is put on the stack, but before it resolves, yes? Because other players get priority before resolution, yeah?
September 30, 2015 9:15 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #10
Actually, SBAs check even before abilities are put onto the stack.
Technically speaking, SBAs check before a player receives priority for any reason. Triggered abilities are put onto the stack the next time a player receives priority.
TheNextRedDude says... #1
You can turn him face up, but since he is not entering the battlefield as a Hangarback Walker, the ETB ability won't trigger and he will be a base 0/0 and go to the graveyard.
August 29, 2015 9 p.m.