Benevolent Blessing and Spectra Ward and putting aura onto the battlefield
Asked by Chaospyke 3 years ago
If I put aura (not cast) onto the battlefield can those auras enchant creatures already enchanted with Benevolent Blessing or Spectral Ward?
From what I understand both of those auras don't have the 'Equip/Enchant' clause of protection.
No to Benevolent Blessing, yes to Spectra Ward. As it turns out, the comprehensive rules have a paragraph about Benevolent Blessing specifically.
702.16n Some Auras both give the enchanted creature protection from a quality and say “this effect doesn’t remove” either that specific Aura or all Auras. This means that the specified Auras aren’t put into their owners’ graveyards as a state-based action. If the creature has other instances of protection from the same quality, those instances affect Auras as normal.
702.16p One Aura (Benevolent Blessing) gives the enchanted creature protection from a quality and says the effect doesn’t remove certain permanents that are “already attached to” that creature. This means that, when the protection effect starts to apply, any objects with the stated quality that are already attached to that creature (including the Aura giving that creature protection) will not be put into their owners’ graveyards as a state-based action. Other permanents with the stated quality can’t become attached to the creature. If the creature has other instances of protection from the same quality, those instances affect attached permanents as normal.
From this we can see that Benevolent Blessing specifically won't allow more Auras to be attached, but effects like Spectra Ward that "don't remove" Auras with no other conditions will let them be attached as long as attaching them doesn't violate other conditions of protection (most likely targeting).
With that said, getting them into play on a creature with Spectra Ward can be tricky. The most likely scenario where this can happen is Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice enchanted with Spectra Ward, as Light-Paws has an ability that will attach an Aura to itself without ever targeting. Anything that tries to attach an Aura to "target creature" that is one or more colors won't be able to target through Spectra Ward's protection.
February 27, 2022 6:39 p.m.
Good work on finding the reference to Benevolent Blessing in the rules Polaris! There was a ruling on gatherer for Spectra Ward that said you can't though, so that must be how the judges decided to call it.
February 27, 2022 6:44 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
The ruling you linked says "can't be the target of further Aura spells". The question was about putting auras onto the battlefield without casting them. Auras only target as spells on the stack. When an aura enters the battlefield without being cast, it's controller attaches it to a legal object and since Spectra Ward's protection doesn't remove auras, a creature enchanted with Spectra Ward is a legal object for other auras to enchant.
115.1b Aura spells are always targeted. An Aura’s target is specified by its enchant keyword ability (see rule 702.5, “Enchant”). The target is chosen as the spell is cast; see rule 601.2c. An Aura permanent doesn’t target anything; only the spell is targeted.
303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a player’s control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
February 27, 2022 7:03 p.m.
Gidgetimer I see what you mean, as he specifically mentioned it not being cast. Thanks!
Guerric says... #1
Unfortunately, they can't. Below is a ruling from Gatherer (the official magic site) on Spectra Ward
"Although Auras that are already attached to the creature aren't affected by Spectra Ward, the enchanted creature can't be the target of further Aura spells that have one or more colors."
These cards are unique in that they don't remove existing auras and equipment, but they do stop further ones from being applied to the same creature.
February 27, 2022 6:31 p.m.