Is Monstrous a retained effect on a changing creature?
Asked by legendofa 1 year ago
Let's say I have Volrath, the Shapestealer in play, alongside a monstrous Domesticated Hydra. I change Volrath into a copy of D.Hydra and activate Volrath's new Monstrosity ability. I then change Volrath into a Skittering Crustacean. Will I have to activate Crustacean-Volrath's Monstrosity ability, or will it retain Monstrous from the Hydra ability?
Going further with this example, would the new Volrath then have hexproof as it's monstrous?
October 17, 2022 9:37 p.m.
Delphen7 As I understand the answer, yes, Volrath would have hexproof. Once it gets Monstrous, it keeps that status and gets whatever abilities might come with it. It if somehow turned into a Fleecemane Lion later, Volrath would get indestructible and hexproof as soon as it becomes a copy of the Lion (assuming it never leaves the battlefield).
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1
It will still be monstrous and will have hexproof. Changing characteristics into a different creature won't overwrite being monstrous. Here are the details from the Comprehensive Rules:
701.31b Monstrous is a designation that has no rules meaning other than to act as a marker that the monstrosity action and other spells and abilities can identify. Only permanents can be or become monstrous. Once a permanent becomes monstrous, it stays monstrous until it leaves the battlefield. Monstrous is neither an ability nor part of the permanent’s copiable values.
October 17, 2022 12:49 p.m.