To steal a God
Asked by Raging_Squiggle 8 years ago
So, this happened to me tonight: I had Helm of Possession in play, and I used its ability to target Purphoros, God of the Forge. He is a creature at the time of activating the Helm's ability. Now, I had 3 players arguing against me that I was wrong. My thought was, as long as the target is a creature upon resolution of Helm of Possession, I gain control of it. And once I gain control of Purphoros, God of the Forge, it simply ceases to be a creature. And I control it for as long as the Helm stays tapped. Am I right? Or am I misinterpreting?
Epochalyptik says... #2
To clarify TheNextRedDude's answer: An Aura enchantment with an enchant requirement like "Enchant creature" always checks whether the object to which it is attached is still a creature. This is part of the rules behind the "Enchant [object]" ability. If that object is ever not a creature at a time when state-based actions are checked, the aura will become unattached and be put into its owner's graveyard.
Helm of Possession's ability does not specify that the object must remain a creature for you to have control of it. Therefore, the object only needs to be a creature at the time at which you target it with the ability (i.e., during the activation process) and the time at which the ability resolves. After you gain control of the creature, the effect just cares about the permanent and not about its types. It won't switch control if it stops being a creature.
TheNextRedDude says... Accepted answer #1
As I understand it, you are correct. Helm of Possession does not constantly check whether the creature is a creature like an enchantment does. By the time it's not a creature, the ability would have already resolved.
September 19, 2015 6:28 a.m.