Twisted Image and Aegis of the Heavens Interaction
Asked by 9-lives 2 years ago
If I play Twisted Image on my turn, if I cast Aegis of the Heavens after on the same turn, would I have the P/T switched, then adding Aegis of the Heavens +P/+T? Or with Aegis of the Heavens gets added to the P/T and then switch with Twisted Image? Or is there another way they interact?
If I try to use Access Tunnel's ability after Twisted Image, which resolves first? I think the former is Layer 7a, and the latter is Layer 7d, which means that I can do this with Access Tunnel resolving with the former's assessment of Power.
March 31, 2022 4:51 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
To the follow-up question: Access Tunnel's effect doesn't use the layer system because it doesn't modify the target's characteristics. Whether or not you're allowed to target a creature with Access Tunnel depends on what its power is right now. If you've used Twisted Image to turn a 1/8 into an 8/1 then you can't target it with Access Tunnel because its power is too high.
March 31, 2022 8:05 p.m.
However, if you Access Tunnel your 1/8, let it resolve, and THEN cast Twisted Image on it (or just activate Access Tunnel in response to Twisted Image), it will work. The creature is no longer a valid target for Access Tunnel, but that doesn't matter because Access Tunnel is not trying to target it. Increasing the creature's power after the ability has resolved doesn't retroactively disallow the ability or anything.
March 31, 2022 8:24 p.m.
So, if I'm understanding this correctly, if I use Access Tunnel, then Twisted Image, it would work with both?
March 31, 2022 9:24 p.m.
As long as the creature's power is 3 or less both when Access Tunnel is activated and when it resolves, the ability will work. If it's too high when you activate, you can't target the creature at all, and if it's too high when it resolves, the ability will fizzle without doing anything.
March 31, 2022 11:14 p.m.
So, Polaris, you're saying that as long as I cast Access Tunnel before I cast Twisted Image it's fine? That's what I'm gathering from most of what has been said about this combo of cards.
March 31, 2022 11:23 p.m.
Yes. Once Access Tunnel's ability resolves, the "can't be blocked" effect is locked in.
April 1, 2022 9:02 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #9
9-lives: Answers to your question have been up for a while. Since there don't seem to be any more follow-ups or corrections to be made, I marked one of them as the "Accepted answer" so this topic can move out of the list of unanswered questions.
Polaris says... Accepted answer #1
The short version is that you always switch power and toughness after applying all other changes. Regardless of the order these cards resolve in, the creature will get +1/+7 and then get p/t switched.
The long version is that power and toughness effects fall into four layers (and P/T effects are layer 7, the last layer, if you have tons of different things like Control Magic in effect).
Layer 7a: characteristic-defining effects, like Geist-Honored Monk
Layer 7b: power/toughness setting effects, like Square Up
Layer 7c: power/toughness modifying effects, like +1/+1 counters or Aegis of the Heavens
Layer 7d: power/toughness switching effects, like Twisted Image
This is why Twisted Reflection can be a kill spell; you reduce the power, then swap it to toughness.
March 31, 2022 4:36 p.m.