What happens if a creature has multiple abilities that set its power?

Asked by Eliiiiiiiiiiiiiiza 3 years ago

I built a Grusilda, Monster Masher EDH deck for fun and I immediately ran into, like, 400 ways she can break the game but this is the one I'm the most curious about.

Say she combines Malignus and Pack Rat . Pack Rat says the Mashed Monster's power is equal to the number of Rats in play, but Malignus says that it's power is equal to half the highest life total.

Which one wins? What is the Mashed Monster's power?

Neotrup says... #1

If a creature somehow has two abilities that set power and toughness, they apply in timestamp order, so the most recent one is the one that applies. CDAs (like the ones you mentioned) apply first, regardless of timestamp, and if somehow one effect changes the number of creatures it applies to, you apply it before the ones that it would effect.

If two permanents enter the battlefield at the same time, you choose their relative timestamps.

All that said, there are two possible answers (the rules don't always provide definitive answers for silver border cards). Either you choose which one applies when it enters the battlefield (you're effectively picking their relative timestamps), or you add them. I would be inclined to say add them, because Grusilda, Monster Masher 's reminder text does say it has the combined power, which seems more in the spirit of the card.

For a definitive answer, you could always message Mark Rosewater, as he is the silver boarder rules manager and often answers questions on his Tumblr: https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/

March 8, 2021 3:47 p.m.

Neotrup says... Accepted answer #2

I looked into this further and realized I'd missed that there is a definitive answer: You do combine the power rather than choosing one.

From the Unstable FAQAWASLFAQPAFTIDAWABIAJTBT:

Say you combine two creatures that each have an ability defining its power and toughness. What happens?
If that happens, figure out the result of each ability, then add them together. So a combined Maro and Knight of the Widget would have power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand plus the number of Order of the Widget watermarks among permanents you control.

March 9, 2021 4:16 p.m.

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