Do Auras Fall Off Gods? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, auras can fall off gods. Whether they do or not depends on the rules governing auras and the specific circumstances affecting the god in question. The most common reason an aura would fall off a god is due to a change in the god’s card type that makes it no longer a legal target for the aura. This is particularly relevant in the context of Theros gods from Magic: The Gathering, where gods often require achieving a certain devotion threshold to become creatures.
Understanding Aura Dynamics
To fully understand why auras can fall off gods, it’s essential to grasp the core mechanics of auras in the context of the game Magic: The Gathering.
What is an Aura?
An Aura is a type of permanent card that enchants another permanent (like a creature, land, or artifact) or a player. Auras are unique because they require a target to be cast. They provide some benefit or modify the characteristics of the enchanted object or player.
The Enchant Ability
Auras have an Enchant ability that specifies what type of permanent or player the aura can legally enchant. For example, an aura might say “Enchant creature” or “Enchant land.” This restriction is crucial, as it dictates the aura’s legal targets.
State-Based Actions
State-based actions are rules that the game checks continuously. One such action relates to auras: if an aura is attached to something that doesn’t match its Enchant ability, the aura “falls off.” This means the aura is put into its owner’s graveyard. This rule is fundamental to understanding why auras detach from gods.
Theros Gods and Devotion
The Theros gods are a notable case study due to their unique mechanic. These gods are enchantment creatures, but they only become creatures if you have enough devotion to their color. Devotion is the number of mana symbols of a specific color among the permanents you control.
If your devotion to a Theros god is insufficient, that god loses its creature type and becomes just an enchantment. An aura that enchants only a creature will then fall off because the god is no longer a legal target.
Examples
- Scenario 1: You have a Theros god that is a creature because you have sufficient devotion. You cast an aura with “Enchant creature” on the god. Later, your devotion decreases, and the god ceases to be a creature. The aura falls off.
- Scenario 2: You control an enchantment creature that is not a god. You attach an “Enchant creature” aura to it. Your opponent plays a spell that turns your creature into a land. The aura falls off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of auras and their interactions with permanents, including gods:
1. What happens when an aura’s target is destroyed?
If the object an aura is enchanting is destroyed, exiled, or otherwise removed from the battlefield, the aura is put into the graveyard. This is because the aura no longer has a valid target to enchant.
2. Who controls an aura?
The player who cast the aura spell (or whose effect put the aura onto the battlefield) controls it. Control of the enchanted permanent does not dictate who controls the aura. The aura’s controller is separate from the enchanted object’s controller.
3. Is an aura a permanent?
Yes, auras are permanents. However, they are unique because they require a target to be cast. If an aura enters the battlefield without a legal target (e.g., due to a spell or ability), it immediately goes to the graveyard.
4. Can you move an aura from one permanent to another?
Not directly. An aura remains attached to the permanent it originally enchanted unless it falls off due to a rules violation. Some spells or abilities, however, can effectively move an aura by destroying the original aura and creating a new one attached to a different permanent, or by attaching an aura from your graveyard to a permanent.
5. What happens when you phase out an aura?
When an aura phases out, it phases back in attached to the object or player it was attached to when it phased out, provided that object is still in the same zone or that player is still in the game. If the object is gone or the player has left the game, the aura phases in unattached and remains on the battlefield.
6. Can an aura protect you?
Some auras provide protection from specific colors or types of spells. In Magic: The Gathering, protection prevents damage, enchanting/equipping, blocking, and targeting (often abbreviated as DEBT). Also, note that Aura (with a capital A) is a real-world product designed to protect your digital identity.
7. What is the power of auras?
In the game, auras can significantly boost a creature’s power and toughness, grant abilities, or impose restrictions on opponents. Spiritually, auras are believed to represent different aspects of a person’s character and energy. You can gain insight into the nature of games via the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
8. What happens if I blink an aura?
“Blinking” an aura (exiling it and then returning it to the battlefield) allows you to choose a new legal target upon its return. This can be useful if the original target is no longer advantageous or if you want to attach it to a different permanent. Be careful if the Aura imposes a penalty on the enchanted creature, as you may lose control of it.
9. Does giving protection remove auras?
Yes, if a permanent gains protection from a quality that an aura possesses (e.g., protection from white, and the aura is white), the aura is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action because a permanent with protection cannot be enchanted by auras with the stated quality.
10. Can you sense an aura in real life?
Claims of sensing auras visually are often considered pseudoscience and lack scientific support. While some people report seeing colors or energy fields around individuals, these claims haven’t been verified through controlled experiments.
11. What are the different types of auras in migraine experiences?
In the context of migraines, auras are neurological symptoms that can include visual disturbances (like flashing lights or blurred vision), sensory changes (like numbness or tingling), and aphasic difficulties (trouble with speech). These are distinct from auras in gaming or spiritual contexts.
12. Can the color of your aura change (spiritually)?
In spiritual beliefs, the color of your aura is thought to reflect your current state of mind, emotions, and energy. Proponents believe that it can shift based on your experiences and spiritual development.
13. What happens if an aura is attached to a permanent that later gains hexproof?
Hexproof prevents spells and abilities your opponents control from targeting the permanent. If an aura your opponent controls is already attached to a permanent that gains hexproof, the aura remains attached. However, your opponent cannot cast new aura spells targeting the permanent with hexproof.
14. What happens if an aura is attached to a permanent that later gains shroud?
Shroud prevents anyone from targeting the permanent with spells or abilities. If an aura is already attached to a permanent and that permanent gains shroud, the aura stays attached. However, after it has shroud, the aura cannot be re-attached to it if it were to leave for some reason, and no new auras may be attached to it, either.
15. What happens when an aura is turned face down?
If a permanent enchanted by an Aura is turned face down, the Aura remains attached as long as it could legally enchant a face-down permanent (typically a creature). If the Aura’s “Enchant” ability specifies a type the face-down permanent clearly does not have, the Aura falls off. If the aura has an ability that relies on knowing the identity of the enchanted creature, then the ability will not function because a face-down permanent has no name, mana cost, text box, type, color, or abilities.