Is Champion a Triggered Ability? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Champion Mechanic
No, Champion is not a triggered ability. It is a keyword ability that represents two abilities: one enters-the-battlefield ability and one leaves-the-battlefield ability. These abilities are not triggered abilities; they are static abilities that function differently. Understanding this distinction is crucial for correctly interpreting and playing cards with the Champion mechanic in Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding Champion and Its Components
The Champion mechanic, first introduced in the Lorwyn block, is characterized by a creature exiling another creature you control when it enters the battlefield (the “championing” effect) and returning that exiled creature to the battlefield when the Champion creature leaves the battlefield. This temporary exile is what makes Champion unique.
Champion’s Enter-the-Battlefield Effect
When a creature with the Champion keyword enters the battlefield, you must exile another creature you control of the specified type. This exile is not optional. This ability is a static ability that functions as the Champion creature enters the battlefield. It’s important to note that this is not a trigger. The effect is immediate and mandatory upon the creature entering play.
Champion’s Leave-the-Battlefield Effect
When a Champion creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card returns to the battlefield. Again, this is a static ability and not a triggered ability. The return happens as the Champion creature leaves the battlefield. It’s also important to note that if the Champion creature leaves the battlefield in a way that prevents its abilities from functioning (like being exiled with a card that says “cards exiled this way can’t be returned to the battlefield”), the exiled creature will remain in exile.
Why Champion Isn’t a Triggered Ability
The defining characteristic of a triggered ability is the use of the words “when,” “whenever,” or “at” to indicate the triggering event. Triggered abilities wait for a specific event to occur before they go on the stack and resolve. Champion abilities do not use these words. They are static abilities that function upon entering or leaving the battlefield.
Champion vs. Similar Mechanics
Understanding the difference between Champion and other similar mechanics is important for accurate gameplay. For example, some cards might have triggered abilities that exile cards. These abilities are triggered, meaning they go on the stack and can be responded to. Champion, however, bypasses the stack on both entering and leaving the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Champion
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the Champion mechanic:
1. What happens if I control no creatures of the type required by Champion when the Champion creature enters the battlefield?
You cannot play the Champion creature. It is an illegal play. You must have a valid target to exile when the Champion creature would enter the battlefield.
2. Can I respond to the Champion’s enter-the-battlefield effect?
No. Since the effect is a static ability, it doesn’t use the stack. You can’t cast spells or activate abilities in response to it. The creature is exiled immediately as the Champion creature enters the battlefield.
3. What happens if the Champion creature leaves the battlefield before its enter-the-battlefield ability resolves?
The enter-the-battlefield ability is a static ability that functions as the Champion creature enters the battlefield, so it doesn’t resolve later. If the Champion creature somehow leaves the battlefield before it finishes entering the battlefield, the enter-the-battlefield ability won’t happen at all. The creature will not be exiled. This is a corner case that rarely occurs.
4. Can I choose to exile nothing with Champion?
No. The Champion ability is mandatory. If you control a creature of the specified type, you must exile it.
5. If I control a creature with shroud or hexproof, can I Champion it?
Yes. Shroud and hexproof prevent a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. The Champion ability targets a creature you control, so shroud and hexproof are irrelevant.
6. If the creature exiled by Champion has counters on it, what happens to the counters when it returns?
When a permanent returns to the battlefield, it is treated as a new game object. Any counters it had are lost. The creature will return to the battlefield without any counters.
7. What happens if the Champion creature is countered while I’m casting it?
If the Champion creature is countered, it never enters the battlefield. Therefore, the Champion ability doesn’t trigger (or, more accurately, doesn’t function). No creature will be exiled.
8. If the Champion creature is exiled by a different effect before it leaves the battlefield naturally, does the exiled creature return?
It depends on the effect. If the Champion creature is exiled by an effect that doesn’t specify preventing the Champion ability, then when it changes zones, the exiled creature will return to the battlefield. However, if the effect specifically states that creatures exiled this way cannot return to the battlefield (such as Oblivion Ring, or a similar effect that exiles something and returns it only when that card leaves the battlefield), the exiled creature will remain in exile.
9. Can I Champion a token creature?
Yes, you can Champion a token creature. If you do, and the Champion creature leaves the battlefield, the token creature will return to the battlefield as normal. However, note that if a token leaves the battlefield and goes to any zone other than the battlefield, it ceases to exist.
10. What happens if I Champion a creature with persist or undying?
If the Champion creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled creature will return to the battlefield. The persist or undying ability will trigger, placing a -1/-1 counter (in the case of persist) or +1/+1 counter (in the case of undying) on the creature, respectively.
11. If a Champion creature is copied, does the copy Champion anything?
Yes. When the token copy of the Champion creature enters the battlefield, you must exile a creature of the appropriate type if able. When the token copy leaves the battlefield (which it typically does at the end of the turn), the creature it exiled returns to the battlefield.
12. Can I control multiple Champion creatures championing the same type of creature?
Yes, you can. Each Champion creature has its own, independent ability. You could conceivably have multiple Champion creatures each exiling a separate creature.
13. If the Champion creature is flickered (exiled and then immediately returned to the battlefield), does it Champion another creature?
Yes. When the Champion creature returns to the battlefield after being flickered, it is considered a new object and its enter-the-battlefield Champion ability will trigger again. You’ll have to exile another creature of the specified type (or the same one, if it is still there) to satisfy the ability, if able.
14. If the Champion creature has its abilities removed (e.g. by a card like Pithing Needle), will the exiled creature still return when it leaves the battlefield?
No. If the Champion creature loses its abilities, including the one that returns the exiled card, the exiled card will not return to the battlefield when the Champion creature leaves the battlefield.
15. Can the creature exiled with Champion be affected by effects while it is in exile?
Generally, no. Unless an effect specifically allows you to interact with cards in exile, they are considered out of reach. Most cards that affect exiled cards will be specifically worded to target cards in exile. The exiled card is essentially paused in its existence until it returns to the battlefield.
Conclusion
The Champion mechanic is a unique and powerful tool in Magic: The Gathering. By understanding that it is not a triggered ability but rather a combination of static abilities, players can avoid common misinterpretations and optimize their gameplay. Remembering that Champion abilities function immediately upon entering and leaving the battlefield allows for strategic decisions and effective deck building. Always double-check the wording of cards and consult the official rules for clarification when in doubt.