Decoding Enchantments: What Happens When a Creature Bounces Back to Your Hand in MTG?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
When a creature is returned to its owner’s hand, all Auras enchanting that creature are immediately put into their owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This is because the Aura loses its legal target (the creature on the battlefield) and can no longer exist without it. Think of it like this: the magical connection tethering the Aura to the creature is severed the moment the creature leaves the battlefield.
Understanding Enchantments and Auras
Before diving deeper, it’s crucial to understand the basic types of enchantments in Magic: The Gathering. There are two main categories:
- Enchantments: These permanents exist on the battlefield independently and affect the game globally or through their own abilities. Examples include global buffs or effects that modify the rules of the game.
- Auras: Auras are a type of enchantment that must be attached to another permanent (like a creature, land, or player) on the battlefield. They directly modify the characteristics or abilities of the permanent they’re attached to.
When discussing what happens when a creature returns to hand, we’re primarily concerned with Auras enchanting creatures.
The “Bounce” Effect and Its Consequences
The act of returning a creature to its owner’s hand is often referred to as “bouncing” the creature. This effect is achieved through various spells and abilities, and it essentially removes the creature from the battlefield and places it into the player’s hand. Since Auras require a legal target to remain on the battlefield, the moment the creature they are enchanting leaves, the Auras are orphaned and sent to the graveyard.
Why Do Auras Go to the Graveyard?
The primary reason Auras go to the graveyard is due to the targeting rules in MTG. Auras are spells that target a specific permanent as they are being cast. Once on the battlefield, they remain attached to that permanent. If that permanent leaves the battlefield, the Aura no longer has a legal target and, as a state-based action, is sent to the graveyard. This happens instantly, without any player having a chance to respond.
State-Based Actions
State-based actions are automatic game actions that occur whenever certain conditions are met. These actions don’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. The “Aura with no legal target goes to the graveyard” rule is a state-based action, ensuring a clean and consistent game state.
What About Other Removal Methods?
It’s important to note that this principle applies not only to bouncing but to nearly any form of removal that takes a creature off the battlefield. If a creature is destroyed, exiled, sacrificed, or otherwise removed, any Auras attached to it will also go to the graveyard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Enchantments and Creature Removal
Here are some frequently asked questions related to what happens to enchantments when a creature is removed from the battlefield:
FAQ 1: What happens to an Aura if the enchanted creature is exiled?
The Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. Exiling a creature removes it from the battlefield, causing the Aura to lose its legal target.
FAQ 2: Does the order in which I cast the Aura and the “bounce” spell matter?
No. Regardless of whether the Aura was attached to the creature before or after the “bounce” spell was cast, the outcome is the same. When the creature returns to hand, the Aura goes to the graveyard.
FAQ 3: Are there any exceptions to Auras going to the graveyard when the creature leaves?
Yes, there are a few exceptions. One notable exception involves Bestow creatures. When a Bestow creature is an Aura and the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, the Bestow creature “falls off” and becomes a creature itself, instead of going to the graveyard.
FAQ 4: What if an Aura gives the creature protection from a specific color?
Giving a creature protection doesn’t prevent Auras already attached from remaining. However, it will prevent new Auras of that protected color from being attached. If the creature with protection is then bounced, the attached Auras still go to the graveyard.
FAQ 5: Does shroud affect enchantments on a creature?
If a creature gains shroud, it becomes an illegal target for new spells and abilities, including new Auras. However, existing Auras remain attached. When the creature with shroud returns to hand, the attached Auras go to the graveyard.
FAQ 6: Can I sacrifice an Aura attached to my opponent’s creature?
No, you cannot sacrifice an Aura you don’t control. Even if the Aura is attached to a creature you control, you can only sacrifice permanents you own and control.
FAQ 7: If I return my own creature to my hand in response to a removal spell targeting it, what happens to the Aura?
The Aura will go to the graveyard. By returning the creature to your hand, you’re effectively preempting the removal spell and saving your creature, but the Aura still loses its target.
FAQ 8: Does “phasing out” a creature affect enchantments?
No, phasing out a creature does not cause Auras to be put into the graveyard. When a permanent phases out, it and any attached Auras phase out together. When the creature phases back in, the Auras return with it.
FAQ 9: Does transforming a creature affect enchantments?
Generally, no. Enchantments stay on a creature when it transforms, as long as it remains a legal target for those enchantments. However, if the transformation causes the permanent to become a type that the Aura cannot enchant, the Aura will “fall off” and go to the graveyard.
FAQ 10: What happens to counters on a creature that’s returned to hand?
When a creature is returned to hand, it loses all counters, enchantments, and equipment. It essentially becomes a “new” card in your hand, devoid of any previous modifications.
FAQ 11: Can I save an Aura by responding to the “bounce” spell?
No, once a creature is targeted by a spell or ability that returns it to its owner’s hand, the Aura is destined for the graveyard upon resolution of that spell or ability. There is no way to prevent this through standard gameplay.
FAQ 12: If an Aura is also a creature (like a Bestow creature), what happens when the enchanted creature is bounced?
As mentioned earlier, the Aura will “fall off” and become a creature itself. It doesn’t go to the graveyard.
FAQ 13: What about equipment attached to a creature? Does equipment also go to the graveyard?
No, equipment does not go to the graveyard. When a creature returns to its owner’s hand, the equipment becomes unattached and remains on the battlefield. You can then re-equip the equipment to another creature later.
FAQ 14: Do enchantments count as permanent types?
Yes, enchantments are one of the five main permanent types in Magic: The Gathering (along with creatures, artifacts, lands, and planeswalkers).
FAQ 15: Where can I learn more about Magic: The Gathering and its complex rules?
There are many resources available, including the official Magic: The Gathering website, various online forums, and educational websites like the Games Learning Society, available at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society offers insights into the educational and cognitive aspects of gaming, which can enrich your understanding of MTG’s intricate mechanics.
Conclusion: Mastering Enchantment Dynamics
Understanding how enchantments interact with creature removal, particularly bouncing effects, is crucial for strategic gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. Knowing that Auras will go to the graveyard when their enchanted creature leaves the battlefield allows you to make informed decisions about when to cast Auras, when to bounce your own creatures to protect them, and how to disrupt your opponent’s strategies. By mastering these dynamics, you can enhance your deck-building and in-game tactics, ultimately improving your performance in MTG.