Sentinel and Continuous Effects

B M <someone.RemoveThis@somewhere.com> sent:

Sentinel {4} Artifact Creature - Shapeshifter 1/1
/ {0}: Sentinel's toughness becomes 1 plus the power of target creature
blocking or blocked by Sentinel.

> * 10/4/2004 This sets the current power/toughness, not the initial
> value, so it will override the effects of counters and any spells or
> abilities that modify power or toughness that resolved before it did.

> Is that ruling correct? In Rule 418.5 in layer 6, wouldn't his ability
> be applied in 6b, and thus the effects of +1/+1 counters be added to it
> in 6c?

I do believe you're correct, the Gatherer ruling is out of date now
that we have layer 6 set up the way we do now. Here's our favourite
rule, 418.5a, with notes on Sentinel interspersed:

418.5a The values of an object's characteristics are determined by
starting with the actual object, then applying continuous effects in
a series of layers in the following order: (1) copy effects (see rule
503, "Copying Objects"); (2) control-changing effects; (3)
text-changing effects; (4) type-changing effects (which includes
effects that change an object's card type, subtype, and/or
supertype); (5) all other continuous effects, except those that
change power and/or toughness; and (6) power- and/or
toughness-changing effects.

Sentinel's activated ability clearly sets up a power- and/or toughness-
changing effect, because it sets its own toughness.

Inside each layer from 1 through 5, apply effects from
characteristic-defining abilities first, then all other effects in
timestamp order. Inside layer 6, apply effects in a series of
sublayers in the following order:
(6a) effects from characteristic-defining abilities;

The effect is from an activated ability, so it can't be from a CDA.

(6b) all other effects not specifically applied in 6c, 6d, or 6e;

It might be 6b, check at the end.

(6c) changes from counters;

No, it's not one of these. If it turns out to be a 6b, then counters
will apply after the toughness change.

(6d) effects from static abilities that modify power and/or toughness
but don't set power and/or toughness to a specific number or value;
and

It's not a static ability and it doesn't modify based on existing power
or toughness.

(6e) effects that switch a creature's power and toughness.

It's not a switch either. So, it's a 6b.

Within each sublayer, apply effects in timestamp order. Note that
dependency may alter the order in which effects are applied within a
layer or sublayer. See also the rules for timestamp order and
dependency (rules 418.5b-418.5g).

Counters and Glorious Anthem type effects will apply afterwards.
Effects like Giant Growth or Wings of Velis Vel's power/toughness
setting will go in timestamp order with the effect of Sentinel's
ability, as will Humility's power/toughness setting effect.

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Group FAQ: http://www.daeghnao.com/magic/faq/ --
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