The real problem with battalion copying is that battalion isn't a keyword. That's why it's in italics, it's reminder text and not rules-related. So a real card would have to do something insane to find those abilities and not others
I really wish Wizards would change this, it would open up a lot of design space for ability words. I'd like to see things like "Draw 2 cards. Until end of turn, treat all hellbent abilities as if you had no cards in your hand" or, as mentioned, "~ has the landfall/batallion abilities of creatures you control". Maybe even "Put target creature witha metalcraft ability from your graveyard onto the battlefield. It gains haste. Treat its metalcraft abilities as if you control 3 artifacts. Sacrifice it at the end of turn."
Having ability words just be themes with names is really limiting to the game overall.
The real problem with battalion copying is that battalion isn't a keyword. That's why it's in italics, it's reminder text and not rules-related. So a real card would have to do something insane to find those abilities and not others
I really wish Wizards would change this, it would open up a lot of design space for ability words. I'd like to see things like "Draw 2 cards. Until end of turn, treat all hellbent abilities as if you had no cards in your hand" or, as mentioned, "~ has the landfall/batallion abilities of creatures you control". Maybe even "Put target creature witha metalcraft ability from your graveyard onto the battlefield. It gains haste. Treat its metalcraft abilities as if you control 3 artifacts. Sacrifice it at the end of turn."
Having ability words just be themes with names is really limiting to the game overall.
Correct me if i'm wrong. But I think only static abilities can be keyworded.
Keywording something that needs reminder text isn't a good idea. Also, battalion does something different on each card it shows up on. So it really isn't an ability word.
If you print a card that says 'target creature gains battalion". It wouldn't do anything.
Um, yes Battalion is an ability word, because it's only consistent rules text is "Whenever ~ and at least two other creatures attack". Landfall simply checked for land entering the battlefield under your control and Metalcraft checked if you control three or more artifacts. Ability words don't have specific effects, just common conditions or triggers that yield varying effects.
I think they should make a battalion creature that grants +X/+X to attacking creatures where X is the number of attacking creatures. So the bonus will be at least +3/+3. Ah, but that sounds like a mythic. +1/+1 to all attacking creatures at least would be nice.
Correct me if i'm wrong. But I think only static abilities can be keyworded.
You're wrong. Flashback is an activated ability, as is scavenge. Extort and Undying are triggered abilities.
Keywording something that needs reminder text isn't a good idea. Also, battalion does something different on each card it shows up on. So it really isn't an ability word.
As Manite pointed out, it's an ability word by definition.
If you print a card that says 'target creature gains battalion". It wouldn't do anything.
No you could not, and I did not suggest that. What I said is that cards should interact with ability words. This was also why I used words like "battalion ability" and "Metalcraft ability" instead of just saying Batallion or Metalcraft. It's to indicate that Battalion is not the ability itself, but a specific class of ability. The fact that it's different on each card is what would make interacting with it interesting and open up more design space than wehave with simple keywords.
I don't find it implausible for a Battalion card to be printed similar to Hero of Bladehold .
Who said it was the Battalion mechanic that would get the token making clause? Maybe it will just be "Whenever ~ attacks, put two 1/1 soldier creature tokens tapped and attacking" which then activates the Battalion trigger in and of itself, like "All creatures you control gain first strike until end of turn" or something to that effect.
It would easily be a mythic battalion card as it would activate itself. I find that completely feasible.
In that scenario, Battalion wouldn't trigger when the tokens hit the field since it says "Whenever this and at least two other creatures attack", meaning the tokens have to be declared as attackers. They're put onto the battlefield tapped and attacking; they were never declared as attackers because they didn't have to be. The next time around, though, they will trigger Battalion.
I would prefer a creature that enters the battlefield with two tokens and has a Battalion ability. That alone would work well for Battalion and could easily curve out of a Fervor to give your three creatures haste.
To get a similar effect, you could have two haste tokens enter the battlefied at the start of the combat phase and exile them at the end of combat. Of course, the tokens could be messed with before they are able to attack.
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