Ajani's Presence — ruling 1

You choose how many targets each spell with a strive ability has and what those targets are as you cast it. It's legal to cast such a spell with no targets, although this is rarely a good idea. You can't choose the same target more than once for a single strive spell.

Ajani's Presence — ruling 2

The mana cost and mana value of strive spells don't change no matter how many targets they have. Strive abilities affect only what you pay.

Ajani's Presence — ruling 3

If all of the spell's targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. If one or more of its targets are legal when it tries to resolve, the spell will resolve and affect only those legal targets. It will have no effect on any illegal targets.

Ajani's Presence — ruling 4

If such a spell is copied, and the effect that copies the spell allows a player to choose new targets for the copy, the number of targets can't be changed. The player may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, the player can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).

Ajani's Presence — ruling 5

If a spell or ability allows you to cast a strive spell without paying its mana cost, you must pay the additional costs for any targets beyond the first.

Ajani's Presence : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ajani's Presence is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Strive — This spell costs more to cast for each target beyond the first. Any number of target creatures each get +1/+1 and gain indestructible until end of turn. (Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy them.)

Complete guide

Ajani's Presence is a versatile protection spell from the Journey into Nyx expansion that can save a single creature or an entire army. By utilizing the Strive mechanic, this instant scales with your mana pool to ensure your board remains standing through the toughest battles.

Understanding Strive

The core of Ajani's Presence is the Strive keyword, which allows you to target any number of creatures. While the base cost is a single white mana for the first target, each additional target increases the total cost by {2}{W}. It is important to note that you choose all targets as you cast the spell, and the spell's mana value remains 1 regardless of how many times you pay the Strive cost.

Resolving the Spell

When Ajani's Presence resolves, each legal target receives a +1/+1 buff and gains indestructible until the end of the turn. If a creature targeted by the spell becomes an illegal target before resolution (for example, by leaving the battlefield), the remaining legal targets still receive the benefits. However, if all targets become illegal, the spell fails to resolve entirely.

Common Mistakes

A frequent point of confusion involves 'casting without paying its mana cost.' If an effect allows you to cast Ajani's Presence for free, you still must pay the {2}{W} Strive cost for every target beyond the first. Additionally, you cannot target the same creature multiple times to give it a larger power boost; each target must be a unique creature.

When to Play It

This spell is best used in response to board wipes like 'Destroy all creatures' effects or during combat to turn a losing trade into a winning one. Because it provides indestructible, it protects against lethal damage and destruction effects, though it will not protect against creatures being exiled or having their toughness reduced to zero.

Interaction examples

Surviving Combat

During your turn, you attack with two 2/2 creatures. Your opponent blocks both with 3/3 creatures. You cast Ajani's Presence targeting both of your attackers for {3}{W}{W}. Your creatures become 3/3 and gain indestructible. They survive the combat damage while the opponent's creatures are destroyed.

The Weakness to Exile

Swords to Plowshares

You cast Ajani's Presence to protect your creature. In response, your opponent casts Swords to Plowshares. Because Swords to Plowshares exiles the creature rather than destroying it, the 'indestructible' keyword granted by Ajani's Presence will not prevent the creature from being removed from the battlefield.

Interacting with Path to Exile

Path to Exile

If an opponent targets your creature with Path to Exile, casting Ajani's Presence will grant +1/+1 and indestructible, but the creature will still be exiled upon the resolution of Path to Exile. Indestructible only prevents destruction from lethal damage or effects that specifically use the word 'destroy'.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Ajani's Presence

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 26, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
You choose how many targets each spell with a strive ability has and what those targets are as you cast it. It's legal to cast such a spell with no targets, although this is rarely a good idea. You can't choose the same target more than once for a single strive spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2April 26, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
The mana cost and mana value of strive spells don't change no matter how many targets they have. Strive abilities affect only what you pay.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3April 26, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If all of the spell's targets are illegal when the spell tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. If one or more of its targets are legal when it tries to resolve, the spell will resolve and affect only those legal targets. It will have no effect on any illegal targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4April 26, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If such a spell is copied, and the effect that copies the spell allows a player to choose new targets for the copy, the number of targets can't be changed. The player may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, the player can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5April 26, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability allows you to cast a strive spell without paying its mana cost, you must pay the additional costs for any targets beyond the first.
No other card is named in this ruling.