Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 1

Nonland permanents target opponent controls that are already tapped when the second chapter ability resolves won’t be tapped again, but they won’t untap during their controller’s next untap step.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 2

The second chapter ability keeps the permanents tapped even if Kiora Bests the Sea God leaves the battlefield before that player’s next untap step.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 3

Any nonland permanents that come under the target player’s control after the second chapter ability resolves will untap as normal.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 4

The second chapter ability targets the player but not their permanents. Permanents with hexproof may be tapped this way.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 5

The control-change effect of the third chapter ability lasts indefinitely. It doesn’t wear off during the cleanup step. In a multiplayer game, it does expire if you leave the game.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 6

As a Saga enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it. As your precombat main phase begins (immediately after your draw step), you put another lore counter on each Saga you control. Putting a lore counter on a Saga in either of these ways doesn’t use the stack.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 7

Each symbol on the left of a Saga’s text box represents a chapter ability. A chapter ability is a triggered ability that triggers when a lore counter that is put on the Saga causes the number of lore counters on the Saga to become equal to or greater than the ability’s chapter number. Chapter abilities are put onto the stack and may be responded to.

Kiora Bests the Sea God — ruling 8

A chapter ability doesn’t trigger if a lore counter is put on a Saga that already had a number of lore counters greater than or equal to that chapter’s number. For example, the third lore counter put on a Saga causes the III chapter ability to trigger, but I and II won’t trigger again.

Kiora Bests the Sea God : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Kiora Bests the Sea God 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

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.) I — Create an 8/8 blue Kraken creature token with hexproof. II — Tap all nonland permanents target opponent controls. They don't untap during their controller's next untap step. III — Gain control of target permanent an opponent controls. Untap it.

How it works : Kiora Bests the Sea God

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Nonland permanents target opponent controls that are already tapped when the second chapter ability resolves won’t be tapped again, but they won’t untap during their controller’s next untap step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The second chapter ability keeps the permanents tapped even if Kiora Bests the Sea God leaves the battlefield before that player’s next untap step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Any nonland permanents that come under the target player’s control after the second chapter ability resolves will untap as normal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The second chapter ability targets the player but not their permanents. Permanents with hexproof may be tapped this way.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
The control-change effect of the third chapter ability lasts indefinitely. It doesn’t wear off during the cleanup step. In a multiplayer game, it does expire if you leave the game.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
As a Saga enters the battlefield, its controller puts a lore counter on it. As your precombat main phase begins (immediately after your draw step), you put another lore counter on each Saga you control. Putting a lore counter on a Saga in either of these ways doesn’t use the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Each symbol on the left of a Saga’s text box represents a chapter ability. A chapter ability is a triggered ability that triggers when a lore counter that is put on the Saga causes the number of lore counters on the Saga to become equal to or greater than the ability’s chapter number. Chapter abilities are put onto the stack and may be responded to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
A chapter ability doesn’t trigger if a lore counter is put on a Saga that already had a number of lore counters greater than or equal to that chapter’s number. For example, the third lore counter put on a Saga causes the III chapter ability to trigger, but I and II won’t trigger again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Once a chapter ability has triggered, the ability on the stack won’t be affected if the Saga gains or loses counters, or if it leaves the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple chapter abilities trigger at the same time, their controller puts them on the stack in any order. If any of them require targets, those targets are chosen as you put the abilities on the stack, before any of those abilities resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Removing lore counters won’t cause a previous chapter ability to trigger. If lore counters are removed from a Saga, the appropriate chapter abilities will trigger again when the Saga receives lore counters.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12January 24, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Once the number of lore counters on a Saga is greater than or equal to the greatest number among its chapter abilities, the Saga’s controller sacrifices it as soon as its chapter ability has left the stack, most likely by resolving or being countered. This state-based action doesn’t use the stack.
No other card is named in this ruling.