Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 1

While you control Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might, if an effect such as that of Chandra's Pyrohelix asks you to divide damage among targets, you must divide the unmodified damage.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 2

The comparison between the amount of noncombat damage being dealt and Ojer Axonil's power occurs only once, when the damage would be dealt. Reducing Ojer Axonil's power before noncombat damage is dealt may cause its replacement effect not to apply to that damage.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 3

If Ojer Axonil's second ability and additional replacement effects would modify how damage would be dealt, the player being dealt damage chooses the order in which to apply those effects.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 4

If a card that isn't a transforming double-faced card is a copy of Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might, it won't return to the battlefield when it dies.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 5

For the purpose of Temple of Power's last ability, you need to have controlled the red source that dealt noncombat damage only at the time that the damage was dealt. If it dies or changes control after that point, that damage will still count toward Temple of Power's activation restriction.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power — ruling 6

The 4 or more noncombat damage may be dealt by multiple red sources you controlled. For example, if you cast a red spell that dealt 3 damage to a creature and then a red artifact you controlled dealt 1 noncombat damage to a creature, you could activate Temple of Power's last ability.

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power 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

Trample If a red source you control would deal an amount of noncombat damage less than Ojer Axonil's power to an opponent, that source deals damage equal to Ojer Axonil's power instead. When Ojer Axonil dies, return it to the battlefield tapped and transformed under its owner's control. (Transforms from Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might.) : Add . , : Transform this land. Activate only if red sources you controlled dealt 4 or more noncombat damage this turn and only as a sorcery.

Complete guide

Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might is a powerhouse from the Lost Caverns of Ixalan that ensures even your smallest sparks hit like a falling mountain. As a legendary God, it provides a persistent threat that transforms into a land upon death, ready to return to its creature form later.

Amplifying the Flame

Ojer Axonil features a replacement effect that monitors all noncombat damage dealt by red sources you control to an opponent. If a source, such as a spell or an ability, would deal damage less than Ojer Axonil's current power, it is automatically increased to match that power. This effect checks the power of Ojer Axonil at the exact moment the damage would be dealt, meaning buffs to its power directly increase the damage your other red sources deal.

Resolution and Timing

When damage is about to be dealt, the game checks if the source is red and if it is noncombat damage hitting an opponent. If you have multiple replacement effects (like a damage doubler), the player being dealt the damage chooses the order in which they apply. If Ojer Axonil dies, its triggered ability returns it to the battlefield as Temple of Power. To bring it back as a creature, you must have dealt 4 or more noncombat damage with red sources during your turn before activating its sorcery-speed transformation ability.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is dividing damage incorrectly with spells that target multiple players or permanents. You must divide the original, unmodified damage first; Ojer Axonil then checks each portion individually to see if it needs to be increased. Additionally, remember that this effect only applies to damage dealt to opponents, not to creatures or planeswalkers they control. Lastly, if a copy of Ojer Axonil (that isn't a transforming double-faced card) dies, it will stay in the graveyard because it cannot transform.

When to Deploy

Play Ojer Axonil when you have a hand full of small 'ping' effects or repeatable red noncombat damage sources. Since it has Trample and high natural power, it is a threat on its own, but it shines brightest when paired with cards that can increase its power or trigger multiple small instances of damage.

Interaction examples

Double the Divinity

Roaming Throne

If you choose 'God' as Roaming Throne enters, Ojer Axonil's death trigger will trigger twice. However, since the first trigger returns it to the battlefield transformed, the second trigger will fail to find the card in the graveyard, resulting in no additional effect. Note that Ojer Axonil's damage increase is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability, so Roaming Throne does not cause it to apply twice.

Mana and Transformation

Solemn Simulacrum

While Solemn Simulacrum is a colorless source and won't be boosted by Ojer Axonil's damage ability, it can help you reach the mana required to cast your God or activate Temple of Power. If Ojer Axonil has died and is currently the Temple of Power, you can use the land to add red mana, helping you cast spells to reach the 4-damage threshold required to transform it back into a creature.

Single Source Growth

If Ojer Axonil's power is 4 and you cast a red spell that deals 1 damage to an opponent, the replacement effect sees that 1 is less than 4 and changes the damage to 4. If you later equip Ojer Axonil to increase its power to 6, that same 1-damage spell will now deal 6 damage to the opponent instead.

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

How it works : Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
While you control Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might, if an effect such as that of Chandra's Pyrohelix asks you to divide damage among targets, you must divide the unmodified damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The comparison between the amount of noncombat damage being dealt and Ojer Axonil's power occurs only once, when the damage would be dealt. Reducing Ojer Axonil's power before noncombat damage is dealt may cause its replacement effect not to apply to that damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If Ojer Axonil's second ability and additional replacement effects would modify how damage would be dealt, the player being dealt damage chooses the order in which to apply those effects.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
If a card that isn't a transforming double-faced card is a copy of Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might, it won't return to the battlefield when it dies.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
For the purpose of Temple of Power's last ability, you need to have controlled the red source that dealt noncombat damage only at the time that the damage was dealt. If it dies or changes control after that point, that damage will still count toward Temple of Power's activation restriction.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6November 10, 2023· Wizards of the Coast
The 4 or more noncombat damage may be dealt by multiple red sources you controlled. For example, if you cast a red spell that dealt 3 damage to a creature and then a red artifact you controlled dealt 1 noncombat damage to a creature, you could activate Temple of Power's last ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.