Silumgar AssassinHow it works & interactions with other cards

Unblockable by the Mighty

The primary static ability of Silumgar Assassin states that creatures with power greater than its own cannot block it. This means that if the Assassin has a power of 2, only creatures with power 0, 1, or 2 can be declared as blockers. If you increase its power through equipment or counters, the range of creatures that can block it shifts accordingly.

The Megamorph Process

Megamorph is a special action that allows you to play the card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. At any time you have priority, you can pay the megamorph cost of {2}{B} to turn it face up. When you do, it receives a +1/+1 counter and its triggered ability is put on the stack. Because turning a creature face up is a special action, your opponent cannot respond to the stat change or the counter placement until the enter-the-battlefield trigger is already on the stack.

Timing and Legality

It is important to note that the evasion check only happens at the moment blockers are declared. If your opponent legally blocks the Assassin with a 1/1 creature and you subsequently increase the Assassin's power, it remains blocked. Similarly, the triggered ability when it turns face up must target an opponent's creature with power 3 or less; if that creature's power increases beyond 3 in response, the ability will fizzle.

Interaction examples

Precision Assassination

Blood Artist

If your opponent controls a Blood Artist, you can turn your face-down Silumgar Assassin face up by paying {2}{B}. The Assassin becomes a 3/2 (due to the megamorph counter) and its ability triggers, targeting the Blood Artist. Since the Artist has 0 power, it is a legal target and will be destroyed upon resolution.

Slipping Past the Skies

Ornithopter of Paradise

If you attack with a face-down Silumgar Assassin, your opponent might block with their Ornithopter of Paradise because the face-down creature is a 2/2 and the Ornithopter has 0 power. However, if the Assassin is already face-up and you haven't modified its power, the Ornithopter can still block it because its 0 power is not greater than the Assassin's 2 power.

Megamorph vs Standard Morph

Morph

While Megamorph functions like the standard Morph mechanic, the key difference is the +1/+1 counter. If you use a specialized effect to turn Silumgar Assassin face up without paying its megamorph cost, you still get the 'destroy target creature' trigger, but you do not get the permanent +1/+1 counter.