Soratami Mirror-GuardHow it works & interactions with other cards

The Art of Evasion

Soratami Mirror-Guard has two distinct features: an inherent evasion through Flying and an activated ability that grants unblockable status. The activated ability costs {2} and requires you to return a land you control to its owner's hand as part of the cost. The target of this ability must be a creature with power 2 or less at the time the ability is activated and when it resolves.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you pay the two mana and return a land to your hand to put the ability on the stack, choosing a legal target with power 2 or less. Upon resolution, the game checks if the target still has power 2 or less; if it does, the creature becomes unblockable for the rest of the turn. Once the ability has resolved, the creature remains unblockable even if its power increases later in the turn, such as through a combat trick or equipment.

Strategic Considerations

A common mistake is forgetting that returning the land is a cost, not an effect. This means your opponent cannot respond to the land returning to your hand to try and stop you from paying the cost. Additionally, keep in mind that this ability does not grant a creature 'protection' or 'hexproof'; it simply means it cannot be declared as being blocked by any creatures during the declare blockers step.

When to Activate

The best time to use Soratami Mirror-Guard is during your pre-combat main phase or the beginning of combat step. You must activate the ability before the declare blockers step begins. If you wait until your opponent has already declared blockers, making the creature unblockable won't remove those blockers or make the creature's damage go through to the player.

Interaction examples

Securing the Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control Solemn Simulacrum, which has a power of 2, you can activate Soratami Mirror-Guard's ability targeting the Golem. You return a land to your hand and pay {2}. The Simulacrum becomes unblockable. This ensures that the Simulacrum survives combat to be sacrificed later for its draw effect, or simply guarantees that its 2 damage hits your opponent directly.

The Throne's Limitation

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield and you choose 'Moonfolk', it will not cause Soratami Mirror-Guard's unblockable ability to trigger twice because that ability is an activated ability (indicated by a colon), not a triggered ability. Furthermore, since Roaming Throne has a power of 4, it is not a legal target for the Mirror-Guard's ability unless its power is reduced by another effect.