Weathered BodyguardsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

While Weathered Bodyguards is untapped, it creates a redirection effect. Any combat damage that would be dealt to you by unblocked creatures is instead dealt to the Bodyguards. This applies regardless of how much damage is being dealt, though the Bodyguards will take all of it simultaneously. It also features the Morph ability, allowing you to hide its identity for three mana and flip it up for its morph cost later.

How it Resolves Step by Step

First, your opponent declares attackers and you declare blockers. Once the declare blockers step is over, any creatures that were not blocked are considered 'unblocked.' If Weathered Bodyguards is untapped during the damage step, the game checks for damage that would hit you. Instead of your life total changing, the damage is marked on Weathered Bodyguards. Note that if the Bodyguards receive damage greater than or equal to their toughness, they will be destroyed as a state-based action after the damage is dealt.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is assuming Weathered Bodyguards protects against all damage. It only redirects combat damage from unblocked creatures. It does not protect you from spells, abilities, or creatures with Trample that have been blocked. Additionally, if Weathered Bodyguards is tapped (perhaps because you attacked with it), the redirection effect is inactive, and you will take damage as normal.

When to Play it

This card is best used as a defensive tool in the mid-to-late game. Because it has Morph, you can cast it face down early to bait an opponent into an all-out attack. Once they have committed their unblocked attackers, you can turn Weathered Bodyguards face up to soak up the damage and keep your life total safe.

Interaction examples

Surprising the Opponent

Morph

You cast Weathered Bodyguards face down as a 2/2 creature using the Morph mechanic. Your opponent attacks with a large creature, and you choose not to block. Before damage, you pay the morph cost of {3}{W} to turn the Bodyguards face up. Because they are untapped, all the combat damage from the unblocked creature is redirected to the Bodyguards instead of you.

Handling Noncombat Damage

Psychosis Crawler

If your opponent controls Psychosis Crawler and draws a card, its ability triggers, causing you to lose 1 life. Weathered Bodyguards will not prevent this loss of life because the ability is not combat damage from an unblocked creature. Redirection effects only apply to specific damage types defined by the card's text.

Interacting with Trample

Sun Titan

If an opponent attacks with Sun Titan and you block it with another small creature, the Sun Titan is 'blocked.' Even if the Sun Titan had Trample, Weathered Bodyguards would not redirect any leftover damage to itself. The redirection ability only looks for creatures that are 'unblocked,' meaning no creature was assigned to block them at all.