With Great 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

Enchant creature you control Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 for each Aura and Equipment attached to it. All damage that would be dealt to you is dealt to enchanted creature instead.

Complete guide

With Great Power . . . is a unique White Aura that transforms one of your creatures into a legendary protector. By scaling its power with your gear and drawing all incoming harm to itself, it embodies the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield. This card turns your favorite hero into a magnet for all damage directed at you.

Scaling Strength

The primary benefit of this Aura is its static ability that grants the enchanted creature +2/+2 for every Aura and Equipment attached to it. Importantly, this count includes 'With Great Power . . .' itself, meaning the creature starts with at least a +2/+2 bonus. As you stack more Auras or Equipments onto the same creature, this bonus grows exponentially, making it a massive threat and a sturdier wall.

The Ultimate Shield

The final line of text creates a redirection effect. All damage that would be dealt to you—whether from unblocked attackers, direct damage spells, or triggered abilities—is dealt to the enchanted creature instead. This is not optional; as long as the creature is on the battlefield and enchanted, your life total is effectively shielded, but the creature takes the full brunt of the impact.

When to Deploy

Because this card forces your creature to take all damage meant for you, you should play it on a creature with high toughness or one you can make Indestructible. If the enchanted creature dies from the redirected damage, the Aura goes to the graveyard, and you lose your protection. It is best used when you have an established board of equipments to ensure the creature has enough stats to survive multiple hits.

Damage Redirection Mechanics

Damage redirected by this effect keeps its original characteristics. If a source with Lifelink deals damage that is redirected to your creature, the controller of that source still gains life. Similarly, if the damage is from a source with Infect or Wither, the creature will receive -1/-1 counters instead of marked damage. Note that this effect only redirects damage; it does not prevent loss of life effects that aren't damage-related.

Interaction examples

Defensive Synergy

Ghostly Prison

With Ghostly Prison on the battlefield, your opponent must pay {2} per creature just to declare an attack against you. If they pay the mana and successfully attack, any damage that would have hit you is then redirected to your creature enchanted by With Great Power . . . . This combination makes it incredibly expensive and difficult for your opponent to actually reduce your life total.

Resource Management

Smothering Tithe

While Smothering Tithe doesn't interact with the damage redirection directly, it provides the Treasure tokens necessary to pay for more Auras and Equipments. Each new Aura or Equipment you cast using those Treasures further increases the +2/+2 bonus from With Great Power . . . , ensuring your protector stays large enough to survive the damage it is forced to take for you.

Self-Buffing Basics

If you cast With Great Power . . . on a 2/2 creature that has no other attachments, the creature immediately becomes a 4/4. This is because the Aura counts itself as an Aura attached to the creature. If you later attach a simple Equipment, the creature will receive another +2/+2, becoming a 6/6.

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