Invasion of Ikoria // Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria

Apr 14, 2023 · If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face.

Apr 14, 2023 · Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.

Apr 14, 2023 · A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it.

Apr 14, 2023 · A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”

Apr 14, 2023 · If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.

Apr 14, 2023 · In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.

Apr 14, 2023 · A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.

Apr 14, 2023 · If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.

Apr 14, 2023 · If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.

Apr 14, 2023 · Even if a creature assigns damage as though it were not blocked, it will still receive damage from creatures that are blocking it.

Apr 14, 2023 · As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.

Apr 14, 2023 · Assigning a creature’s damage as though it weren’t blocked is all or nothing. You can’t use this effect to assign some of the creature’s damage to a blocking creature and the rest to the player, planeswalker, or battle it’s attacking.

Apr 14, 2023 · Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”