Imagine this: your attacking creature is doing its best trollface impression, as it’s enchanted by Trollhide and wants to complete the image that it brings. When an opponent’s Naturalize targets the Trollhide while he’s making this face, you still have the chance to “troll” one last time.

You see, regenerate is another word for: “The next time this creature would be destroyed during this turn, tap it, remove it from combat, and remove all damage from it instead.” That means anytime after the shield is created, as long as it’s within the same turn.

Usually when you “regenerate” a creature, it’s right before its impending destruction. In this case, however, there is no impending doom in sight for your creature. It obtains a regeneration “shield” before the Trollhide is destroyed, and the regeneration effect is linked to the creature, not to the enchantment. So even if your opponent goes on to block and try to kill the creature after getting rid of Trollhide, that regeneration shield you created will still kick in. Nice play!

Today’s Rules Tip written by Eddie Cheung