Champion
- For the test-card job, see Champion (creature type).
| Champion | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type |
Triggered (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability) |
| Introduced | Lorwyn |
| Last used | Morningtide |
| Reminder Text | Champion an [object] (When this enters, sacrifice it unless you exile another creature you control. When this leaves the battlefield, that card returns to the battlefield.) |
| Storm Scale | 7[1] |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Champion is a keyword ability that allows you to upgrade one permanent into another, representing a powerful creature taking the place of another to fight in its stead.[2]
A permanent is “championed” by another permanent if the latter exiles the former as the direct result of a champion ability.
History
Champion was introduced in Lorwyn, in which it featured on a cycle of rare non-shapeshifter creatures and on three uncommon shapeshifters with changeling, in whose case "champion" appears as "champion a creature".[3][4] Morningtide featured cards that let you champion one of two creature types, the player gets to choose which one.[5]
Though it was not a keyword at the time, the ability of Wormfang Drake from Judgment has an identical effect to "champion a creature", predating Lorwyn by about 5 years.
Rules
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- 702.72. Champion
- 702.72a Champion represents two triggered abilities. “Champion an [object]” means “When this permanent enters, sacrifice it unless you exile another [object] you control” and “When this permanent leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner’s control.”
- 702.72b The two abilities represented by champion are linked. See rule 607, “Linked Abilities.”
- 702.72c A permanent is “championed” by another permanent if the latter exiles the former as the direct result of a champion ability.
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Champion, Championed
- “Champion” is a keyword ability that lets one creature temporarily replace another. A permanent is “championed” by another permanent if the latter exiles the former as the direct result of a champion ability. See rule 702.72, “Champion.”
Rulings
From the Lorwyn Rules Primer (August 23, 2007)[2]
- A creature's own champion ability won't allow you to remove that creature from the game.
- If a creature with champion leaves play before its comes-into-play ability resolves, its leaves-play ability will do nothing. Then its comes-into-play ability will resolve. Its controller may remove a permanent of the appropriate quality he or she controls from the game. If the player does, that card won't come back. If the player doesn't, nothing happens (because the creature with champion isn't around to be sacrificed.)
- If a creature with champion loses the champion ability (due to Humble, for example) and then leaves play, champion's leaves-play ability won't trigger. The removed card remains removed from the game.
- All Lorwyn cards with both changeling and champion have "champion a creature." The ability allows you to remove any other creature you control from the game.
- All other Lorwyn cards with champion have "champion a [creature type]." The ability doesn't limit you to creatures. For example, a card with "champion a Kithkin" allows you to remove a Kithkin enchantment from the game.
Examples
Example 1
Changeling Berserker 
Creature — Shapeshifter
5/3
Changeling (This card is every creature type.)
Haste
Champion a creature (When this enters, sacrifice it unless you exile another creature you control. When this leaves the battlefield, that card returns to the battlefield.)
Example 2
Thoughtweft Trio 
Creature — Kithkin Soldier
5/5
First strike, vigilance
Champion a Kithkin (When this enters, sacrifice it unless you exile another Kithkin you control. When this leaves the battlefield, that card returns to the battlefield.)
This creature can block any number of creatures.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2020-12-28). "Where is champion on the storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Mark L. Gottlieb, Laurie Cheers, Jeff Jordan, and Lee Sharpe (August 23, 2007). "Lorwyn™ Rules Primer (DOC)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 1, 2007). "And the Rest". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 08, 2007). "Before and After". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 14, 2008). "But Wait, There's More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.