Gangplank, Naval

Gangplank, Naval

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[Empower] [C][C] ([C][C]: Empower me. Use only if not Empowered.)

[Empowered][] If a spell or ability that chooses me would stun me, give me -[M], or return me to hand, give me +3 [M] this turn instead.

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[Empower] [C][C] ([C][C]: Empower me. Use only if not Empowered.)

[Empowered][] If a spell or ability that chooses me would stun me, give me -[M], or return me to hand, give me +3 [M] instead.

What happens when I play Transpositionist's activated ability choosing an empowered Gangplank, Naval with 6 [M]? Can I play Angler Wyrm?

Gangplank being returned to hand will be replaced with him being given +3 [M] this turn. You can play Angler Wyrm from hand with Transpositionist's activated ability.

Transpositionist returns a unit to hand and then references that unit's information. If the unit didn't change zones and it was a legal target as the instruction that targeted it was being processed, the activated ability will reference that unit's current information. Gangplank, Naval's current Might as it is referenced is 9 [M], allowing you to play a unit with 9 [M] or less.

Relevant rules: 359.3.e.13., 359.3.e.13.a.

What happens when my opponent plays Switcheroo on their 2 [M] unit and my empowered Gangplank, Naval?

Gangplank, Naval will replace his Might being lowered with him being given +3 [M] this turn.

Swap calculates the difference in Might and generates two effects: an increase, and a decrease. When a swap effect is applied to two units' Mights, it gives those units +[M] and -[M] respective to who has the higher Might.

Under the hood, Gangplank's replacement effect sees the event of him being given -[M] and replaces it with him being given +3 [M] this turn instead. The event of the other unit being given +[M] is unaffected by Gangplank's replacement effect. By the time we apply the replacement effect, the difference between the two units has been calculated. In the example with the 2 [M] unit, the final Mights of the two units will be 2 [M] → 6 [M], and 6 [M] → 9 [M].

The way this works is not immediately obvious based on how the swap game action rules are written. We will clarify this in a future rules update.

Note that this logic also applies to Mel, Newly Awakened and Switcheroo.

What happens when my empowered Gangplank, Naval is moved by my opponent's Blast Cone's play effect and they exhaust Blast Cone to stun Gangplank? Will he be stunned? What happens if I then play Back Off choosing my Gangplank? Will he get +3 [M] this turn?

Blast Cone will stun Gangplank. If you play Back Off choosing your stunned Gangplank, he will not receive +3 [M] this turn.

Blast Cone's triggered ability that stuns units doesn't choose them, so Gangplank's replacement effect can't apply to that event. Back Off played on a stunned Gangplank does not actually perform the stun game action, because Gangplank is already stunned. It's legal to play Back Off, but the instruction will be negated. In order for Gangplank's replacement effect to replace an event of him being stunned, the stun game action must actually be performed. Similarly, if an effect that said "Friendly units can't be stunned" were active with a friendly empowered Gangplank, Naval is on the board, a stun effect that is played choosing Gangplank wouldn't generate an event that Gangplank could replace, because no stun game action is performed.

Relevant Rules: 423.1.a.1.

What happens if I play Stupefy on my 1 [M] empowered Gangplank, Naval? Will he get +3 [M] this turn?

He will not.

In order for his replacement effect to apply, the event of him being given -[M] must occur. In the case of Stupefy played on a 1 [M] unit, no -[M] is given; it is snapshot to -0 [M]. Thus, there is no suitable event for Gangplank's replacement effect to replace.

Relevant Rules: 477.3.b.