RulingHall of Heroes (rules 1.5)2024-05-10

167 – I’m trying to understand how Interrupts work more clearly. Looking at 1.5 rules reference. I…

Question

167 – I’m trying to understand how Interrupts work more clearly. Looking at 1.5 rules reference. I understand an interrupt triggers *when it’s triggering condition initiates and before it’s resolved and a interrupt that uses “would” triggers *before it’s triggering condition initiates. Looking at illyana Rasputin alter-ego from the upcoming campaign expansion, when changing form, is there an initiation step? I noticed it doesn’t use the word “would” so I’m confused as to what for I’m in when you trigger the ability and if your in hero form the alter ego is no longer in play. Is it missing “would”? If changing form has a 2 step process, do basic powers also first initiate? For example, do I play the skilled strike aggression event before I exhaust to use a basic ATK power?

Answer

We wouldn’t say there’s an initiation step when flipping from alter-ego form to hero form. The way that you resolve Illyana’s ability is that you declare your intent to flip, resolve the Interrupt, then proceed with flipping to your hero form. Also, usually the word “would” is used in an Interrupt to signify a replacement effect occurring, but Illyana’s ability doesn’t replace her flip to hero form, it just adds an additional step to the process.

To play Skilled Strike, you need to declare your intent to basic attack and exhaust your hero first, then you can play Skilled Strike. (Tony phrased it as exhausting is the “cost” to perform a basic attack. This is similar to how some defense cards, like Desperate Defense, are resolved: after the hero exhausts.)

— Alex