RulingHall of Heroes (rules 1.0–1.4)

Expansion card questions: I have a question about ownership and control, with regards to allies with abilities that return them to…

Question

I have a question about ownership and control, with regards to allies with abilities that return them to “your hand” (Red Dagger, Hawkeye’s Mockingbird, Hellcat). A previous ruling specifies that if somebody other than the owner takes control of that ally with Make the Call, they’re the ones who get to use the ally’s return-to-hand ability. However – does the ally go to the controller’s hand in that case, as per the ability, or to the owner’s hand, as per the ownership & control rules? Is this a case of card text contradicting rule text and taking precedence, as per the Golden Rules?

Answer

The “borrowed” ally would go to its owner’s hand. Per “Ownership and Control” in the Online Rules Reference: “If a card that has changed control leaves play…the card is physically placed in its owner’s equivalent out-of-play area.” Though only the card’s controller can activate the ability on it, it must still go to its owner’s equivalent out-of-play area, which includes the owner’s hand.

-Alex