This design might be a bit controversial.

Red "hexproof" traditionally exists in the form of punishing mechanics, like Retromancer or Lava Runner. Since Red actual hexproof is a straight break, I'm looking for other ways to provide Red a somewhat resilient creature. This ability - basically reverse Standard Bearer - is what I came up with. It's very strong, but hopefully on a 1/1 it shouldn't cause too much issues and should function as a 1/1 with Hexproof most of the time. This also allows spells and abilities that have the traditionally anti-fun rider "an opponent controls" to have an additional use, by limiting the amount of available targets in order to get rid of the one you actually want to get rid of.

Flavor-wise, this basically signifies that a permanent or creature is "lucky" - kind of like those Roadrunner or Tom & Jerry cartoons where Jerry or Roadrunner avoid every single trap set out to nab them, sometimes backfiring on the one who set up the trap too. Mechanics-wise, it's more at home in or I feel, but redirecting targets is something that happens in both and . The resultant effect - "anybody as long as it's not me" - is something that feels flavor-wise at home in . You could also flavor this as spellsneak or spellskulk.

Some quick FAQ: -Multiple target spells cannot choose it as a target unless no other target exists.

-Redirecting a spell to target this works.

-Multiple Lucky Rats on the battlefield cannot be the target unless no other target exists.

-"target creature or player" while there is only this on the battlefield cannot target this. The player is a legal target and can be chosen.

Not sure if I'll go through with this design, but I'm trying to push the envelope for Red a bit.

Trying out a new ability. Might feel a little better in due to Cowardice, but I think I like it in since has been getting more emotion-related stuff lately (plus flavor-wise, we have Zurgo Bellstriker), so I figure it can exist in red, especially since this is closer to Squee, Goblin Nabob or Norin the Wary (which is from Time Spiral, but still).

I like to think that Squee was remade as Mortus Strider. This is an ability that has been suggested for the elusive creature keyword a couple of times - without the "you control" part. Self-bounce is also associated with . Also, bounce has been suggested to be "opponent's only" and this would blur that focus.

I guess it could work though hardly seems like the first choice for this ability.

Perhaps my search for a uniquely annoying creature is a little misguided then.

I'll modify this to be a tiny version of Pyrewild Shaman then.

I wonder what this creature's forme rules text was and whether bringing up Petrahydrox is useful at all.

If people just documented their changes properly...

It had

> "When ~ becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, return ~ to its owner's hand."

Other cards that have or provide the ability are: Cloud Cover (has 'opponent controls' but also has 'may'), Mirozel, and the aforementioned Cowardice.

­Petrahydrox is interesting. It's from the very early days of hybrid mana. I can't find any discussion about it other than one random guy noting it as an example of Wotc "seemed to struggle even with the earliest hybrid cards".

Yeah. I figure the Pyrewild Shaman ability is more useful for anyway, due to discard shenanigans that it likes to pull. Which I'm sorely lacking in this set, but now that Sequence triggers off of any spell, this is useful as a Sequence enabler as well that you just suicide attack into things.

As for not documenting any changes... I try my best, but sometimes it just slips my mind :p

Should the name now be "Immortal Rat" instead of "Lucky" xD ? The flavor on this one is quite fuzzy currently IMO.