How does Thousand Tailed Watcher's effect interact with units being buffed by a Brush?

Thousand-Tailed Watcher’s ability creates a "snapshot" effect that reduces the Might of all enemy units currently in play by 3 (to a minimum of 1).

Regarding your question about interacting with buffs (specifically those from a "Brush"):

  1. The Snapshot: When Thousand-Tailed Watcher’s "When you play me" ability resolves, it checks the current Might of all enemy units on the battlefield. It applies the -3 Might reduction to those values, ensuring no unit's Might drops below 1.
  2. Buffing Later: If a unit is buffed after the Watcher's ability has already resolved (for example, by a Brush effect that grants a buff/Might increase), the buff is applied on top of the previously reduced Might value. As stated in RiftJudge FAQ ID 6274 and ID 6445, Might modifications are cumulative. The reduction does not re-apply to the new buff.

Example Scenario

  • Initial State: Your opponent has a unit with 2 Might.
  • Watcher Enters: You play Thousand-Tailed Watcher. Its ability resolves, reducing the opponent's unit from 2 Might to 1 Might (the minimum).
  • Brush Effect: Your opponent later uses a Brush effect to buff that unit (e.g., +1 Might).
  • Result: The unit's Might becomes 1 (the reduced value) + 1 (the new buff) = 2 Might.

Important Notes:

  • Passive vs. Snapshot: This effect is not a persistent aura. Units that enter the battlefield after the Watcher's ability has fully resolved are not affected by the -3 Might reduction (see RiftJudge FAQ ID 10209).
  • Buffed Battlefield: If a battlefield is already buffed when the Watcher's ability resolves, the reduction is calculated based on the unit's Might including that battlefield bonus.

This is my interpretation based on the mechanics of "snapshot" effects described in the RiftJudge FAQs and Rule 710 regarding Might evaluation. No official FAQ exists specifically mentioning "Brushes," but the interaction follows the established rules for cumulative Might modifications.

FAQ #10588May 24, 2026