King Balon's Host: While King Balon's Host is standing, opponent's characters lose all non-immunity keywords.

Stonesnake: Stealth. No Attachments. Stonesnake can declare stealth on characters with stealth.

If KBH is standing SS loses the Stealth keyword but still has text that indicates he can declare stealth on characters with stealth... so is he allowed to declare Stealth even without the Stealth keyword (only on characters who have Stealth themselves)? What if his printed text didn't include the Stealth keyword in the first place, would he have to be given Stealth through a card effect before he could use it on a stealthy character? Maybe the answer here is self-evident and I am way overthinking it, my bet is that he is still allowed to declare Stealth even without the keyword. Thanks!

Skowza said:

The "can bypass characters with the Stealth keyword" bit is a special instruction on how Stealth is used. Having it without having the Stealth keyword is like having armor piercing bullets without having a gun.

Obviously I am going to accept the ktom answer, but yes, I really am inclined to allow it even without the keyword... I'm not sure how to explain my thought process more thoroughly other than saying "the card text says I can do it, therefore I can." I wouldn't have asked if it said "When SS declares Stealth he may choose a character with Stealth as the target." But like I said, I take your word for it, thank you.

Other than Nate and Damon, you should never just take someone's word for it. Even mine. Heck, especially mine. If someone can't explain it to your satisfaction, there is a good chance they are wrong. Even me. Heck, especially me.

I get what you are saying. The text on the card is "Stonesnake can declare stealth on characters with stealth." And yes, if it were worded in some sort of "when declaring stealth..." fashion, it would be much clearer. But the card text doesn't say anything about when, where, or how to declare stealth - it only talks about the legal targets for stealth corresponding to Stonesnake. So how do you know when, where, and how to declare stealth for Stonesnake? From the basic rules for stealth, right? The basic rules of stealth say that just before defenders are declared, you get to choose one character controlled by the defending player for each of your attacking characters with "stealth." That character cannot defend. So, by the basic rules for stealth, if Stonesnake doesn't have the Stealth keyword, you are not allowed to choose any character for him when declaring stealth in the first place. Since his ability only modifies the rules related to what kind of characters can be chosen - not how or when they are actually chosen - without the keyword, you never actually get to the point where the ability is useful.

Think of a card that says "Night's Watch characters you control can be declared as attackers or defenders in military challenges." The card obviously side-steps the icon requirement, right? But it does not side-step any other rules for declaring characters as attackers or defenders. So you cannot declare a kneeling Night's Watch character you control as an attacker or defender. An opponent could not declare a Night's Watch character you control as an attacker or defender during a challenge they initiate or defend. And so forth. Similarly, if you had a character that said "This character does not kneel to attack or defend during military challenges," you'll never actually get to a point where that ability is useful if the character loses the military icon - because the ability does not side-step the basic icon rules for declaring attackers or defenders.

It all comes down to the basic rules of the game holding unless they are directly contradicted. "Stonesnake can declare stealth on characters with stealth" directly contradicts the the target restrictions on assigning stealth, but not the basic requirements for when and why stealth targets are chosen. As such, they hold firm and you are not allowed to choose a character to bypass with stealth for an attacking character who does not have the keyword.