He doesn't have an icon, so I'd say no. But my opponent says it's a "triggered effect" that's allowing him to defend the challenge. Is there an official ruling on this?

Icons only matter when you are using the games standard method of declaring defenders. Greatjon has his own triggered ability which inserts him directly into challenges, since this does not mention icons, it does not care. Also note, that this bypasses stealth, he can jump into a challenge using his triggered ability even if he is stealthed.

In short: yes, he can use his ability to jump into intrigue challenges on defence.

I think alot of people automatically disregard him because of his melee power grabbing text(not the 'melee' keyword). but imo he is a beast. ignores stealth, can jump into any challenge even if all his icons are removed, a war crest to get +4 strength from frozen outpost. I was kinda hurt when the 2c1c podcast listed him as bottom 5.

One caveat: if he has been stealthed, you cannot use his effect in that challenge. That is because the rules for Stealth are:

"For each of your attacking characters with the 'Stealth' keyword, you may choose, before defenders are declared, a character without Stealth on the defending side. That character may not defend during this challenge."

This is not a limitation on being declared as a defender (as most other defense ineligibility effects are). It is a limitation on participating as a defender by any means. Therefore, if he has been stealthed, not only can you not declare him as a defender, you cannot use his ability to jump him into the challenge, either.

Of course, if you are afraid he'll be bypassed by stealth (and you'll be surprised how many people would never think to do that during an intrigue challenge, btw), you can always use his ability in to jump him into the challenge as a defender before the framework window for assigning stealth and declaring defenders.

It's helpful to compare WLL Greatjon with Core Set Greatjon, who has a very similar ability.

CS Greatjon: Kneel Greatjon Umber to have him participate in the current MIL or POW challenge as either the attacker or as the defender.

WLL Greatjon: Kneel Greatjon Umber to have him participate in the current challenge as a defender.

CS can use his ability as an attacker as well, but he also explicitly limits himself to MIL and POW, which are his icons. WLL has no such restriction, and thus can be used in whatever "the current challenge" is.

alpha5099 said:

~I just popped into this thread to request that the character be referred to as "Greatjob Umber" in all situations henceforth. The dude likes being appreciated.