Vex, Apathetic

Q: If a unit is played by Player A via Dazzling Aurora while the opponent (player B) controls Vex Apathetic at a battlefield, when is the Stunned status removed?

A: Strictly following the Core Rules, the Stunned status is removed “at the beginning of the next Ending Step”, so if it is applied during that same step, a stunned unit will keep this status until the end of the turn after it was played; so, in this scenario, the Stunned status will be cleared in Player B’s Ending Step.

Please note that Vex Apathetic also applies a movement restriction, but it stops applying during the Expiration Step of the turn the unit was played. In the same scenario, the movement limitation expires during Player A’s ending phase (during which Dazzling Aurora was triggered).

Relevant rules:

• 423.1.a.2. Stunned Units lose the Stunned status at the beginning of the next Ending Step
• In the Ending Special Cleanup section: 317.2.c. Insert “2d. All ‘this turn’ effects expire simultaneously.”

Q. I have [Vex, Apathetic] at a battlefield. At the start of my opponent's end turn, their [Dazzling Aurora] triggers and they play a unit. I understand the unit is stunned by my [Vex, Apathetic], but is it still stunned during my entire turn ?

A. This is a pending question but currently as per rules, is remains stunned during the entire turn of the Vex player.

CR-423.1.a.2: Stunned Units lose the Stunned status at the beginning of the next Ending Step.

Therefore Stunned units lose the Stunned status before [Dazzling Aurora] resolves, and the next window to lose the status will be the beginning of the Ending Step of the turn of the Vex player.

(Might be reviewed in future updates.)

Q. Why opponent plays a unit that has deflect, do I have to pay the deflect to stun it?

A. No. Per rule CR355.10.d, the unit to be stunned is programmatically selected, and thus is not a target and therefore not choosen.