Does Leona Zealot's -8 might reduction to stunned enemies snapshot when applied, or does it continuously reapply as a passive effect? Specifically, if a stunned Ravenbloom Student (reduced to 1 might by Leona) receives +5 might from Discipline, does it go to 5 might or stay at 1 might?

Question

Accepted Answer

Leona's -8 Might effect is a continuous passive modifier that is always applied while its conditions are met. A stunned Ravenbloom Student that is reduced to 1 Might by Leona - Zealot and then receives +5 Might from spells/abilities will still end up at 1 Might (the +5 is applied, then Leona's -8 is applied, and the result is floored to a minimum of 1).

Continuous reapplication. The unit's Might is recalculated with all buffs and debuffs; after adding the +5, the -8 from Leona - Zealot still reduces the total down and the effect's "to a minimum of 1 :rb_might:" clamps the final value to 1.

Start with the stunned Ravenbloom Student whose base Might is 2; Leona - Zealot applies an ongoing -8 Might modifier to stunned enemy units here, with a floor of 1 Might. Calculate the unit's Might before the new buff: base 2 plus any existing buffs, minus 8 from Leona - Zealot, floored to minimum 1 => it is 1. You play a spell such as Discipline that gives the unit additional Might (and Ravenbloom Student's triggered ability gives +1 when you play a spell). Those buffs are applied as the spell/trigger resolves, changing the unit's current Might (see [710] and [703]). Recalculate the unit's Might including those buffs: base 2 + total buffs (for example +5) = 7, then apply Leona - Zealot's -8 modifier (ongoing). 7 - 8 = -1, then the "to a minimum of 1" clause clamps the final referenced Might to 1. Final referenced Might while stunned and while Leona - Zealot's effect applies is 1. If the unit later becomes unstunned or leaves the location, Leona - Zealot's modifier no longer applies and the unit's Might recalculates accordingly (it could then be 7).

If the unit becomes unstunned or leaves the battlefield where Leona - Zealot's effect applies, Leona - Zealot's modifier no longer applies and the unit's Might is recalculated without the -8 (it could then be the full +5 buffed value). If multiple simultaneous effects change the unit's Might (multiple buffs/debuffs), they are all part of the unit's current Might calculation; the -8 from Leona - Zealot is just another modifier that is considered when the game evaluates current Might [710]. If an effect were to set a unit's Might to a specific number via a replacement or a nonstandard instruction (not present in the provided context), the interaction would depend on the exact templating; that scenario is outside the provided context and would require additional ruling. Becoming or ceasing to be Mighty is determined at the instant the unit's Might crosses the threshold per [709]; because Leona - Zealot's modifier is continuous, temporary buffs that don't overcome the -8 won't cause the unit to become Mighty while stunned.

Leona's text ("Stunned enemy units here have -8 :rb_might:, to a minimum of 1 :rb_might:.") functions as an ongoing modifier that applies while its condition (enemy unit is stunned and at the same location) is true. The Core Rules instruct that units on the board are evaluated according to their current Might, and that spells and abilities change a unit's Might as they resolve [710]. Buffs contribute to a unit's Might as additive effects (+1 per Buff) [703]. Therefore, when you add +5 Might to a stunned Ravenbloom Student whose base is 2, you compute base + buffs = 7, then apply Leona - Zealot's -8 modifier. That yields -1, and the card's "to a minimum of 1 :rb_might:" clamps the referenced Might to 1. Because this is recalculated continuously, the unit does not "snap" to a higher Might while still stunned under Leona - Zealot's effect. If the unit later becomes unstunned or leaves the location so Leona - Zealot's modifier no longer applies, the unit's Might is recalculated then and could be 7 (or whatever the buffs give) at that time. Also note that becoming Mighty is determined at the moment Might crosses from below 5 to 5 or greater; with Leona - Zealot's -8 continuously applied, temporary buffs that do not overcome that modifier will not make the unit become Mighty while the modifier is present [709].