I have several scenarios involving "Protect" which I would like to know how to resolve.
1. Rain Becomes Dust vs. Simon the Zealot
My opponent activates Rain Becomes Dust (If an opponent activates a draw ability, reveal the cards instead. Place all revealed Lost Souls in opponent’s territory and discard the rest.)
My special ability from Simon the Zealot is active (Negate and discard Rome and a N.T. Idol. First Strike. Protect your hand and deck from opponents' cards while this Hero remains in play.)
What happens when I activate a card with a draw ability?
2. Self-Righteous Prayer vs. Royal Parade
My opponent plays Self-Righteous Prayer (Interrupt the battle and reveal a good card in your hand to protect your Pharisees and Scribes from special abilities on good cards. Cannot be prevented.)
I play Royal Parade (If used by a member of a royal family, interrupt the battle and Hero ignores one Evil Character.)
What happens? My opponent is protected from special abilities on good cards. But Royal Parade does not harm my opponent. It simply "ignores" him. I walk around him in the field of battle. Does Self-Righteous Prayer "protect" against such a non-harmful action?
3. Caesarea Philippi vs. Faith as a Mustard Seed
My opponent has Caesarea Philippi (Protect N.T. human Evil Characters in your territory from capture and discard abilities on opponents' cards. Protect N.T. Sites in your territory from opponents' cards) in his territory.
I play Faith as a Mustard Seed (If used by a N.T. Hero, interrupt an occupied Site, an evil Enhancement, or a non-human Evil Character and remove it from the game.)
Can Faith as a Mustard Seed interrupt and remove Caesarea Philippi? On the one hand, Caesarea Philippi seems to protect itself. But on the other hand, "protect" abilities can be interrupted. So I would think that Faith as a Mustard Seed would remove Caesarea Philippi.
4. Thaddeus vs. Philistine Armor Bearer
My opponent activates Thaddeus (Protect all cards in play, set-aside area, Artifact piles, hands, and decks from Evil Characters with toughness X or less. Cannot be interrupted.) He has a lot of Disciples in play so X is a very high number.
I block with Philistine Armor Bearer (You may exchange this card with an evil Philistine in your deck or discard pile. Evil Enhancements remain in battle. Cannot be negated.)
May I search my deck for an evil Philistine? Or does Thaddeus "protect" my deck from such a non-harmful action? Similarly, if I played False Pease, would Thaddeus "protect" my deck from the search ability?
When I think of "protect" I think of preventing something harmful. But searching a deck to find a card to use doesn't seem like harm. So I would think that Philistine Armor Bearer would work.
