Coram the Undertaker getting boosted from bunicorn
Coram the Undertake gets the power bonus of an opponent's bunicorn in the graveyard. The bunicorn's printed power/toughness is *, so Coram should get 0, not the effect as of bunicorn was on the battlefield.
-
Rezzahan#77802 commented
Bunicorn's ability is a characteristic-defining ability. Those work in every zone and even outside the game.
113.6a Characteristic-defining abilities function everywhere, even outside the game and before the
game begins. (See rule 604.3.)208.2a The card may have a characteristic-defining ability that sets its power and/or toughness
according to some stated condition. (See rule 604.3.) Such an ability is worded “[This
creature’s] [power or toughness] is equal to . . .” or “[This creature’s] power and toughness are
each equal to . . .” This ability functions everywhere, even outside the game. If the ability needs
to use a number that can’t be determined, including inside a calculation, use 0 instead of that
number.604.3. Some static abilities are characteristic-defining abilities. A characteristic-defining ability
conveys information about an object’s characteristics that would normally be found elsewhere on
that object (such as in its mana cost, type line, or power/toughness box). Characteristic-defining
abilities can add to or override information found elsewhere on that object. Characteristic-defining
abilities function in all zones. They also function outside the game and before the game begins.604.3a A static ability is a characteristic-defining ability if it meets the following criteria: (1) It
defines an object’s colors, subtypes, power, or toughness; (2) it is printed on the card it affects,
it was granted to the token it affects by the effect that created the token, or it was acquired by
the object it affects as the result of a copy effect or text-changing effect; (3) it does not directly
affect the characteristics of any other objects; (4) it is not an ability that an object grants to
itself; and (5) it does not set the values of such characteristics only if certain conditions are met.