The using champion ignores any instant defeat conditions and must be defeated by level alone. May be played as a counter to an instant defeat. (Def 4)
Copyrights:
TSR
Wizards of the Coast
Since this card doesn't specify who can use it, this is a heroes only unarmed combat card. This interesting counter is a very strong card, but will often not make the cut for most tournament decks.
The power works well with itself, since it prevents any instant defeat played by an opponent into battle. However, it the card doesn't specificly say "instant defeat" or some variation, this card doesn't work. This includes cards like Blamblower (56/DL), Sword of Cymrych Hugh (62/FR), or Cockatrice (17/MI), since these specify discard, not defeat.
The +5 is a significant bonus, and factors well into having to be defeated by level alone, but the "discard loophole" means many of the cards to be protected against (like The Dreaded Ghost (246/4th)) can still get through.
This problem, along with the hero restriction, will probably prevent it from being used in too many tournament decks, and most fun decks avoid instant defeats for more fun play, and therefore isn't the strongest choice for that setting either. In other words, find better cards for most decks than this.
