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Rules Answers › Layers & Continuous Effects

Does static ability layer ordering matter when both Humility and Glorious Anthem are on the battlefield?

Short answer
Yes, layer ordering matters critically. In Layer 7, sublayer sequencing determines whether creatures end up as 1/1s or 2/2s.

When Humility (sets all creatures to 1/1 and removes abilities) and Glorious Anthem (+1/+1 to all creatures) are both on the battlefield, the interaction is resolved through the Layer system, specifically Layer 7 (power/toughness effects), which is divided into sublayers 7a through 7e (CR 613.3).

Glorious Anthem applies in Layer 7c (effects that modify P/T without setting them to a specific value). Humility applies in Layer 7b (effects that set P/T to a specific value). Because 7b is applied before 7c, the order is: first Humility sets all creatures to 1/1, then Glorious Anthem adds +1/+1, resulting in all creatures being 2/2s with no abilities (CR 613.3b, 613.3c).

Critically, within a single sublayer, if two effects would interact, timestamp order or dependency rules can matter (CR 613.6, 613.7). But here, because the two effects occupy different sublayers (7b vs. 7c), the sublayer order always takes precedence over timestamps — so it doesn't matter which permanent entered the battlefield first.

Concrete example: You control a Grizzly Bears (2/2). Humility is on the battlefield, then you play Glorious Anthem. The Bears first become 1/1 (Humility, Layer 7b), then get +1/+1 (Glorious Anthem, Layer 7c), ending as a 2/2 with no abilities. If Humility were instead a Layer 7c effect, timestamp order would then matter — but as written, sublayer order locks the outcome.

The layer and sublayer system is defined in CR 613.1–613.7, and the specific sublayer breakdown for P/T effects is in CR 613.3. Humility's ability-removing effect also applies in Layer 6 (CR 613.2), stripping abilities before P/T is even considered.

HIGH confidence CR 613.1 CR 613.2 CR 613.3 CR 613.3b CR 613.3c CR 613.6 CR 613.7
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