<p>The Forerunners have what is called Characteristic-Defining Ability, and those function in all zones. So you can only return them with Alesha if you have less than 3 creatures on the battlefield.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>208.2a</strong> 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 . . .” <strong>This ability functions everywhere</strong>, 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.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-04T14:00:34.493Z
ok, that's kind of how I figured it would play out but wanted to makes sure. Thanks
thatdude1087
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-05T03:15:32.737Z
It would be useful to point out that not all creatures with * as their power have characteristic-defining abilities, and fall under rule 208.2b. For example, Sewer Nemesis.
Hao Ye
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-06T06:46:13.060Z
@HaoYe I'm not sure offhand, but it looks like Sewer Nemesis *does* have a characteristic-defining ability, just one that doesn't do anything without a player being chosen. Not that the distinction matters in practice.
David Z
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-04T13:57:41.693Z
2015-12-04T13:57:41.693Z
diego
<p>So my question is if I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Alesha%2C%20Who%20Smiles%20at%20Death">Alesha, Who Smiles at Death</a> on the battlefield can I use her ability to bring back a creature where * is the cards power, for example <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kolaghan%20Forerunners">Kolaghan Forerunners</a>?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-04T20:17:25.150Z
There's a ruling for Kolaghan Forerunners in Gatherer answering this very question.
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering><deck-building>
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, and cards with a * as their power
thatdude1087
# Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, and cards with a * as their power

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-04)

So my question is if I have [Alesha, Who Smiles at Death](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Alesha%2C%20Who%20Smiles%20at%20Death) on the battlefield can I use her ability to bring back a creature where \* is the cards power, for example [Kolaghan Forerunners](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kolaghan%20Forerunners)?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, deck-building

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There's a ruling for Kolaghan Forerunners in Gatherer answering this very question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-04. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The Forerunners have what is called Characteristic-Defining Ability, and those function in all zones. So you can only return them with Alesha if you have less than 3 creatures on the battlefield.

> **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.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: ok, that's kind of how I figured it would play out but wanted to makes sure. Thanks  
> **username_3**: It would be useful to point out that not all creatures with * as their power have characteristic-defining abilities, and fall under rule 208.2b. For example, Sewer Nemesis.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I'm not sure offhand, but it looks like Sewer Nemesis *does* have a characteristic-defining ability, just one that doesn't do anything without a player being chosen. Not that the distinction matters in practice.  

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