In Disney Lorcana, Bodyguard does not make a character invulnerable. The keyword affects two moments: how the character may enter play and how an opponent chooses a target for a challenge. The important words are “if able”, so legal targets must be checked before the challenge is announced.
This guide complements our article on Evasive and challenge restrictions. Evasive limits who can challenge; Bodyguard gives priority among otherwise legal targets.
Two parts of Bodyguard
When played, a Bodyguard character may enter exerted instead of ready. That choice does not make it dry. Bodyguard also creates a challenge restriction: when an opponent challenges you, they must choose one of your Bodyguard characters first if able.
| Moment | Bodyguard effect | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Character is played | May enter exerted | Do you want it exposed to challenges? |
| Opponent challenges | Legal Bodyguard targets have priority | Is at least one Bodyguard eligible? |
Build the legal target list
A challenge normally targets an opposing exerted character. The challenger must be ready, dry and allowed to challenge. List every exerted opposing character it may legally challenge, then apply Evasive and any card-specific restrictions.
If at least one Bodyguard remains in that list, the target must be chosen among them. If none remains, Bodyguard does not stop the challenge and another legal character may be chosen.
Five-step routine
- Declare the challenging character.
- List opposing exerted characters.
- Remove targets blocked by Evasive or another effect.
- If any Bodyguard remains, choose among them.
- Check restrictions again, then exert the challenger.
Several Bodyguards
If several Bodyguard characters are legal, the challenging player chooses which one to challenge. The defending player does not choose, and the keyword does not automatically select the character with the highest Willpower or most damage.
Several eligible defenders therefore create options while preserving the restriction. An exerted Bodyguard protects other characters from challenges by becoming a required option, but it remains exposed itself.
Bodyguard and Evasive
An Evasive character normally may be challenged only by another Evasive character. If the only Bodyguard has Evasive and the challenger does not, that Bodyguard is not legal; another exerted character may be chosen. If both challenger and an exerted Bodyguard have Evasive, that Bodyguard must be selected before a non-Bodyguard target.
Ask “is there a legal Bodyguard for this challenger?”, not merely “is there a Bodyguard in play?”.
What Bodyguard does not do
Bodyguard applies to challenges. It does not force card effects to select that character, redirect damage or stop an opponent from questing. Effects follow their own wording and targeting restrictions such as Ward.
Locations also follow their own rules. When legal, an opponent may challenge a location instead of a character. Bodyguard is not a universal shield. Review locations, movement, lore and challenges for that branch of the decision.
Entering exerted
The controller chooses whether the new Bodyguard enters ready or exerted. Entering exerted can make it an available challenge target on the opponent’s next turn. Remaining ready normally keeps it out of challenges, but then it is not an eligible defender that protects others.
This choice never bypasses drying. A newly played character cannot quest, challenge or pay an exert cost requiring a dry character unless card text says otherwise.
Common mistakes
- Treating Bodyguard as damage reduction.
- Forcing a ready Bodyguard as a target.
- Ignoring Evasive.
- Letting the defender choose the target.
- Applying Bodyguard to non-challenge effects.
- Treating an exerted new character as dry.
- Forgetting that a location may be challenged.
Challenge checklist
- Is the challenger ready, dry and allowed to act?
- Which opposing characters are exerted?
- Which targets are removed by Evasive or other text?
- Does a legal Bodyguard remain?
- If several remain, which does the active player choose?
Build the legal targets first, then prioritize Bodyguards. This separates eligibility from priority and resolves challenges cleanly.
Browse the Disney Lorcana collection and practise identifying accessible Bodyguard targets.