Transpositionist

Can Transpositionist still play a unit when an Empowered Gangplank, Naval replaces the return?Copy Anchor Link

When an Empowered Gangplank, Naval replaces Transpositionist's return, you may still play a unit that has less might than Gangplank's current might after the +3 increase applies, provided that unit is in your hand or chosen champion zone or a separate effect permits you to play it from another zone.^{[420.1.a][420.3.b]}

Replacing Gangplank's return does not stop Transpositionist's next instruction because it refers to Gangplank and his might, not whether the return happened.^{[359.3.e.14.a][359.3.e.14.b][407.5]} Gangplank remains on the board and remains a legal target, so the ability can still read his might.^{[359.3.e.12.a]} It reads that value when the later instruction executes, after the +3 increase applies.^[359.3.f.2]

An otherwise unmodified Gangplank has 9 at that point, so the unit must have less than 9.